Thomas Taggart

Thomas Taggart (* November 17, 1856 in County Monaghan, Ireland, † March 6, 1929 in Indianapolis, Indiana ) was an American politician (Democratic Party).

Life

A native of Ireland Taggart moved as a young boy in 1861 with his parents to America, where the family settled in Xenia (Ohio ). As a teenager he worked at the food counter of a railway depot. When he was 18 years old, he was entrusted by his superiors with the task to manage the restaurant and hotel of a depot in Garrett (Indiana). There he met Eva Bryant, whom he married in 1878.

1877 Taggart moved to Indianapolis to conduct the local depot restaurant. Later, he was together with a business partner owner of a hotel in Orange County. Because of the local mineral springs, he managed to make it a popular holiday destination.

Policy

After moving to Indianapolis Thomas Taggart began to operate there politically. From 1886 to 1894 he served as County Auditor in Marion County. In 1895 he was elected to succeed Caleb S. Denny for Mayor of Indianapolis; this he remained until 1901. During this time he made ​​himself strong for the establishment of parks in the city.

From 1904 to 1908 Taggart served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He played an important role, as it went about 1908 to secure the nomination of Thomas Riley Marshall as the Democratic candidate in the election for governor of Indiana. In 1912 he supported Marshall again, as at the Democratic National Convention in Baltimore, a vice presidential candidate Woodrow Wilson was sought. After Wilson's election as U.S. president Marshall was its vice-president.

On March 20, 1916 appointed him Governor Samuel Ralston for U.S. Senator for Indiana. He took over the vacant seat of the late Benjamin F. Shively. In the following November election but he was defeated by Republican James Eli Watson. But Taggart was also still active in politics. So he strengthened the democratic favorites for the 1924 gubernatorial election, Carleton B. McCulloch, in a position against the Ku Klux Klan. But was elected Republican Edward L. Jackson.

773736
de