Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-02

Inc Twelfth President,
Zachary Taylor = By
Edith Anderson
Dear Editor:
This is about my third letter to The
Courier so l thought / would write
about our twelfth president
Zachary Taylor was our twelfth
president Of the United States, born
in Orange county. Virginia, Novem.
Der %, 1884; died in Washington. D.
c.. July 9, 1850. He was the third son
of Richard Taylor, colonel in the
revolutionary war. who, in 1885, re.
moved to the vicinity Of Louisville,
KY. where he made his home in the
then sparsely occupied region. The
pioneer conditions of the country at.
forded little school advantages but
young Taylor was surrounded in early
life by conditions and circumstances
we'll adapted to develop a sturdy char
acter and fit him for an eventful
career. He became lieutenant in the
army in 1903 and two years later was
promoted to the rank OF captain. In
the same year he married Margaret
Smith, lady Of Maryland. He COM
manded at Fort Harrison in 1912,
where he repulsed an attack Of the In
dians under Tecumseh and received
the brevet Of major. In 1914 he COM
manded force against the British
and Indians on Rock river, became
lieutenant colonel in 1919, and in 1882
was made colonel, with headquarters
at Prairie du Chen, Wis.
Taylor occupied his time In the
Black Hawk war and other campaigns
until 1885, when he was transferred
for service against the Seminole In
dams in Florida, defeating them at
Okeechobee. This gallont conduct
caused his promotion to the rank Of
brigadier general, and in 1888 he was
appointed to the chief command in
Florida. In 1910 he was transferred
to the western department of the
army and in 1S45 was ordered to the
defense Of Texas, which had been an
nexed to the United States.
He occupied Corpus Christi with a
force of 1000 men and in March, 1916,
drove the enemy across the Rio
Grande. occupying Matamoros in May.
Monterey was captured by him in
September. and in February, 1847, he
won the battle of Buena Vista. where
he was opposed by an army of 10000
mer under Santa Anna.
In the meantime he won the battles
Of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma,
causing thereby patriotic enthusiasm
throughout the union.
The decided victories won by Tay.
lor caused the wings to nominate
Trough and Ready" as he was called,
for the presidency. The nomination
was given to him on the fourth ballot
at the Philadelphia convention in
1S4S, defeating Henry Clay. Daniel
Webster, and General Scott. The cam
paign was one Of considerable excite.
ment, since General Taylor was
slave holder and had not voted for
forty years, but he defeated Lewis
Cass, the democratic candidate, receiv
ing 1853 electoral votes while his
opponent received 127. He was In.
augurated March s, 1S49, but there was
a democratic plurality in congress,
while the wings we're in hopeless
minority, and the freesol party held
the balance Of power This condition
in the legislative branch. and i'm
portant questions agitating the nation,
made it extremely difficult for the
newly elected president, who was
wholly unaccustomed to the ways OF
statesman. Among the events of his
administration are the admission of
California, the settlement of the boun-
diaries OF Texas, and the organization
of the new territory acquired from
Mexico.
Worn out by public cares, he died
sixteen months after taking the oath
of office. He was buried in Cave Hill
cemetery Louisville, KY.
Edith Anderson, age IL.
Fairfield Iowa. r. F. d. I.