Marshall County, OK - Biography - Col. T. D. Taliaferro. ( 1831-1909) http://files.usgwarchives.net/ok/marshall/biography/t4160003.txt --------------------------------- Copyright © 2000 by Ella Brown ellabbrown@email.msn.com This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. --------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Sources: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Sketch Files of LoRene Madison Taliaferro Reirdon ------------------------------------------------------------------ Col. T. D. Taliaferro. ( 1831-1909) Col. Taliaferro was the father of D.B. Taliaferro and the grandfather of George and Norborne Taliaferro and Mary Byrd Taliaferro French and LoRene Taliaferro Reirdon of Madill, Oklahoma.. Col. Thomas Dorsey Taliaferro was born at Upperville, Fauquier County, Virginia, Sept. 10, 1831. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Norborne Taliaferro of “Blenheim” (the Taliaferro family estate in Caroline County, Virginia.) His father, Dr. William Thomas Warren Taliaferrro was born at “Blenheim”, June 1st, 1808 and died in Cooke County, Texas, in 1884. His paternal grandmother was Elizabeth Bankhead Buckner, whose mother was a sister of Pres. James Monroe. His maternal grandfather was Dr. Thomas Harrison of Richmond, Va. His maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Fitzhugh of the Fitzhugh family seat near Upperville, Va. His mother was Frances Barnes Harrison, born in 1811 and died in Cook Co., Texas, 1883. Col. Thomas Dorsey Taliaferro was related on his father's side to the Monroe, Buckner, Bankhead and Magruder families. He was also related to the Fitzhughs, Harrisons, Carters and Armisteads, all prominent old Virginia families. In 1849, Col. Taliaferro was entered as a cadet at Virginia Military Institute. In 1851-1852, he read law under Judge Whitfield, and eminent jurist of Smithfield, Isle of Wright County, Va. In 1852-1853, he took the law course at the University of Virginia. In 1854, he had his first experience in active military service under the leadership of the gallant and illustrious Gen. (then Capt.) Turner Ashby, and account of which episode has been furnished in a former letter, attached hereto. In 1854, Col. Taliaferro married Eliza Lewis Madison, a daughter of Major Ambrose Madison,(nephew of President Madison) of Woodberry Forest, Madison County, Virginia, and his wife, Jane Willis. In 1858, Colonel Taliaferro moved with his family to Palestine, Texas and later located on a farm in Johnson Co., Texas, where he engaged extensively in the stock-raising business. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was elected Lt. Colonel of Col. Bass’ 20th Regt., Texas Cavalry. On the reorganization of the regiment a year later, he was elected its Colonel which rank he held until the close of the War. His field of operations was Southern Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. (Commanded Post Boggy Depot 1865. Commanded Fort Washita in 1863) He was in a number of hand-fought battles but was never wounded nor taken prisoner. His Regiment formed part of Gen. Sterling Price’s Division. Immediately after the close of the war, he removed to Caddo Parish, Louisiana and engaged in cotton raising. They remained in Louisiana for about four years before returning to Texas in 1870, and locating on a farm near Gainesville, Cook County, Texas, turning his attention to stock raising and planting. In 1886, he removed to Indian Territory and later, in conjunction with his two sons, W.N. Taliaferro and D.B. Taliaferro founded the town of Madill, now a thriving city of five thousand, or more inhabitants and the county seat of Marshall Co., Okla. Col. Taliaferro died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Zack Dobson in Durant, Okla., March 4, 1909 and was buried at Madill. Soon after the close of the Civil War, he made a special request of his family when he died he should be buried in his Confederate uniform which was complied with. The interment was conducted by the Masons, of which order he had been a member for more than forty-five years. Additional notes from his granddaughter, LoRene Madison Taliaferro Reirdon: After the Civil War, the family increased with the arrival of five daughters and two sons: Leila Madison (1865), Dorsey Buckner (1866), Mary Roberta (1868), Henry Beauford (1872), Eddie Madison (1876), and Varina Davis (1879) In 1886, Col. Taliaferro moved to Indian Territory with his son, Dorsey Buckner and two younger daughters settling near Lebanon, in the Chickasaw Nation. They lived there for seven years. In 1893, they moved to their ranch home south east of Oakland and two miles south of Madill.