Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Taton, Francis H. 1861 - living in 1917
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 21, 2005, 5:14 am

Author: B. F. Bowen

REV. FRANCIS H. TATON.

    The Rev. Francis H. Taton, pastor of the Catholic church of St. Michael's at
Axtell, this county, is a native of the old Hoosier state, but has been a
resident of Kansas ever since the early days of his ordination to the
priesthood, a period of nearly thirty years, during which period he has
performed a wonderful work in the mission fields of this state, a labor that has
endeared him to the hearts of many in various portions of the state. Father
Taton has been in charge of St. Michael's parish at Axtell since the summer of
1903 and has a record for faithfulness and efficiency of service rarely equaled
in a Western diocese. In an interview published following the celebration of the
silver jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood in 1914, Father Taton said:
"During my charge at Easton, Kansas, I took sick on the 16th day of January,
1890, whilst in Leavenworth and was confined to St. John's hospital there for
six weeks. Otherwise I never missed a Sunday whilst in charge at Easton. Whilst
in charge of Paola I was absent one Sunday. Since my appointment in Axtell I
took a vacation for six weeks in 1910, during which I visited the Pacific coast
from Los Angeles to Seattle, Washington. Outside of this I was absent from duty
in Axtell on three Sundays. This is the extent of my being absent from duty in
twenty-five years."

    A sympathetic fellow-priest, the Rev. T. H. Kinsella, a companion of Father
Taton's seminary days, writing on that jubilee occasion and complimenting his
old friend upon becoming a jubilarian, said: "The celebration of the silver
jubilee of a Catholic priest is no longer an event of rare importance. Its
frequent occurrence in our day has reduced it to the commonplace; yet, to the
priest himself, and to all who are near and dear to him, the twenty-fifth
anniversary of his ordination must always retain its joyful aspect, its
symbolism and its solemn significance. It is usually the only milestone he comes
up on in his weary journey from his sacredotal consecration to the last
anointment. Few there are who live to count the golden years, and fewer still
who find sympathy and affection in a generation not their own, and in a world
they have outlived. Twenty-five years of struggle and self-effacement—in rain
and sun and storm, in weakness of health and depression of spirit; and a
loneliness on the prairies of Kansas, that at times forces the mind to woo the
stars and the eye to admire the kindly human face that is reflected on the
moon—twenty-five years of faithful effort on the Western missions cannot but
leave their traces on the brow of every faithful priest of God who has lived
through them."

    Though Hoosier born, Father Taton is of French descent, both his parents
having been born in the beautiful Champagne country of France. He was born on a
little farm well back in the woods of Perry county, in the southern part of
Indiana, three and one-half miles from the village of Leopold, September 15,
1861, only son of Alexander and Appoline (Duchainois) Taton, the former of whom
was born in 1842 at Assigny, in the old province of Champagne, France, and the
latter of whom was born at Meziere, in that same district, in 1842. In 1849
Father Taton's parents came to this country, his father then being eleven years
of age and his mother, nine years of age. Their respective families emigrated
from France together, being a part of a considerable colony that came over on
the same vessel, and they settled in the woods of southern Indiana, which even
at that date retained much of their unbroken, primeval grandeur. Amid pioneer
conditions the two grew up and in 1860 were married, making a home for
themselves on a little farm in the Leopold neighborhood. In 1864 Alexander Taton
and his little family left Indiana and came to Kansas, having heard much of the
possibilities that awaited the homesteader in this state. He homesteaded a
quarter section in Johnson county, the tract now occupied by the town of
Edgerton, and proceeded to develop the same, his son, the future priest, thus,
in childhood, gaining a very distinct impression of Kansas pioneer life. Three
years later, in 1867, Alexander Taton sold his homestead and returned to
Indiana, where he died in 1874, leaving a widow and three children, the subject
of this sketch having had two sisters, Victoria, who married Jacob Oaks and is
now living at Ottawa, this state, and Mary, who died in girlhood. Years
later,-in 1889, after her son had become an established priest at Easton, this
state, the Widow Taton returned to Kansas and rejoined her son, later moving
with him to Axtell, where she spent her last days, her death occurring on April
2, 1908. The beautiful, clinging affection that marked Mother Taton's devotion
to her only son was often the occasion of comment. It has been written of her
that from his very infancy "All her heart's love went out to him; every good
influence was thrown around him, her prayers were unceasing and, in the
exuberance of her French nature, she gave over to 'Notre Dame' a gift like unto
the one given her on Mount Calvary. Madame Taton dedicated and in a manner
consecrated her only son to the Blessed Virgin in the early days of civilization
in southern Indiana, just as had been done so often in her beloved France. A
memento of that event may still be seen in the gold chain that hangs, or did
hang, around the figure of the Madonna in the parish church."

    It is related that an extraordinary event, twice repeated, when he was
thirteen years of age, determined young Taton's vocation to the priesthood, but
the means to prosecute a course of study extending over many years was entirely
absent. He conceived the idea of laying his case before the abbot of St.
Meinrad's Abbey, over in the neighboring county of Spencer. Abbot Finton was
greatly impressed by the young man's story and took him in at once, free of
charge, until the day that Father Isadore recommended him in glowing terms to
Rt. Rev. Louis Mary Fink, O. S. B., of the diocese of Leavenworth, as a young
man of extraordinary piety, good talent and excellent health. In 1887, from
Bishop McClosky, of Louisville, Kentucky, Father Taton received minor orders.
Sub-deaconship and deaconship were conferred in 1888 by Bishop Chatard, of
Indianapolis, and on February 24, 1889, in the cathedral at Covington, Kentucky,
he was ordained to the holy priesthood by Bishop Maes. On March 17, the
following St. Patrick's Day, Father Taton celebrated his first mass in St.
Michael's church at Cannelton, Indiana. He then was sent to Kansas and after ten
days spent at the cathedral at Leavenworth, was appointed to Easton and the
outlying missions, "taking charge on the first of April of that appointment,
which then comprised Easton, Springdale and St. Joseph, of Mt. Olivet. During
that appointment Father Taton completed the church at Springdale and built the
new church of St. Joseph at Mt. Olivet. He said mass frequently in private
houses in out-of-the-way, places, instructed the neighboring children and
administered the sacraments. Though Catholics were then few and far between in
that district, many converts came to the church and the mission was a great
success. For six years and three months Father Taton had charge of those
missions and was then transferred to the parish of Paola and missions, of which
he took charge on July 17, 1895, that charge comprising Paola, Ossawatomie, the
State Asylum for the Insane at the latter place and the whole of Linn county. At
that time there was not a Catholic church in Linn county, but there were
scattered Catholics throughout the county, practically all of whom, Father Taton
recalls, had fallen away from the church. During his stay in Paola the Ursuline
Academy was built and in 1896 was dedicated. The parochial school near the
church was built about that time and that school Father Taton named St.
Patrick's, in memory of his celebration of the mass for the first time on that
day. The school opened with fifteen pupils and by the close of the school year
had an enrollment of forty-four. During that time the church at Ossawatomie was
remodeled from end to end and a sacristy built. For eight years and one month
Father Taton was in charge at Paola and missions and on August 17, 1903, was
transferred to the parish of St. Michael's at Axtell, of which he ever since has
been in charge and where, in 1914, he celebrated the silver jubilee of his
ordination to the priesthood, the occasion being made one of much rejoicing on
the part of his friends, not only in this county, but throughout those other
sections of the state where his ministrations have endeared him to many hearts.

    When Father Taton was sent to Axtell the parish comprised both St. Michael's
church and Beattie as a mission, services between the two points being equally
divided. In 1909 Father Taton built the parochial residence at Beattie and in
the fall of that year the Beattie mission was given over to the Rev. Father
Galvin, who became its pastor. On November 8, 1904, work on the new St.
Michael's church at Axtell was begun and in the spring of 1905 the corner stone
was laid. On April 24, 1906, the church was dedicated, the total cost of the
same being nearly twenty-two thousand dollars. In 1909 the new parish house was
built, at a total cost, including appurtenances, of more than seven thousand
dollars, Father Taton moving into the same in November of that year. In 1913
work on the new parochial school was begun, but delays, on account of crop
failures during that year, put off the completion of the work until February 8,
1917, when the school was completed at a cost of nine thousand dollars. St.
Michael's parish is well organized and its various auxiliaries, such as the
Mutual Benefit Association, the Temperance Society, the Knights of Columbus, the
Altar Society, the Young Ladies Sodality, the Childrens Sodality and the League
of the Sacred Heart, are reported to be in a flourishing condition, progress
being reported in all departments of the work of the parish.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)

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