The Washington herald., 1910-05-08
ON TRAIL OF THE PIONEER TAFTS

both also residents Of Mendon, own
land adjacent TO the original houselot.
When the proceedings Of the Taft
family gathering were published an ap-
peal was printed in il for funds "to pro-
cure and erect a suitable monument 10
our honored ancestor" This was to be
erected upon the farm Of Alanson.
From information that can be gathered
now. there seems 10 have been little
material result from this Later, in
1897, a similar appeal was printed and
sent to members Of the family The
fund then raised was deposited in the
UXbridge Savings Bank. and Daniel W.
Taft was appointed treasurer. About
this date a committee consisting Of Ar
thur r. Taft and Henry G. Taft OF Tx
bridge conferred with Alanson Taft re-
garding the erection Of the proposed
monument. They were unable TO reach
an agreement. so the matter lapsed and
none was built. The money. now
amounting TO over $500. still lies idle
in the bank, under the trusteeship OF
d. Wendell Taft. Daniels only son.
The impetus of another enthusiastic
Taft gathering is needed to make the
monument an actuality. The spot now
stands unmarked.
In Mendon village visitors may also
find landmarks Of interest. High on
hill sits Mother Mendon. still rural,
calm and beautiful Her pleasant farms
look off over her daughter towns where
jarring mills have attracted the popu-
lace. Here may be found in the old
graveyard the burial spot Of one Of
Roberts sons, Daniel The cellar Of
Daniels house is also shown. The site
where the first three meeting houses
stood has been made into Founders
Park" through the instrumentality Of
the Mendon Historical Society. and a
suitable tablet has been erected there.
Roberts sons. Thomas, Robert and
Daniel. were each given a part OF the
original lot of land and thereupon built
and occupied houses. The two younger
sons Joseph and Benjamin. crossed the
Great River" now the Blackstone and
built their homes upon the fertile in
tervales Of UXbridge When these sons
Of Father Robert, in their zeal for land.
began farming. these extensive tracts on
the west bank Of the Great River" a
need at once arose for a bridge to cross
IT, that they might easily reach their
estates where the best land Law. The
family succeeded in getting the town OF
Mendon to vote that Mr. Taft and his
sons should be freed from working AZ
the highways, in case they build a
bridge over the Great River to the
land on the west side OF said river. until
other mems work come to be propor-
tionable 10 theirs in working upon the
highways" This was in 17O9 Judge
Alphonso Taft says: The bridge was
built and was probably the first bridge
ever built over that river" Later in
1923. the Tafts built a second bridge
short distance below the first, and this
time the town allowed them sixty
pounds toward expense. It is a pleas
ant walk 10 the site of this old bridge
A lane opposite the Henry G. Taft es-
tate leads directly TO il through rich
meadows lands, where wild flowers
bloom and birds sing. The west abut
ment still stands in good condition.
though builded nearly two hundred
years ago. 1t looks as II it might stand
yet another generation, though the
rivers current there flows swift and
strong. Upon the east bank some OF
the uncemented rock are still to be
seen showing that the Tafts knev well
how 20 build. While the traffic N this
day takes another course. the old road