Evening star., 1931-12-06

Mrs Tayloe She was the daughter of Esaias
Warren, mayor of Troy
IN Washington, MT. Tayloe made his home at
81 Madison place, just across the alley from
the Belasco Theater He built this house in
1928, we are told by Maj. Gist Blair whose
long residence in this neighborhood has made
him intimately acquainted with the history of
Lafayette Square and the houses surrounding
it, Regarding this particular residence Mai
Blair has said:
mo. 81 Madison place adjoining the home
of Mr.. Blaine, erected in 1928 by Benjamin
Ogle Tayloe, second son of John Tayloe, the
owner of the Octagon House, on the corner of
New York avenue and Eighteenth street, now
so fortunately preserved by the American In
stitute of Architects. He collected beautiful
furniture, pictures and innumerable choice OBJ
jects of art throughout the world for his home
Lafayette square. When, in 1880 John
Quincy Adams retired from the presidency
Tayloe purchased his center table and card
table for his drawing room. He already owned
the card table of Gen. Washington. the draw
ing room chairs of Alexander Hamilton, and
the portable writing ~csk which Hamilton had
carried with him through the American Revo-
luton. Among the beautiful china Mr.. Tayloe
used and possessed were the Sevres plates of
Mrs. Madison, which she had purchased from
the Empress Josephine and Queen Marie An
L q
Madonna of his, by Carlo Dolce.
Mr.. Tayloe resided here until his death in
1853. He not only Travelled extensively in
Europe. but knew the leading men of the day
everywhere he an intimate friend of
Henry Clay and Gen Harrison. The last
house in Washington visited by Gen. Harrison,
when President. before his last illness and
death, this house Mr. Tayloe Whig
was friendly with men of all parties enjoying
the respect of every On the formation of
the Society of the Oldest Inhabitants of the
City of Washington he was elected president
and held the Office until his death Diplomats
or prominent persons coming to Washington
brought letters of introduction to Mr. Tayloe
and were generally entertained at his house
His pictures, ornaments and furniture were re-
moved to Troy, N. Y, after his death and the
house was then occupied by Admiral Paulding
Vice President Garret A. Hobart Senator Mar
Gus A. Hanna, friend of President McKin-
ley Lilly Hammersley, born Lilly Price and
afterward the Dowager Duchess of Marl-
borough, was born there. The Tayloe house is
now part of the Cosmos Club"
BENJAMIN OGLE TAYLOE was quite active
- in the early development of Washington
and in 1852 We find him serving president
of the Washington g. Rockville Co.. having
for its object the improving of the roads lead
ing from the Capital to that village. The first
OF these so improved the present Georgia
avenue, on which constructed 4 hemlock
plank roadway, the boards of which were
three to four inches thick and eight feet long
and which extended from Florida avenue to
the District line
He at the instance of his second wife was
Also responsible for bringing to Washington
that sterling citizen and enthusiastic member
OF the Association of Oldest Inhabitants Henry
A. Willard, who conducted the willard Hotel
here for many years. Referring to this for
eunate instance, the. son, Henry Kellogg Will
hard, some time since said:
While he was on the steamer Niagara OF
the New York g. Troy Hudson River Line, my
father met Miss Phoebe Warren, q very pretty
daughter of one of Troys most exclusive and
best families. She was the hancee of the late
Mr.. Benjamin Ogle Tayloe of Washington
d. c., whom she afterward married. Mr..
Tayloe was the owner of the old City Hotel
1t the corner of Fourteenth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue, which was in a very much run
down condition, and he had had great trouble
IN having 1t properly managed. He happened
TO remark to his fiancee Miss Warren, that he
wished he could find suitable young man to
take hold of the property Miss Warren i'm
mediately answered Mr.. Tayloe, I know just
the young you want-Henry willard the
steward OF this line. So it happened that my
father came to Washington in October, 1847
nfst leasing Mr.. Tayloes hotel property and
soon afterward purchasing the same 1 know
that he felt good deal of anxiety lest he
should be unable to make the full payment on
the property, but he had the good advice and
assurance of influential friend, Mr.. John
Payne, one of Troy's wealthiest citizens and
was encouraged to go ahead. So it that,
In October, 1847. my father founded 'Willards
Hotel He the first of the Willard
brothers, or. he expressed it, the original
Jacob, to come to Washington. He started all
his other brothers in business two Of whom,
Joseph and Caleb were money-makers and
Amassed great fortunes"
(OL. JOHN TAYLOE, the father Of Benja-
~ min Ogle Tayloe, was the son Of john
the son OF William Tayloe, who came from
London to Virginia 1850 IOhn Tavloe