Francis H. Taggart

Francis H. Taggart
FRANCIS H. TAGGART - Local Daily News West Chester - 10-28-1907

Just one day short of being 68 years old Francis. H. Taggart died rather suddenly yesterday afternoon about two o'clock at his house on South Walnut Street, near Union.

During the past three weeks Mr. Taggart had been ailing. He was off duty but walked up town every day or two and on Saturday last he sat up all day being dressed and downstairs. He received calls from a number of old friends and chatted with them happily. At that time he was weak, but cheerful, and to all appearances his end was yet a considerable distance away. Up to yesterday morning he received calls from this relatives, but early in the afternoon he was seized with violent pains about the chest and soon he expired. Angina pectorts was the supposed cause of his death. During his illness he had eaten but little and when the final attack came he was too weak to resist it.

Although past three score, and nearing the limit of man's allotted years, Mr. Taggart never seemed like an old man. He was bright and genial, quick of eye and movement, and had the appearance of being much younger than he really was. He made daily trips to Philadelphia, performed his duties in a most capable manner and greeted his many acquaintances in a way that was actually youthful. Those who knew him best declare that if he had any faults his friends never knew what they were.

ABOVE AVERAGE

In ability and character Mr. Taggart was far above the average. For the past twenty-four years, with the exception of a year and a half he had been connected with the U.S. Custom House, in Philadelphia as an expert examiner in wool in the office of the Appraiser. He knew more about wool qualities and prices than anyone else in the United States, and the Government kept him at the door of entry, that he might determine the values of imported wools. He was frequently called to the ports of Boston and New York to decide questions relating to duties on imports and at Washington, D.C. The Congressional Committees often sent for him that they might have advantage of his superior knowledge on this line. Not long ago he was summoned to Buffalo to decide a case in regard to wool imported on the hide instead of in the fleece.

In point of character, Mr. Taggart was upright and honorable, and remarkably steady. When he accepted an office in an organization he rarely missed a meeting and never if it could be helped. To some of the positions he held he was reelected year after year, until no one spoke of the office without thinking of him.

Mr. Taggart was born in West Goshen, October 28th, 1839, just 68 years ago today, and in his youth he was an assistant in a dry goods store on West Gay Street about where the J. Herbert Mullin building now stands. Later he was in the same business on West Market street, where William S. Davis now is, but from this he retired many years ago.

AS A SOLDIER

As a soldier Mr. Taggart made a fine record. He first enlisted in 1861 in Captain Benjamin H. Sweeny's Co., F, 49th Penna. Vol. Inf., and served two years with the Army of Potomac. Afterward he was made Lieutenant in Co. I, 8th Regt. U.S. Colored troops, serving in that regiment with bravery and fidelity until the close of the war in 1865. He was recommended for a captaincy, but the war ended before his appointment could be made. For his "coolness and bravery, his zeal and untiring bravery" he was praised and admired b his superior and brother officers.

During a period of 40 years Mr. Taggart served as Quartermaster of General Geo. A. McCall Post no. 31, G.A.R. and for a long time was Quartermaster of Encampment no. 25, Union Veterans Legion. He was also a member of Pennsylvania Commandery of the Loyal Legion

AS A CIVILIAN

Another organization to which Mr. Taggart was devoted was the Methodist Episcopal Church, where in he had long filled the office of trustee. He was a teacher in the Sunday School for many years. He belonged also to Stella Lodge, No. 131 Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Taggart was a charter member of West Chester Conclave, No. 61 Improved Order of Heptasophis, and also belonged to the Royal Arcanum.

Positions of a public nature he had held were State Bank Appraiser for one year, Secretary of the Republican State Committee, Transcribing Clerk in the House of Representatives at Harrisburg and clerk in Custom House for three months, in addition to his period of service in the office of the Appraiser.

SURVIVED A WRECK

Some years ago Mr. Taggart was seriously injured in a railroad wreck up the Schullkill valley, when several persons were killed. Mr. Taggart was taken out from under the locomotive and was thought to be dying, but he was able to be a work again after a few weeks in the hospital and jokingly remarked that he could stand anything now that he had been run over by a locomotive and survived. This was merely an evidence of his hardy constitution and his genial nature.

HIS FAMILY

Mr. Taggart married Elizabeth H. Dennis of West Chester, September 26th 1861 and she died October 13, 1898, leaving him one daughter, Jennie, wife of Charles Bowers of Elizabeth, NJ

June 20th 1901, he married at Pottsville, Emma H. Hodgson, who survives him. She was the cousin to the first wife.

Mr. Taggart leaves one full brother, Jesse Taggart, who is in the West. His half brothers and sisters are Dr. William Taggart, Miss Maggie Taggart, Edmond, Oklahoma; Charles Taggart, St. Paul Minn., Simeon Taggart, Ohio, and Mrs. Calvin Phillips, West Grove. Their mother Mrs. George Taggart is at Edmonds, Oklahoma.