The Washington herald., 1909-03-05
TAFT GENEALOGICAL TREE.

Z SOSepn married Elizabeth Emerson. the
/ daughter Of Mendon's first minister and
he had four sons, Moses, Peter, Joseph.
and Aaron They we're all industrious
farmers The line was carried to OHIO bv
Peter, who married Elizabeth Cheney.
/ by whom he had four sons. Henry. Ger
! shom, Aaron. and Peter
Il was this Aaron Taft who was the
great-grandfather OF William Howard
Taft He was fitted for and entered
Princeton, but had 10 return home before
/ finishing his college course, though he
had already established q reputation as
a scholar He married in 1883 Rhoda
Rawson, Of Uxbridge, and they had a
family Of eleven children, nine OF whom
grew 70 maturity. After residing for
some time in Uxbridge. part OF the time
serving as town clerk, he moved 10 Yer
mont and trace Of him was lost HIS
son, Peter RaWson Taft. grandfather OF
the President died IN Cincinnati in 1867.
and his son, Alphonso. speaking al that
reunion IN 1874, said Of him:
At fourteen yean q age he vas taken by his
iatier 70 IowuseDa. Wyndham Coanty Vt. Thc7e
he abored ca his fathers farn the greater 7or7io7 u
as tline improving. however, the advantage q sch
SCHOOLS and academies as were accessible
Ihougn 4 farmer, be vas studiCus and alrsvs
fond Of reading As soon as q sufficient axe be was
E VII
season Tins contiuued fOr ssvsrai years. brt be
made himself skilled slrTey0r and vas extersfrg.T
employed N that caracity.
At the age Il twenty-five he married Sylvia Hay
E2Td descendant q Samuel Harvard sud Carr
josiah Chspin, beth pioneers q Efendon They
lived together ffty-six years They had h-s o1s
child AiPhcnso Tar. With whorn they resided the
I last twenty-five years ot their liTes.
Voters Also Honor Him.
The active life of Peer RsEsoa Tai. vas soe-s
mainly in vermont Though not educated fo- ths
bar, hls reading included the lzw. He vas early
appointed as q justice Of TIE peaos he was choscu
continuaIy 10 the most important oEces q tie
tOEH- and vas elected ons Of the Commissioners q
the county By election he was many times rep-e-
sentative n the Vermont legislature.
He was admitted TO the bag. and fo1r years Re
vas Judge of the Probate Court q Wyndhsm Com
y by election q tie lezszture after which rs
vas elected 516ge q the County Court and he'd
that cfice four years He was regarded as Just.
humane, and wise nan
The only child Of Peter Rawson was
AIphonso, the father OF the President,
who was born IN the Vermont home and
who spent his early life on the farm. as
had his father before him. He entered
Yale at nineteen wears Of age and was gradu-
=
but in 1888 vas admitted 10 the bar and
moved TO Cincinnati 10 practice his pro
fessiOn- He was always active IN city
and school affairs. and was a delegate
l. the convention which nominated Ere
mont He ran for Congress: was an
pointed once and elected twice 70 the Su-
perior Court OF Cincinnati In 1S75 ne was
a candidate for the Republican nomina-
ton for the gOvernOrship Of Ohio, and in
the campaign that followed was an ar
dent supporter OF Gen. Rutherford 3.
Hayes.
All Inherited Size.
Al the Taft boys inherited their faith
er's intellect and most OF them inherited
his gigantic physique. All the sons tes-
tify TO the persuading powers Of their
good governors strong right arm"
William Howard Taft referred 10 his
father anectionately as his good old
/ governor on the day the younger man
/ took the oath Of Office as Secretary OF
I War. Tie old gentleman's portrait looked
down upon the son. and William said:
! 7 could not help but be good here. Ny
/ good old governor had an overpoweriug
/ brain, 20 say nothing q his hands"
Alphonso TAFT could give his boys the
best Of opportunities, but he saw 10 it
that they availed themselves q their
chances. He had no millions 70 leave
them. but he sent them 70 college and
saw that they got all out OF college there
was in IL
AIphousO Taft's father, the old YER
mont jurist, used 70 tell his sons that
{ there IS more IN life than money" and
I Alphonso lived accordingly. transmitting
the sentiment TO his own sons. and Will
lam Howard Taft repeated Il. allowing
10 more comment. when he turned down
offer after offer 10 become a corporation
lawyer.
Move TO Cincinnati.
After Alphons0 Taft's family of BOYS
began 70 run around the yard he moved
10 the hills outside OF Cincinnati so. he
said. that his boys could have room to
grow in" Charles P. Taft talks enter
tainiuGIy OF the glorious days OF the Taft
youngsters boyhood-
we were kept IN close restraint 10 a
great extent" he said. but every one
was live virile lad fun Of the cid nick
Our mother. I recall. regarded US with
no little alarm There Is an snecdote IN
the family which We all relate with in
creasing amusement about the confession
friend
7 am afraid mother said. that I am
raising FIVE young devils But We were
not bad, Just active. Ny stepmother. I
fear. vas not accustomed 10 boys.
My father" continued Charles Taft.
succeeded William ". Belknsp as Sec
retary of War. taking his place two
months later as Attorney General
doubt i he had ever met Gen. Grant. but
he had spoken and written much about
him lie prepared a speech about Gen.
Grants achievements-an appreciation. L
might be called. because it was more Of
an essay than g speech-and the Presi-
dents attention had been called 10 II. He
was trying case in court when the teIe-
gram calling him 20 the Cabinet was
handed TO him Strangely cOincfdentaI is .
Jhe fact that my brother was debating a
decision in the Federal Court when the
message cana from President Mckinley
which g0ok him 10 the Philippines.
Speaking Of my father reminds ne OF
q phrase Of his which was often quoted
while he was alive It's a pretty bad
case he said. that has not two sides
Love for New England
Miil5rry people know Taft and feel
that one Cf their own sons has beer SIN
sled out for distinction by the Rsoubli-
csn party After Judge AIphonso Taft
died his widow returned 10 NrIbury.
each Of her sons having established a
home Of his Own. and lived with her
maiden sister until her death last winter.
Mrs. Louisa Taft'S matUonly affection
and love 50 impressed her big son that
he visited her every time he had a
chance. and during his enforced journeys
about the country be was always solicit
Gus as 70 her welfare. During her iig-
ness his first question at every stop was