Northumberland-Lycoming-Crawford County PA Archives Biographies.....Taggart, Annie P. unknown - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 2, 2005, 5:08 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. MRS. ANNIE P. TAGGART, an estimable lady and esteemed resident of Northumberland, Northumberland County, Pa., is the widow of Col. David Taggart, both being descendants of the pioneer settlers of Northumberland County. The great-grandfather of our subject's husband was Thomas Taggart, who was united in marriage with Mary Vanderbilt. Thomas Taggart was born in Ireland May 10, 1728, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He immigrated to the United States and settled, with his brother Robert, in Philadelphia, where he engaged in the mercantile-business. In 1775, when Northumberland was becoming a center of this section, although there were but few houses in the village, Mr. Taggart moved there with his wife, who was a native of Philadelphia, and entered the mercantile business. His store was located on the corner of Queen and Front streets, and, being a man of means, he became the leading merchant of the place. He died April 13, 1788, and his wife died in 1805. Their children were: Elizabeth, born June 15, 1753, married William Bonham; Christiana, born May 12, 1755, married Mr. Staple; Robert, born February 13. 1757; John, born June 30, 1759, died in infancy; Catherine, born September 6, 1760, married Capt. J. Painter; Thomas, born January 16, 1762; Mary, born January 19, 1765, married Mr. Patterson; John, born July 11, 1767, died young; David, born February 21, 1769; William, born October 3, 1771, died in infancy; William, born August 6, 1773; M. James, born January 1, 1780. David Taggart, the paternal grandfather, was born in Philadelphia. He was a merchant, very prominent in politics, being an unswerving Democrat, and though a very young man, was active in all business and political affairs. He died at an early age, May 17, 1812. He married Mary McCalla of Bucks County, Pa., who was born September 13, 1764, and attained a good age. Several children resulted from this union, namely: John, born April 12, 1796; James, who became a prominent merchant and owner of packets on the canal; Mary, who married Alexander Colt; and Sarah, who married L. C. McCormick. John Taggart, our subject's father-in-law, was a well-educated man. One of his first business enterprises was the large brewery which was located near the steamboat landing, but later was sold to give place to the canal, and Mr. Taggart was appointed canal commissioner by Gov. Joseph Ritner. He married Hannah Collon Huston, and their children, all prominent men and women, are as follows.: Col. David; Matthew Huston, born February 18, 1824, teacher, attorney, merchant and nail manufacturer, who married thrice, to Rebecca McCurly, Elizabeth McCurly and Ella G. Royer, respectively; Hannah, born September 10, 1827, married Dr. Joseph Priestly; James, born February 4, 1827, who served in the Rebellion, and when he received promotion to captain formed Company B, 5th Pa., in his own store. The elder John Taggart was charter member, stockholder and director of the First National Bank at Northumberland, and was also president of the bank from April 30, 1840, to November 26, 1850, resigning at the end of that time. He married Hannah C. Huston of Philadelphia, who was born in Berks County, Pa., February 22, 1796, and was a daughter of Matthew and Hannah (Cox) Huston. Their children were: John K., born November 12, 1829, became clerk in the paymaster's department in the army; Mary, born June 13, 1831; and Francis A., born February 26, 1833, who for many years has been employed in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Philadelphia. Col. David Taggart, our subject's husband, attended the common schools and the academies at Dickinson and Milton, and then read law with Ebenezer Greenough of Sunbury. He began the practice of his chosen profession in Northumberland, Northumberland County, Pa., and later in life was appointed paymaster in the regular army, serving many years in the West and South, and giving entire satisfaction until he resigned. Col. Taggart was very much interested in agricultural life, and for some years was president of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society. He was nominated and ran for governor of the state, but was defeated by A. G. Curtin. Col. Taggart was elected to the State Senate before the war and served three terms, the last three years as speaker of that body. He was also chairman of the Whig State Central Committee; also served as school director and held a number of offices in the borough. His death occurred on June 30, 1888, and he was much mourned by all in the community. On May 5, 1848, he married Annie P. Cowden, a daughter of John H. and Hannah (Pleasants) Cowden. John H. Cowden, our subject's father, was born in Northumberland County, and was a son of John Cowden, who was born in Ireland and came to this country and settled in Northumberland County, becoming one of the earliest merchants in that section. He was postmaster from 1795 until January 12, 1837. His store and residence was sold in 1836, when he retired from business. He married Sarah Hopewell, and they both lived to an old age. Their children were: an infant son, unnamed; Elizabeth, who married Dr. Wallace; Deborah, who married a Scotch artist, William McQuhar, who painted a miniature portrait of Robert Burns, the poet, from life; Sarah, who married Judge Merrill of New Berlin, Pa.; Mary, who married Judge Bradford; Rebecca, who married James Hepburn; John, our subject's father; and Anna M., who married Judge Donaldson. John H. Cowden, the father of our subject, was a merchant, also president of the West Branch Bank at Williamsport. He was a very successful business man and amassed a large fortune. For some years he was owner of the beautiful Packer Island. He departed this life at the age of sixty-four; his wife, formerly Hannah Pleasants, died at the age of twenty-seven. They were blessed with four children, as follows: John, who died at the age of forty-six; Annie Pleasants, our subject; Sarah H., who married Capt. James Taggart; and Hannah P., who lives in West Virginia, and married William Potter Withington. Since Col. Taggart's death, Mrs. Taggart has bought the Martin property on Queen street, where she now resides. Her children are: Helen T., who married David H. Clark, now deceased, and lives in New York City; John C., who died at the age of six years; Hannah C. H., of Northumberland, Pa.; and James, a farmer of Northumberland, Pa. Mrs. Taggart is a woman of great refinement and of admirable character and disposition. She has a taste for literary work and is a splendid conversationalist. Throughout the vicinity she is known and loved for her kind and charitable deeds. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 7.3 Kb