Background
Thomas Taggart was born on November 17, 1856, to Thomas and Martha Kingsbury Taggart in Amyvale, County Monaghan, Ireland, and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1861 at the age of five
Thomas Taggart was born on November 17, 1856, to Thomas and Martha Kingsbury Taggart in Amyvale, County Monaghan, Ireland, and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1861 at the age of five
Forced by poverty at the age of twelve to find employment in a railroad restaurant, he studied at night and finally reached high school.
Cleanliness, cordiality, and memory for names and tastes earned him a transfer to a restaurant in Garrett, Ind. , in 1874 and in 1877 to one in Indianapolis. Here he shortly became active in politics, starting as a precinct committeeman and later becoming a ward leader.
From 1886 to 1894 he filled the lucrative office of auditor in Marion County. As chairman of the Democratic county committee he managed, in 1888, a highly successful campaign that brought him in 1892 the chairmanship of the state committee. During the years 1895-1901 he ably served three terms as mayor of Indianapolis, stressing governmental economy and reasonable enforcement of liquor laws and adding notably to the park system.
In 1904 he supported the presidential candidacy of Alton B. Parker and as chairman of the Democratic National Committee directed the campaign. He remained a national committeeman until 1916. In 1908 he failed to control the Democratic state convention but at the national convention secured the nomination of John Worth Kern for the vice-presidency.
Two years later, when the state convention was considering whom to select as candidate for the United States Senate nomination, Taggart withdrew in Kern's favor.
In 1912 he placed Samuel M. Ralston in the governor's chair and, according to Chairman McCombs, played a vital part in nominating Woodrow Wilson. During the years following 1912 Taggart exerted great political influence in Indiana, conferring frequently with the governor and Democratic members of the legislature and of Congress.
At the death of Senator Benjamin F. Shively, in 1916, Governor Ralston appointed Taggart United States senator, in which capacity he served from Mar. 20 to November 7. Despite newspaper ridicule, he displayed serious interest in Senate business and dealt some telling blows at "pork-barrel" legislation, but was defeated at the election to fill the unexpired term.
In 1920 he again encountered defeat but in 1922 brought about the election of his friend Ralston. Taggart's greatest political disappointment occurred at the Democratic National Convention of 1924 when, after months of labor on his part and with what he considered victory within grasp Ralston withdrew as a candidate for the presidential nomination.
Taggart showed exceptional ability in the operation of the Grand and the Denison hotels in Indianapolis and in the management of the large resort hotel at French Lick. He also interested himself in mining and banking, serving as vicepresident of the Fletcher-American Company and as chairman of the board of directors of the Fletcher-American National Bank--at the time one of the largest banks in Indiana.
He died in Indianapolis.
The Taggarts were members of Saint Paul Episcopal Church in Indianapolis.
He was a member of the George Rogers Clark Memorial Commission.
He endowed with remarkable vitality, unusually attractive personal characteristics, great capacity as an organizer, a keen sense of humor, genuine fondness for people, and contempt for vindictiveness. His deep blue eyes, blonde complexion, conservative dress, and erect carriage made him physically distinctive.
On June 17, 1877, he married Eva D. Bryant of Garrett, Ind. , and he was the father of six children, five of whom survived him.