Thomas TAGGART, Congress, IN (1856-1929)

TAGGART, Thomas, a Senator from Indiana; born in County Monaghan, Ireland, November 17, 1856; immigrated to the United States in 1861 with his parents, who settled in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio; attended the common schools while working on the railroad; moved to Garrett, Ind., in 1874 and to Indianapolis, Ind., in 1877; employed in a restaurant and later engaged in the restaurant and hotel business; auditor of Marion County 1886-1894; mayor of Indianapolis 1895-1901; member of the Democratic National Committee 1900-1916, and served as chairman 1900-1908; president of the French Lick Hotel Co.; appointed on March 20, 1916, as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Benjamin F. Shively and served from March 20 to November 7, 1916; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1916 to fill the vacancy; chairman, Committee on Forest Reservations and Game Protection (Sixty-fourth Congress); resumed his former business pursuits in Indianapolis and French Lick, Ind.; banker; died in Indianapolis, Ind., on March 6, 1929; interment in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Bibliography

Dictionary of American Biography; Fadely, James Philip. Thomas Taggart: Public Servant, Political Boss, 1856-1929. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1997.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present