Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-20
PRESIDENT VISITS THE
HOME OF HIS Fathers
Automobile Trip Through
Country Where Early Tafts
Lived and Had Their Being.

BEVERLY, Mass, August 20.-Presi-
dent Taft yesterday roamed over, the,
rugged Massachusetts, towns where his
forefathers dwelt. In Mendon and Tx
bridge he penetrated to quaint spots. He
visited an. ancient church. Trummaked
through grass and weeds in searching
out tombstone inscriptions, named a two
week-old Taft baby, met a score Of rural
Taft folk. and late in the afternoon
motored fifty miles back to Beverly.
He had been the guest Thursday night
of Gov. Draper at the Lodges. in Mil
ford. and under the governors. escort
made the pilgrimage to his ancestral
shrine.
Mendon is only q short ride by auto
from Milford, and over much Of the way
the President proceeded by a route
which President Washington Travelled 13l
years ago after a visit to Connecticut.
The people, who came out to meet him
In their every day working clothes, re-
iterated how his father. ex-Secretary OF
War AlphOnso Taft, made two or three
trips I'm the same localities. and how Al
phonsos son was the first President since
Gen. Washington's time to pass that
way.
Ancestors Name on Tablet.
The first stop was several miles away
before a dilapidated red house near the
roadside. This was the Davenport house.
once occupied by ancestors Of the Presi-
dent. 1t is now deserted and the roof Is
falling in. Nearby Is a yellow farm
house. known as the Toney place, where
maternal relatives used to live.
little further on was Founders Park
in Mendon. brass tablet bears the
names of men who settled the town be-
Robert Taft, from whom the President
traces descent. Robert was a house,
wright, had six tall sons. and built q big
bridge across the Blackstone river. The
President alighted and for twenty
names there of George Aldrich, from
whom Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island
sprung; the Rev. Joseph Emerson. from
whom Ralph Waldo Emerson descended.
young and old began to pour into the
public square. All WE'RE presented, even
to little tots that could scarcely walk.
Mrs. Clarence Taft hurried from Q neigh
boring house with her infant In arms.
The President was asked to name the
latest Taft scion.
Yes. will gladly name him." said tina
President. He paused q moment. glanced
at the bronze tablet, and added: =.
II will name him Robert. ;. May he
to the family" ..
Sees Grandfather's Pew.
He spent a half hour in the burial
grounds looking at the headstones. visit
eed the old meeting house. where he was
shown pew. No. IL. which his grand
father purchased at auction for 500 In
the early part Of the last century. and
then started away for the site Of tho
Robert Taft house. This was reached
through picturesque country OF natural
scenery. The big automobiles were driven
through an orchard into a field. Towering
Gov. Draper and Luther Taft. another
aged citizen, were photographed
The President next drove to North Tx
bridge, through more beautiful scenery
and past fruit-laden orcharcs, to the resi-
dence of Miss Sarah f. Taft. Her house
is the site Of the tavern where Washing
ton found supper. and lodging. The
house is we'll preserved. II was kept py
Samuel Taft. The sign that swung from
an adjacent tree was brought forth ior
bore an excellent representation OF an
eagle Rats gnawed IL slightly during the
years that 1t reposed In an adjacent corn
barn. Miss Taft invited the President into
the house, and showed him the apart |
ments that washington occupied. As ne |
was departing she entertained him with q |
ghost story OF a military funeral. which |
her relatives some generations ago
thought they saw passing.
The drive back to Beverly, after lunch |
con at Gov. Diapers, began at O'Clock |
and ended at 5:45. The route was dif-
ferent than on the trip out. The Presi- |
dent returned by way OF Medheld. Dover.
Needham. Newton Center and Common |
vealfh avenue. Toward Boston his car
was halted for time by great load OF
hay. and still further on by herd OF
more than forty cows that were being
driven home for milking. Gov. Draper
far R0ef0N.