Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/114

 TAWNEY

TAYLOR

Cliarles and Anna (Abeles) Taussig; grandson of Silignian and Rosii (Bondy) Taussig, and of David and Kachcl Abeles. He was appointed midshipman. L'.S.N.. Juiy 24, 18(W ; graduated from llje U.S. Naval .ncademy, 1807 ; commended by Commander (Jillis for his services during the earthtjuako at Arica, Chile, Aug. 13, 1868; com- missioued ensign, Dec. 18, 18G8 ; promoted mas- ter, March 21. 1870; lieutenant, Jan. 1, 1873, and lieutenant-commander, June 19, 1892. He was married. Nov. 9, 1873. to Ellen, daughter of Joseph and Fanny (Morningston)Knt'Herof Louis- ville. Ky. He w:is promoted commander, Aug. 10. 1S9S, and commanded tlie Bennington until August, 1899; took possession of the Waku Island r.»r the United States and had charge of Guam, from Feb. 1 to Feb. 23,1899; served in the Philip- pines. 1899, 1900 and 1901 ; and in North China, 1900. He commanded the Y'orktown. June. 1900- June, 1901 ; was ordered to the navy yard, Wash- ington, D.C., November. 1901 ; to the navy yard, Boston, Mass., January, 1902 ; commanded the Enterprise from May to Oct. 27, 1903 ; was pro- moted captain, Nov. 7. 1902, and returned to the Wasiiington navy yard.

TAWNEY, James Albertus, representative, was born near Gettysburg. Pa., Jan. 3, 1855 ; son of John E. and Sarah (Bobletz) Tawmey ; grand- son of Abraham and Katliarine (Hornbergher) Tawney, and of Jacob and Sarah (Studebaker) Bobletz. He first became a blacksmith and later a machinist ; removed to Winona, Minn., in 1877; attended the law school at the University of Wis- consin, 18.':<2, and was admitted to the bar in the same year. He was married, Dec. 18, 1883, to Emma B., daughter of Amos and Anna (Wood) Newell of Winona, Minn. He was a state sen- ator. 1890-94 ; a Republican representative from the first Minnesota district in the 53d-58th con- gresses, 1893-1905, serving as cliairman of the committee on industrial arts and expositions and as a member of the committees on ways and means and insular affairs, and at the close of the 57th congress was appointed by Speaker Hender- 8<jn as chairman of the committee on the part of the liouse to represent the U.S. congress at the dedication of the L<juisiana Purchase Exposition grounds and buildings at St. Louis, April 30, 1903.

TAVLER, John, governor of New York, was b..rn in New York city, July 4, 1743 ; of English parentage. He was given a classical education. His parents both died before 17G0, when he re- movpil to Lake George, suljsequently to Oswego, and ultimately to Albany, N.Y. His life on the border gave him an intimate knowledge of the Indians and of their language, and he was known as "The white man who always speaks the truth." In the period of the American Revolution he was

chairman of the council of safety in Albany, and it became his duty to send tiie wife of Sir John Johnson out of the American lines. In reply to Johnson's threat to deliver him if caught, to the torture of the Indians, he replied that if he were so fortunate as to have Sir John Jolmson in his power he would treat him as a gentleman. He was a member of tiie New Y^'ork provincial con- gress, 1776-77 ; a member of the state assembly, 1777-85; canal commissioner, 1787; presiding judge of tlie court of common pleas by appoint- ment of Governor Jay, 1797, altliougli not a law- yer ; state senator, 1802-13. and president of the senate, 1811-13 ; lieutenant-governor, 1813-22, and acting governor of the state as successor to Governor Tompkins, 1816-17. He was a regent of the University of the State of New York and its vice-chancellor, and commissioner for build- ing the first state capitol in Albany. He was a trusted friend of Jay, Morris, Livingston, Schuy. ler, Benton and Alexander Hamilton, the latter being at his table, Feb. 16, 1804, when he gave utterance to his opinion of Burr that was the pretext for the duel that followed on July 7. He was president of the bank of Albany and died at his residence in tliat city, April 19, 1829.

TAYLER, Robert Walker, representative, was born in Y'ouiigstown, Oliio, Nov. 26, 1852; son of Robert W. and Louisa (Woodbridge) Tay- ler ; grandson of James and Jane (Walker) Tay- ler and of John Eliot Woodbridge (a grandson of Jonathan Edwards) and IMary (Horner) Wood- bridge. He was graduated from Western Re- serve university, 1873 ; taught in the high school at Lisbon, Ohio, 1873-73, and was superintendent of schools, 1873-74. He was editor of the Buck- eye State newspaper, Lisbon, Oiiio. 1875-76 ; was married. May 18, 1876, to Helen, daughter of Joseph E. and Abigail (Wright) Vance of Lisbon, Ohio ; was admitted to the bar in 1877, and was prosecuting-attorney of Columbia county, 1880- 86. He was a Republican representative from the eighteenth district of Ohio in the 54th-57th congresses, 1895-1903, and was nominated in 1903 for re-election to the 58tli congress, but declined. He was chairman of the committee on elections, number 1, in the 55th, 56th, and 57th congresses, and of the special committee on the case of Brig- ham H. Rol)erts of Utah, and a member of the committee on naval affairs. In 1903 he resided at Youngstown, Oiiio.

TAYLOR, Alfred, naval officer, was born in Fairfax county, Va., May 23, 1810. He was war- ranted midshipman in Jamiary, 1825. made his first cruise, 1820-29, visiting the Mediterranean, and on June 4, 1831, was advanced to passed niid- shi])man. He was commissioned lieutenant, Fel). 3, 1837, and served on the CiimberJand during the ^Mexican war. He was attached to the Miss-