- FRANK D. TAFT. Among the enterprising and successful business
men of Monticello, Green
- county, who have lived in this pleasant little city all their
lives, is Frank D. TAFT, who was born Oct. 20, 1862, a son of
S. C. and Electa M. (FLUENT) TAFT.
- S. C. TAFT, of Monticello, a prominent member of G.A.R. Post
No. 113, was born in Springville,
- Susquehanna Co., Penn., Dec. 29, 1819, and was a descendant
of Samuel TAFT, a native of England, who came with a brother
to America, the latter mysteriously disappearing soon after landing.
Samuel TAFT, our subject's great-grandfather, had four children,
born in Rhode Island. Jonathan, the grandfather, being born at
Smithfield, that State, on March 13, 1772, and moved to Pennsylvania
about 1812, where, on Dec. 17, 1817, he married Nancy FOX, eldest
of the four children of Nehemiah FOX. In 1824 he moved to New
York, where he died on his farm in Virgil township, Cortland
county, June 11, 1851, his wife dying at the home of her son,
at Monticello, Wis., March 11, 1862. They had reared three of
their four children, of whom our subject's father was the second:
John L., born Jun 25, 1822, resides in Forth Worth, Texas; Daniel
B., born Sept. 28, 1826, died in Monticello in 1862.
- The father of our subject passed his youthful days under
the parental roof, and when old enough
- learned the lucrative trade of carpenter and millwright.
His marriage to Elizabeth GREY, of Cortland county, N.Y., took
place Sept. 28, 1843. She was a daughter of Ogden and Susan (BARNES)
GREY, and died June 28, 1846. The second marriage of Mr. TAFT
took place in Addison, Steuben Co., N.Y., on Oct. 25, 1849, to
Electa M. FLUENT, who was born Jan. 27, 1825, a daughter of Joseph
and Gannie (DICKINSON) FLUENT, the former being a native of Maine,
and the latter of Pompey Hollow, Onondaga Co., N.Y. Mr. TAFT
removed to Janesville, Wis., in 1853, and on March 19, 1854,
went to Monticello, Wis. Here he resumed his trade, also engaged
in farming and led a useful and busy life until the time of his
death, on May 16, 1897, at the age of seventy-seven. During the
Civil war he enlisted at Monticello, on Dec. 22, 1863, in the
5th Wis. Light Artillery (some unaccountable blunder registers
his enlistment Jan. 7, 1864), was mustered in at Madison, and
was sent thence to Chattanooga. Connected with the 14th Army
Corps, Mr. TAFT saw some hard service, moving with his regiment
to Ringgold, through Snake Creek Gap, and assuming position for
the battle of Resaca, on May 14, where he with his companions
fought all day until ammunition became exhausted. On the 15th
he served his gun all day, and on the 16th he was at Rome; on
May 26th went on the quick march to join the troops at Dallas,
where the Union forces were successful. At Big Shanty, Kennesaw
Mountain, and other engagements in this neighborhood, Mr. TAFT's
battery did most effective service, participated in the fight
at the crossing at Chattanooga, and followed in the battle of
Peach Tree Creek, and taking part in the siege of Atlanta, where
the brave Gen. McPherson met death. This battery did service
through the siege, and then engaged in a three hours' fight at
Jonesboro. Returning to Atlanta, he remained with his section
until in November (voting there for president), when he became
a victim of typhoid fever, finally, after making many refusals,
being forced to enter hospital. On Nov. 5 he was sent to a hospital
at Chattanooga, and after two weeks he was transferred first
to Nashville, then to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, thence to
Prairie du Chien, and finally to Madison, expecting to go to
New York, but illness forced him to the hospital again, at Madison,
and in February, 1865, to Prairie du Chien, where he was obliged
to remain until the return of the regiment to Wisconsin, where
he was honorably discharged June 7, 1865.
- Returning to Monticello, under the tender care of his family,
he recovered health, and again took up
- the peaceful pursuits. Three of his family of six children
are deceased: Lucius E., born Sept. 21, 1850, died March 18,
1854; Elizabeth A., born Aug. 12, 1852, died March 20, 1855;
John O., born Nov. 20, 1854; Appleton R., born Sept. 12, 1857,
mentioned below; Ogden G., born Oct. 7, 1860; and Frank, born
Oct. 20, 1862. Mr. TAFT was the first commander of his post,
and served until his death. In December, 1848, he became a member
of the Masonic fraternity, at Addison, N.Y., and in 1889 was
worthy master of the lodge at Monticello, acting for ten years
as an official. His first vote was cast for James K. Polk, after
which he joined the Free Soil party, and naturally followed into
the Republican ranks, becoming a stanch and active member of
the latter party, being a member of the club of Monticello. As
a prominent citizen he was called upon to serve in many important
official positions, and for some years was a justice of the peace.
Long will he be remembered as one of the leading citizens of
this place.
- Frank D. TAFT, our subject, has lived in this town all his
life, with the exception of two years spent
- in Kansas. His educational advantages were those of the common
schools, and when he reached man's estate he learned his father's
trade. For a number of years he engaged in contracting. His marriage
occurred on Sept. 5, 1889, to Miss Rosa MARTY, a daughter of
Henry and Fannie (DURST) MARTY, natives of Switzerland. Mr. and
Mrs. MARTY are the parents of the following children: Fannie,
who married Fred GERBER, of Monticello; Ursilla, who married
H. L. BABLER, of this place; Rosa, Mrs. TAFT; Fred H., of Madison;
J. Henry, of New Glarus; Matt S., of New Glarus; Annie, who married
William PRESTON, of New Glarus; and Nicholas C., of Monticello.
Mrs. MARTY was but five years old when brought by her parents
from Switzerland. Mr. MARTY came over in 1851. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. TAFT, Louisa A. and Herbert.
- Appleton R. TAFT, brother to our subject, was one of the
soldiers who gave up their lives at
- Camp Cuba Libre. He passed away on Aug. 18, 1898, aged forty-one
years, lacking but a month. His wife, Mrs. Nora TAFT, had his
body brought home for burial, and it was interred with military
honors in the Monticello cemetery. He belonged to Company H,
1st Wis. Vols., and with high hopes had marched away beneath
the same flag under which his father had so bravely faced danger.
- Mr. TAFT erected a very desirable residence in 1894, but
has traded that for another, building
- several others, having the advantage of being able to build
a new house when the old one does not suit. In politics he could
be nothing but a Republican, and is socially connected with the
Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. TAFT is a valued member of the
Swiss Reformed Church.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 970-972.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
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