Evening star., 1918-01-10
knew OLD HICKORY
=AND GEN. TAYLOR
Death of Tobias W. Staiar,
/, .-1o1, Recalls Episodes in
5EarIy American History.

Tobias w. staiar, 101 years old, who
knew President Jackson and Cen Hach-
ary Taylor, died Tuesday evening at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. Kate Staiaf
Rousseau, 4s16 14th street northwest
Funeral services were. held at O'Clock
this afternoon at the undertaking
parlors of John Il, Wright, after which
the body was sent TO his late home IN
Owenton, Ky. for internent.
Following the death of his wife, De-
cembet 5, after life together of more
than seventy years. Mr. staiar came to
Washington from Owenton shortly be
fore the holidays to make his future
home with his daughter. Despite his
advanced years, ne made the trip With
out difficulty and it was not until day
or Two before his death that ms
strength began to fail him,
Born in Fredcricksburg- Va. May y.
1916 Mr.. Staiar lacked but few
months of rounding out his 162nd year.
In his lifetime he had come in contact
with many of the great men who have
made American history since the war of
1872. The possesSor of remarkable
memory. which lasted until the end. he
could relate almost without limitation
interesting incidents. not generally
found in histories, in the lives of former
Presidents, and statesmen. and generals
and others who had 4 part i'll the deTel-
opment of the nation.
Eaw Famous Glove Episode.
One of his favorite stories was of an
incident which he witnessed at Fred
ericksburg at the time of the laying Of
the e-=Herner stone Of the first Mary
Washington monument. in 1884. when
John Randolph of Virginia struck Pres
ideat, jackson in the face with his
glove
The former President, whom Mr.
Staiar never failed to refer to as old
Hickory. had gone to Fredericksburg
TO take part in the monument exercises
and Mr.. Staiar, who was then about
eighteen Years of age, was introduced to
the-ehief executive by Maj. Eassett. He
was Standing near Gen. Jackson when the
famous glove episode occurred.
Mr.. Staiar was a great admirer of
Gen. Taylor and went to Louisville, in
ls47, to greet him upon his return from
Mexico He celebrated Gen. Tay1or's
victories by giving an illumination
party at his old estate. Fighfield place.
IN rOweneon. Candles were placed in
rows. around the old colonial house and
lighted and the entire neighborhood
turned out to join in the jubilation over
the successful Mexican campaign.
After receiving his early education in
the old Rappahannock Academy, in Fred
ertcks6urg, Mr.. Staiar, in the spring of
1857. Etossed the Allegheny mountains by
stage, coach, and settled in Kentucky. at
tendfng school for a time in Frankfort be-
fore going to Owenton.
Took Part in Tippscanoe Canvass.
In l540 he went with delegation of
whigs from Frankfort 10 Harrodsburg
KY, during the famous '"Tippeeanoe and
Tyler. too" presidential campaign, trav-
cling in log cabin drawn by forty yoke
OF oxen, with plenty of hard cider to
drink and many coon skins nailed on the
outside of the cabin, the delegation wear
Ing eeonskin caps.
Inl1S6o he attended the unveiling of
the statue of Commodore Perry at
Cleveland. Ohio. Gov. Sprague of
Rhode Island, with many other nota-
nleswas in attendance, and it was
therE that Gov. Sprague met the beau
tifui and accomplished Kate Chase,
daughter of Salmon Z. Chase, whom he
married. Many members of the So
called "Wide-awakes" attended the un-
yelling ceremonies. wearing a distinc-
tive uniform, large felt hats and
shoulder capes.
MEStaiar's first marriage was to Miss
Margaret Elizabeth Roberts of owen
ton.In 1913 Their only son. Frank
Staiar. fought in the Confederacy.
though the father remained loyal to the
Union, Following the death of his first
wife. Mr.. Staiar was married April II.
1S4TerO neF sister, MISS Mary Roberts,
who Was then in her fourteenth year
Their. entire married life of seventy
years" was spent in Owenton, where
Mrs. Staiar was known to young and
old for her charity and unselfshness
They-are survived by an only daughter,
Mrs. Lowell Quincy Rousseau of this
city
Mr.. Staiar was a stanch republican
and ah uncompromising Union man in
theciyil war. He had voted for every
republican President since obtaining his
majority and invested his savings
largely in government bonds. He was
. wide reader. familiar with the history
and literature Of many countries be-
sides.h his own. By following simple life
precepts, he had never experienced a
serious Illness and could shoot a rife
with .unerring aim at the age of 100.
Until the last few years of his life
hs~hAd never failed to observe the
Fourth Of July by exploding giant fire.
cranasars and skyrockets. A few hours
before his death he recited Daniel Web
stef's Tribute to Our Flag"
Mr. Staiar, at the age of ninety-two,
came to Washington alone and paid a
visftto his daughter and son-in-law.
When called to Kentucky by the death of
Mrs. Staiar last month. Mr. Rousseau
prevailed upon Mr.. Staiar to return to
Washington with him and make his resi-
dence here.
MARRIED OVER TELEPHONE.