Evening star., 1934-07-08


after We have passed from this busy
world to the great beyond? Not
very long Indeed, it is surprising
how soon the names Of some Of
our foremost men fade from
memory after their obituary notices have ap-
peared in the press. The average man, OF
course stands little chance Of being recalled
for any length Of time, and even the names
of our most distinguished and outstanding
citizens will hardly be remembered so years
from now. The deeds of many Of our great
men are recorded and will be preserved for
centuries, but a vastly larger number of men.
upon whom we look today as important, will
soon be forgotten.
Take, for instance, Zachary Taylor, who
died "a years ago tomorrow. We scarcely hear
his name nowadays, and If we would know
anything about his life we must seek a
biography of him for our information and yet
he was in his day a great general, the twelfth
President of the United States and the second
one to die In Office and to be buried from the
historic east room of the White House.
Probably he would not be considered as one
of our great Presidents, but the fact alone
that he held this high office should in itself
make his name one never to be forgotten so
long as this Republic survives. AS the Chief
Executive he performed his duties faithfully,
and died while fulfilling the trust involved in
the Office to which he was elected by the
American people.
He a Virginian and was born on Nov
ember "a, 1884, near Orange Court House, in
Orange County. OF early American stock, he
was descended from the Taylors who settled
in Virginia in 1892, and he was related to such
wel-known families as the Madisons. Lees.
Barbours. Pendletons, Conways, Taliaferros,
Hunts, Gainses and others. His father,
Richard Taylor. held commission in the
Revolutionary War a colonel. and Is said
to have served with great yalor during that
long and trying struggle, much of the time
with Washington himself, and at the battle OF
Trenton rendered distinguished and valuable
aid to the commander in chief.
COL. TAYLOR emigrated to Kentucky,
~ helped to settle that State, and died there
on his plantation near Louisville, leaving three
sons, Hancock, Zachary (who became Presi-
denD and Joseph and three daughters, Eliza
beth, Sarah and Emily. The sons, George and
William, predeceased the father
Through the influence of his family con-
nections Zachary Taylor was appointed first
lieutenant 7th Infantry, May 8, 1903, became
q captain in 1910 and major in 1914. He left
the service in 1915 and was reinstated the
following year as lieutenant colonel. From this
time on, until within few months Of his
Inauguration as President, he filled all inter-
vening offices, and was made major general
June 29 1846
For gallant conduct in the defense of Fort
Harrison, during the war OF 1925, he was
brevetted major and given the title of major
general by Congress for distinguished service
In the battle of Okeechobee, when he defeated
the Seminole Indians The Florida war, In
which this engagement was fought. began in
1S35, and grew cut of an attempt to remove
the Seminoles to lands west Of the Mississippi,
I'm accordance with treaty previously made
with them
Osceola, the Black Drink, famous Seminole
leader, opposed the whites, and decisiyely de-