American politician (1856?1929)
Thomas Taggart
|
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|
|
|
In office
March 20, 1916 ? November 7, 1916
|
Appointed by
| Samuel M. Ralston
|
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Preceded by
| Benjamin F. Shively
|
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Succeeded by
| James Eli Watson
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|
In office
1904?1908
|
Preceded by
| James Kimbrough Jones
|
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Succeeded by
| Norman E. Mack
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|
In office
January 1, 1895 ? December 31, 1901
|
Preceded by
| Caleb S. Denny
|
---|
Succeeded by
| Charles A. Bookwalter
|
---|
|
|
Born
| (
1856-11-17
)
November 17, 1856
Emyvale
,
County Monaghan
, Ireland
|
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Died
| March 6, 1929
(1929-03-06)
(aged 72)
Indianapolis
, Indiana, U.S.
|
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Nationality
| American
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Political party
| Democratic
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Spouse
| Eva Bryant Taggart
|
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Children
| Florence (1878?1899),
Lucy
(1880?1960),
Nora (b. 1881),
Irene (b. 1883),
Emily (b. 1888), and
Thomas D. (b. 1886)
|
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Residence(s)
| Indianapolis;
French Lick, Indiana
;
Hyannis Port, Massachusetts
|
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Occupation
| Politician, hotelier, and financier
|
---|
|
Thomas Taggart
(November 17, 1856 ? March 6, 1929) was an
Irish-American
politician who was the political boss of the
Democratic Party
in
Indiana
for the first quarter of the twentieth century and remained an influential political figure in local, state, and national politics until his death. Taggart was elected auditor of
Marion County, Indiana
(1886?1894), and
mayor of Indianapolis
(1895 to 1901). His mayoral administration supported public improvements, most notably the formation of the city's
park and boulevard system
. He also served as a member of the
Democratic National Committee
(1900?1916) and as its chairman (1904?1908). Taggart was appointed to the
U.S. Senate
in March 1916, but lost the seat in the November election.
Taggart, an
Irish
-born immigrant, came to the
United States
in 1861 at the age of five, grew up in
Xenia, Ohio
, and moved to Indiana as a teenager. After relocating to
Indianapolis
in 1877, he began a successful career as an hotelier, financier, and politician. As the party's county chairman during
Grover Cleveland
's
1888 presidential campaign
, Taggart helped him carry Marion County over
Republican
Benjamin Harrison
, the hometown candidate. As state chairman in 1892, Taggart helped Cleveland carry Indiana in opposition to Harrison's bid for reelection. In 1908 Taggart assisted in securing the Democratic nomination of
John W. Kern
for
U.S. vice president
and
Thomas R. Marshall
for
governor of Indiana
. He was also involved in securing the nomination of
Woodrow Wilson
for
U.S. president
and Marshall for vice president in 1912, as well as
James M. Cox
's nomination in the 1920
presidential election
. In addition to his political activities, Taggart was the owner and developer of the
French Lick Springs Hotel
in
Orange County, Indiana
; he also maintained a summer home at
Hyannis Port, Massachusetts
.
Early life and family
[
edit
]
Thomas Taggart was born on November 17, 1856, to Thomas and Martha Kingsbury Taggart in
Emyvale
, County Monaghan, Ireland], and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1861 at the age of five. The Taggarts settled in
Xenia, Ohio
, where Thomas senior worked at a local railroad depot. Young Taggart left high school early to work full-time at the depot's hotel and restaurant. In 1875, when young Thomas was 18, his employer, the N. and G. Ohmer Company, sent him to
Garrett, Indiana
, to work in the restaurant at DeKalb House, a depot hotel. Thomas remained at Garrett until 1877, when he was transferred to
Indianapolis
,
Indiana
, to work as a clerk for the Ohmer company's dining hall/restaurant at the city's
Union Depot
. Known as a hard worker, Taggart became the depot restaurant's manager and eventually its sole owner in the new Union Station.
[1]
[2]
[3]
In 1878, a year after his move to Indianapolis, Taggart married Eva Dora Bryant, whom he met while living in Garrett. Thomas and his wife were the parents of six children, five daughters and one son. Florence Eva (1878?1899) died tragically in a yachting accident in the Gulf of Mexico;
Lucy Martha
(1880?1960) became an accomplished artist and art educator at the
John Herron Art Institute
in Indianapolis; Nora (born 1881), a
Vassar College
graduate, married David L. Chambers, who became president and chairman of the
Bobbs-Merrill Company
; Irene Mary (born 1883) married a physician from
Louisville, Kentucky
; Emily Letitia (born 1888) married William R. Sinclair, an executive with Kingan and Company, an Indianapolis-based meatpacker; and Thomas Douglas (born 1886) graduated from
Yale University
and in 1912 assumed management of the
French Lick Springs Hotel
. Thomas and Eva Taggart also had nine grandchildren.
[4]
The Taggart family's primary residence was in Indianapolis, where they built a new home at 1331 North Delaware Street in 1913. The large home included a
Georgian Colonial
exterior and an Italian-style interior. It was selected as one of
House Beautiful
's
three best homes in Indianapolis in 1920.
[5]
The Taggarts were members of Saint Paul Episcopal Church in Indianapolis.
[6]
In 1901, after Taggart and a group of investors purchased the
French Lick Springs Hotel
in
Orange County, Indiana
, the Taggart family frequently visited the hotel. Its seven-story deluxe wing, completed in 1915, provided accommodations for the family when they were in residence.
[7]
[8]
The family also had a summer home built in 1915?16 at
Hyannis Port, Massachusetts
. The home was called Amyvale, in honor of Taggart's Irish birthplace. In 1928
Joseph P.
and
Rose Kennedy
acquired property adjacent to the Taggarts' Hyannis Port home to establish the
Kennedy compound
. The Taggarts' Hyannis Port home was sold after Eva's death, in 1937.
[9]
Career
[
edit
]
After his move to Indianapolis in 1877, Taggart began a successful career as an Indiana hotelier, financier, and politician.
[1]
Taggart became the owner of the restaurant at the Indianapolis Union Station, but sold his restaurant business and began other ventures that included acquisition of two hotels in Indianapolis and the
French Lick Springs Hotel
in
Orange County, Indiana
, among other investments.
[2]
Taggart also became a "powerful Democratic boss of the state," often referred to by his initials, T. T., or called "the Easy Boss" because of his congenial nature.
[10]
Taggart was elected auditor of
Marion County, Indiana
(1886?1894) and
mayor of Indianapolis
(1895?1901). As the Democratic Party's boss in Indiana, a member of
Democratic National Committee
(1900?1916), and the party's national chairman (1904?1908), Taggart also became an influential political figure in state and national politics. In 1916 Taggart was appointed
U.S. Senator
, but he was defeated later that year in a special election.
[1]
[11]
Hotelier
[
edit
]
After Taggart sold his restaurant business at the Indianapolis Union Station, his investments expanded to include controlling interests in the Grand and Denison hotels in Indianapolis and investments in the copper, gas, and oil industries.
[2]
In 1901 Taggart began his most ambitious and famous project when he organized a small group of investors that acquired and developed the
French Lick Springs Hotel
in
Orange County, Indiana
.
[12]
[13]
In addition to Taggart, the group included William McDoel, president of the Monon Railroad;
Crawford Fairbanks
, a
Terre Haute
brewery owner; and Colonel Livingston T. Dickson, owner of "quarry and mineral interests in Indiana and Illinois."
[14]
Around 1905 Taggart bought his partners' interests in the mineral springs hotel to become its sole owner. Under Taggart's direction, the property was transformed into a first-class spa and a renowned gambling resort. Taggart made improvements and additions to the hotel, its mineral springs, and the resort's grounds. He also modernized the facilities, established trolley service to French Lick, and convinced the
Monon Railroad
to lay a spur track to the hotel's grounds and run daily passenger service to
Chicago
.
[15]
At the height of the resort's popularity in the early decades of the 20th century, the hotel provided more than $2 million in annual profits.
[16]
Although casino gambling was illegal under Indiana law, it flourished the Orange County area from the early 1900s until the mid-1940s, during the time the Taggart family managed the French Lick Springs Hotel, and contributed to the resort's popularity. Several casinos were in operation within Orange County, but Taggart disassociated himself with any connection to these local gambling establishments and denied any involvement in illegal gambling operations.
[17]
Politician
[
edit
]
Taggart, who was a
Democrat
, became active in local politics in Indianapolis in the 1880s. He was elected auditor of heavily
Republican
Marion County
in 1886, reelected in 1890, and served in that capacity until 1894. During that time Taggart also served as the Democratic Party chairman at the city, county, and state levels. As the county chairman during the
presidential campaign of 1888
, his efforts helped
Grover Cleveland
carry Marion County over native son
Benjamin Harrison
, the first time the county had voted Democratic in a Presidential election. As state chairman in 1892, Taggart helped Cleveland carry Indiana to challenge Harrison's bid for reelection.
[3]
[18]
From 1895 to 1901, Taggart served three two-year terms as the
mayor of Indianapolis
.
[1]
He defeated Republican Preston C. Trusler in 1895, William M. Harding in 1897 and Charles A. Bookwalter in 1899. During his mayoralty, Taggart's administration emphasized efficient use of the city's funds and civic improvements that included acquisition of more than 900 acres (360 hectares) along the
White River
to establish the city's
park and boulevard system
.
[3]
Although the city's then-growing African American population generally supported Republicans until the New Deal, Indianapolis lawyers Alexander E. Manning (who became president of the National League of Negro Democrats in 1896) and James T.V. Hill were Taggart's liaisons with their community, which helped elect and re-elect Taggart.
[19]
Taggart remained active in national and state politics until his death in 1929. He served on the
Democratic National Committee
from 1900 to 1916 and as its chairman from 1904 to 1908.
[1]
As the party's national chairman, Taggart ran Judge
Alton B. Parker
's campaign in the
presidential election in 1904
, but Parker lost to
Theodore Roosevelt
. Taggart played a key role in securing
John W. Kern
's Democratic nomination for
U.S. vice president
and
Thomas R. Marshall
's nomination for
governor of Indiana
in 1908, as well as
Woodrow Wilson
's nomination for
U.S. president
and Marshall's vice presidential nomination in 1912 at the Democratic National Convention in
Baltimore
,
Maryland
.
[20]
[21]
On March 20, 1916, Indiana governor
Samuel M. Ralston
appointed Taggart, his political ally, to the U.S. Senate to fill a seat left vacant by the death of
Benjamin F. Shively
. Taggart advocated efficient use of federal funds and opposed wasteful spending, although his time in the Senate was brief. That November proved a
Republican
sweep and Taggart lost the Senate seat to
James E. Watson
. In 1920 Taggart helped
James M. Cox
win the Democratic nomination in the
presidential election
. Cox reciprocated by supporting Taggart's challenge to regain the Senate seat from Watson, but again Republicans swept in the November general election:
Warren G. Harding
defeated Cox and Taggart lost to Watson.
[1]
[22]
In 1924 Taggart had nearly secured Samuel Ralston's nomination as the Democratic candidate in the
presidential election
before Ralston withdrew from the race for health reasons.
[20]
In Indiana's gubernatorial campaign that year, Taggart endorsed Carleton B. McCulloch, but McCulloch lost the election to
Edward L. Jackson
, who enjoyed strong
Ku Klux Klan
support and carried all but two of Indiana's 92 counties.
[23]
[24]
Later years
[
edit
]
Taggart's health declined in the 1920s, but he remained active in national and state politics and civil affairs until his death in Indianapolis in 1929.
[2]
He served as chairman of the board of directors of
American Fletcher National Bank
(1925?1929); as a director of the Indianapolis, Light, Heat, and Power Company; and treasurer of the Indiana Lincoln Union. He was also a member of the
George Rogers Clark Memorial
Commission.
[20]
Death and legacy
[
edit
]
Taggart died on March 6, 1929. After a brief funeral service in the dining room of his North Delaware Street home in Indianapolis, he was buried at
Crown Hill Cemetery
. His gravesite is near those of his wife, Eva, and four of their children (Florence, Lucy, Irene, and Thomas). The Taggart family burial plot is in Section Three of the cemetery and marked with a tall, gray obelisk.
[6]
[2]
Following his death in 1929, Taggart's son, Thomas Douglas, became owner of the French Lick Springs Hotel property and buildings valued at nearly $2 million.
[12]
[25]
Taggart is considered the "undisputed boss of the Democratic machine for the first quarter of the twentieth century"
[26]
and "one of Indiana’s most dominant political figures."
[10]
He is also remembered for his support of public improvements as mayor of Indianapolis, most notably the formation of city's public
park and boulevard system
. Taggart's efforts in this area made him "a leader in the movement to conserve urban natural resources for public use."
[3]
See also
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Fadely "Desperate Hope," p. 7. See also:
James Philip Fadely (Summer 1997).
"Subtle Grace, Radiant Color: The Life of Hoosier Artist Lucy Taggart"
.
Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History
.
9
(3). Indianapolis, Indiana: 16, 18
. Retrieved
May 9,
2017
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
Douglas A. Wissing, Marianne Tobias, Rebecca W. Dolan, and Anne Ryder (2013).
Crown Hill: History, Spirit, and Sanctuary
. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press. p. 143.
ISBN
9780871953018
.
{{
cite book
}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link
)
- ^
a
b
c
d
David J. Bodenhamer and Robert G. Barrows, ed. (1994).
The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis
. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. p. 1316.
ISBN
978-0-253-31222-8
.
- ^
Fadely "Desperate Hope," pp. 7, 9; Fadely, "Subtle Grace, Radiant Color," pp. 16, 18, 23.
- ^
Fadely, "Subtle Grace, Radiant Color," p. 19.
- ^
a
b
James Philip Fadely (Fall 1994).
"Desperate Hope: The Story of Florence Taggart"
.
Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History
.
6
(4). Indianapolis, Indiana: 11
. Retrieved
May 9,
2017
.
[
permanent dead link
]
- ^
Eliza Steelwater (August 15, 2002).
"National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: French Lick Springs Hotel"
(PDF)
. United States Department of the Interior/National Park Service. pp. 12?15, 18?20
. Retrieved
May 10,
2017
.
- ^
James P. Fadely (1997).
Thomas Taggart: Public Servant, Political Boss: 1856?1929
. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society. pp.
65
?68.
ISBN
978-0-87195-115-1
.
- ^
Fadely "Desperate Hope," p. 9; Fadely, "Subtle Grace, Radiant Color," pp. 19, 23.
- ^
a
b
Fadely "Desperate Hope," p. 5.
- ^
Chapter 4 in
Richard Walter Haupt (1954).
History of the French Lick Springs Hotel
. Indiana University. pp. 94?121.
- ^
a
b
"History of the French Lick and West Baden Springs Hotels"
. WFLQ Radio
. Retrieved
May 10,
2017
.
- ^
Steelwater, p. 56; Fadely,
Thomas Taggart
, pp. xii and 57.
- ^
Fadely,
Thomas Taggart
, p. 63.
- ^
Steelwater, pp. 5?6; 22?26. See also:
Christina R. Bunting (2012). "Mineral Springs: The French Lick Springs Hotel in Orange County, Indiana".
THG: Connections
.
52
(2). Indianapolis: 43.
- ^
Bunting, p. 45.
- ^
Fadely,
Thomas Taggart
, pp. 74?76.
- ^
Fadely, "Desperate Hope," p. 7.
- ^
Bodenhamer-Barrows p.242
- ^
a
b
c
Bodenhamer and Barrows, eds., p. 1317.
- ^
Linda C. Gugin and James E. St. Clair, ed. (2006).
The Governors of Indiana
. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press and the Indiana Historical Bureau. pp. 235?36.
ISBN
978-0-87195-196-0
.
- ^
Andrew E. Stoner (2017).
Campaign Crossroads: Presidential Politics in Indiana from Lincoln to Obama
. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press. pp. 200?01.
ISBN
9780871954022
.
- ^
Fadely,
Thomas Taggart
, pp. 185, 189?90, 195; Gugin, and St. Clair, eds., p. 276.
- ^
"Ball State University"
. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007
. Retrieved
June 27,
2006
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
link
)
- ^
Steelwater, p. 57.
- ^
Fadely "Subtle Grace, Radiant Color," p. 18.
References
[
edit
]
- Bodenhamer, David J.; Barrows, Robert G., eds. (1994).
The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis
. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. pp. 1316?17.
ISBN
978-0-253-31222-8
.
- Bunting, Christina R. (2012). "Mineral Springs: The French Lick Springs Hotel in Orange County, Indiana".
THG: Connections
.
52
(2). Indianapolis: 42?46.
- Fadely, James Philip (Fall 1994).
"Desperate Hope: The Story of Florence Taggart"
.
Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History
.
6
(4). Indianapolis, Indiana: 4?11
. Retrieved
May 9,
2017
.
[
permanent dead link
]
- Fadely, James Philip (Summer 1997).
"Subtle Grace, Radiant Color: The Life of Hoosier Artist Lucy Taggart"
.
Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History
.
9
(3). Indianapolis, Indiana: 16?23
. Retrieved
May 9,
2017
.
- Fadley, James Philip (1997).
Thomas Taggart: Public Servant, Political Boss
. Indianapolis:
Indiana Historical Society
.
ISBN
978-0-87195-115-1
.
- Gugin, Linda C.; St. Clair, James E., eds. (2006).
The Governors of Indiana
. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press and the Indiana Historical Bureau.
ISBN
978-0-87195-196-0
.
- "History of the French Lick and West Baden Springs Hotels"
. WFLQ Radio
. Retrieved
May 10,
2017
.
- Steelwater, Eliza (August 15, 2002).
"National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: French Lick Springs Hotel"
(PDF)
. United States Department of the Interior/National Park Service
. Retrieved
May 10,
2017
.
- Stoner, Andrew E. (2017).
Campaign Crossroads: Presidential Politics in Indiana from Lincoln to Obama
. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press.
ISBN
9780871954022
.
- Wissing, Douglas A.; Marianne Tobias; Rebecca W. Dolan; Anne Ryder (2013).
Crown Hill: History, Spirit, and Sanctuary
. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press.
ISBN
9780871953018
.
Further reading
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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International
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National
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People
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Other
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