Thomas Taggart
Encyclopedia
Thomas Taggart was a U.S. political figure, serving as mayor of Indianapolis and influential in state and national politics.
, Ireland
, Taggart immigrated with his parents to the United States in 1861. The family settled in Xenia, Ohio
, where young Taggart got a job working the lunch counter at the railroad depot. At age 18, he was sent by his employer to manage the depot restaurant and hotel in Garrett, Indiana
, where he met his future wife Eva Bryant. They married in 1878.
Taggart moved to Indianapolis
in 1877 to run the restaurant at Union Depot.
from 1886 to 1894. In 1895 he was elected mayor of Indianapolis, and served until 1901. He founded the city's park system during his tenure.
He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee
from 1904 until 1908. Taggart played a key role in ensuring the nomination of Thomas Riley Marshall as the Democratic nominee for Indiana Governor in 1908, and again in securing the Vice Presidential nomination for Marshall in 1912 at the Democratic National Convention in Baltimore.
On March 20, 1916, Taggart was appointed by Governor Samuel M. Ralston
to the United States Senate
seat left vacant by the death of Senator Benjamin F. Shively
, but he was defeated for the seat in the November election.
In the 1924 gubernatorial campaign Taggart urged front-runner Carleton B. McCulloch to take an anti-Ku Klux Klan
position. McCulloch's anti Klan position contributed to his losing the election to Klan member Edward L. Jackson who enjoyed strong Klan support.
Taggart remained active in national and state politics until his death in Indianapolis in 1929. He is remembered as the mayor who began the Indianapolis parks system.
Taggart was famous for his ownership, with Terre Haute industrialist Crawford Fairbanks, of the French Lick Springs Hotel
in Orange County, Indiana
. They developed it into a popular resort based on its mineral springs. Taggart was reputed to have an interest in the illegal gambling operations that also contributed to the resort's popularity.
Taggart was buried in Indianapolis in Crown Hill Cemetery
.
Early life and family
Born in County MonaghanCounty Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Taggart immigrated with his parents to the United States in 1861. The family settled in Xenia, Ohio
Xenia, Ohio
Xenia is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio 21 miles from Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, where young Taggart got a job working the lunch counter at the railroad depot. At age 18, he was sent by his employer to manage the depot restaurant and hotel in Garrett, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Garrett is a city in Keyser Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, United States. The population was 6,286 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1875, Garrett was named for John W...
, where he met his future wife Eva Bryant. They married in 1878.
Taggart moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
in 1877 to run the restaurant at Union Depot.
Political career
Taggart became active in local politics in Indianapolis. He served as auditor of Marion CountyMarion County, Indiana
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
from 1886 to 1894. In 1895 he was elected mayor of Indianapolis, and served until 1901. He founded the city's park system during his tenure.
He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
from 1904 until 1908. Taggart played a key role in ensuring the nomination of Thomas Riley Marshall as the Democratic nominee for Indiana Governor in 1908, and again in securing the Vice Presidential nomination for Marshall in 1912 at the Democratic National Convention in Baltimore.
On March 20, 1916, Taggart was appointed by Governor Samuel M. Ralston
Samuel M. Ralston
Samuel Moffett Ralston was Democratic politician, the 28th Governor of and a United States Senator from the U.S. state of Indiana. Born into a large impoverished family, he took many jobs as a child including working in a coal mine...
to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat left vacant by the death of Senator Benjamin F. Shively
Benjamin F. Shively
Benjamin Franklin Shively was a United States Representative and Senator from Indiana. Born near Osceola, Indiana, attended the common schools and the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. He taught school from 1874 to 1880, engaged in journalism from 1880 to 1884, and was secretary of the...
, but he was defeated for the seat in the November election.
In the 1924 gubernatorial campaign Taggart urged front-runner Carleton B. McCulloch to take an anti-Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
position. McCulloch's anti Klan position contributed to his losing the election to Klan member Edward L. Jackson who enjoyed strong Klan support.
Taggart remained active in national and state politics until his death in Indianapolis in 1929. He is remembered as the mayor who began the Indianapolis parks system.
Taggart was famous for his ownership, with Terre Haute industrialist Crawford Fairbanks, of the French Lick Springs Hotel
French Lick Resort Casino
French Lick Resort is a resort complex located in the towns of West Baden and French Lick, Indiana. The complex includes two historic resort spa hotels, stables, a casino and three golf courses, all part of a $500 million restoration and development project....
in Orange County, Indiana
Orange County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,306 people, 7,621 households, and 5,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 8,348 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
. They developed it into a popular resort based on its mineral springs. Taggart was reputed to have an interest in the illegal gambling operations that also contributed to the resort's popularity.
Taggart was buried in Indianapolis in Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
.
Additional reading
- James Philip Fadley, Thomas Taggart: Public Servant, Political Boss, Indianapolis:Indiana State Historical Society, 1997. ISBN 0-87195-115-0
- Bennett, David J., "He Almost Changed the World: The Life and Times of Thomas Riley Marshall", Authorhouse: Bloomington, Indiana, January, 2007, ISBN 978-1-4259-6562-4