Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-03-04

Try WncGc MS seTNlCeS bteineu nOst
needed. ......
Comes Of New England Stock.
William Howard Taft first became
q presidential possibility in Cincinnati,
Ohio, Sept Is 1857. and when he takes
his place In the White House to-
day he will be Just 81 years, 5
months, and 10 days old. He is the
son OF Judge Alphonso Taft, OF Gin
cinnatl, and Mrs. Louisa Torrey Taft,
both OF New England stock, although
Judge Taft moved to Cincinnati when
he was 81 years old. II Is interesting
TO note that Mr. Taft has followed In
his fathers footsteps, although he
strobe beyond the limit reached by
Judge Taft. For Judge Alphonso Taft
was a lawyer, member Of the su.
perior court of Cincinnati and secre'
tary Of war under Grant In addition
to these Offices, he was also attorney
general In Grants cabinet. and Presi.
dent Arthur appointed him minister
to Austria and to Russia. 81. 60
Mr.. Taft represents the seventh gen.
Grafton OF Tafts In America; Robert
Taft housewright, having emigrated
from England In 1869 and settled at
Mention. Mass. His grandfather, Judge
Peter Rawson Taft, born In 1855, and
married to Sylvia Howard, moved to
Cincinnati from Townshend, VT, In
1871. Taft's father was twice married
the first time to Fannie Phelps OF
Townshend. BY this marriage he had
two sons, Charles Phelps, the well
known Cincinnati editor. and Peter
Rawson, who died in infancy. In 1854
Judge Taft married again. this time
to Miss Louisa NJ. Torrey OF Millbury,
Mass, who died In December. 1907.
Their children were William Howard
Taft, Henry w. Taft. a New York law.
yer: Horace d. Taft, hcadmaster of
Taft school at WATERFOWL. Conn, and
Fannie Louise, wife OF DR.. william A.
Edwards of Los Angeles. Cal. ....
Was Known as "Lub" Taft. ....r ..
Mr. Taft's mother was the daughter
Of Samuel Torrey Of Millbury, Mass.
The first OF the Torreys to come to
this country was william, who sailed
from Somerset, England. to Wey.
mouth, Mass, In 1910. He was for
many years a member of the house OF
deputies and captain of the militia.
The Torrey family has for generations
been well known In New England.
Mr.. Taft attended the public schools
in Cincinnati. His brothers were
bright above the average, and many
Of his playmates have attained honor.
able distinction since those days, but
It became tacitly agreed that viii
Taft was to amount TO good deal In
the future. He was good.natured,
big boy, with bones too big for him.
inspiring the nickname "Lubber,"
which was sometimes shortened to
"Lub." But "Lub" Taft was not a
slow mover In spite OF his size. He
was a hard worker in the study hall
and entered the field OF boyish sports
with the same zest. II Is on record
that he sometimes announced that he
would be President OF the United
States when the slight obstacle Of a
few years was once remedied. He
loved history, he loved to read. but he
was not a grind" in fact, although he
stood second In his class ae Yale when
he graduated he never became a
grind" He merely labored away at
each OF his lessons until he got II, but
he never forgot that he was human
or how to be a boy, or how to get the
Joy out of life. Several of his school
teachers who are still living say that
they remember well win Taft's ability
In the school.room and they predicted
great things for him even then.
Mighty Wrestler at Yale.
When Mr.. Taft was II years old he
graduated from Woodward High
School and went to Yale university
entering the academic department, In
the class Of 1878, which produced "a
number of men who have made their
marks in the world, including Edward
b. Whitney. John Trumbull, the Chi
lean patriot; Herbert w. Bowen
Charles II. Shaw. Stanley W. Dexter
William 7. Gilbert. Frederick Potter
OF New York, and Alfred Ripley Of
Boston. II didn't take Taft more thar
three hours to become prominent In
the class of rs, He leaped into loca
fame the first night he was In college