Not Just the President ~ Taft Family Legacies

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 37
(BACK TO SCHOOL)

When I first started researching my family history I did so because I didn't exactly know where I fit in my own story. I have a lot of black sheep in my direct line. 

I soon found that my husband's family line was very easy to research because of solid records. His lines had continuity and many famous folks. 

I kept finding recognizable relatives all over his tree while only finding Smellies and Belchums in mine. 

It seemed every time I searched on his line I found someone more impressive than the last. I was delighted to see my sons had great genes, but I wanted some of them to be from me.

A little over 4 years ago, and still a few years away from finding my genealogy jackpot line, I posted this to Facebook:

William Howard Taft descends through Katherine King's brother John King and wife Elizabeth Goldthwaite.  My husband is his 7th cousin 5x removed.

William Howard Taft is the son of:

Louisa Maria Torrey

BIRTH 11 SEP 1827 • Boston, Massachusetts, USA

DEATH 8 DEC 1907 • Millbury, Massachusetts, USA
& husband

Alphonso Taft

BIRTH 5 NOV 1810 • Townshend, Vermont, USA

DEATH 21 MAY 1891 • San Diego,  California, USA

Quoting my senior neighbour "get to point!"

Louisa & Alphonso's younger son was:

Horace Dutton Taft

BIRTH 28 DEC 1861 • Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

DEATH 28 JAN 1943 • Watertown, Connecticut, USA

It seems Horace may have been just as successful as his President brother. 

Horace Taft founded the Taft School. It's origins began with only 17 students in a very small school in Pelham Manor, Westchester County, New York, USA. The school now stands on 226 acres in Watertwon, Conneticut, USA. There are 600 students who either board or are day students. They are taught by 129 teachers. The teacher/student ratio is 1:5 with classes averaging 11 students.  

Along side Horace was his wife 

Winifred Shepard (Winnie) Thompson

BIRTH 8 JUN 1860

DEATH 16 DEC 1909

She was a teacher, managed the school finances, and planned the school's building growth. 

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TaftAerial.jpg

With small class sizes it appears as though the Taft School will have no trouble mastering covid-19 safety distancing for their Tafties. 

Searching for the legacies left behind!







This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***







Sources:

Taft School, Retrieved September 12th 2020 from https://www.taftschool.org/





Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

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