TAGGART, Thomas (1856-1929)
Senate Years of Service: 1916-1916
TAGGART, THOMAS, a Senator from Indiana; born in County Monaghan, Ireland, November 17, 1856; immigrated to the United States in 1861 with his parents, who settled in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio; attended the common schools while working on the railroad; moved to Garrett, Ind., in 1874 and to Indianapolis, Ind., in 1877; employed in a restaurant and later engaged in the restaurant and hotel business; auditor of Marion County 1886-1894; mayor of Indianapolis 1895-1901; member of the Democratic National Committee 1900-1916, and served as chairman 1900-1908; president of the French Lick Hotel Co.; appointed on March 20, 1916, as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Benjamin F. Shively and served from March 20 to November 7, 1916; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1916 to fill the vacancy; chairman, Committee on Forest Reservations and Game Protection (Sixty-fourth Congress); resumed his former business pursuits in Indianapolis and French Lick, Ind.; banker; died in Indianapolis, Ind., on March 6, 1929; interment in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Indiana Historical Society
Indianapolis, IN
Papers: 1897, 1899. 1 note, 1 letter.
Indiana State Library
Indianapolis, IN
Papers: 1874-1929. 550 items. Correspondence, papers, scrapbooks and photographs dealing with his political career and the French Lick Springs Hotel.
Additional Papers: Items in various collections including Richard Lieber papers, 1892-1958 (bulk 1933-1944); John B. Stoll papers, 1854-1926; and Will H. Hays papers, 1857-1954 (bulk 1914-1954).
Oral History: Mentioned in three interviews.
- Fadely, James P. Thomas Taggert: Public Servant, Political Boss: 1856-1929. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1997.
