Lanville Milton Magner

Hamilton Taggart Obituary, Anna Magner's brother

Orleans Progress Examiner - Orleans, Indiana 
February 16, 1905



IN MEMORIAM 

Hamilton Taggart was born in the county of Antrim Ireland, July 5th 1825 and died at his country home near Orleans, Indiana on February 10, 1905, aged 79 years, seven months and five days.  He was of Scottish-Irish lineage and traced his Scottish ancestry to the Northern Scotts, who centuries ago, effected permanent settlements in that part of Ireland.

Antrim is one of the most decidedly protestant counties in Ireland; and of the protestants by far the greatest proportion of Presbyterians.  It is a maritime county and has a considerable line of coast on the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1840, this fifteen-year-old lad came with his parents and in all a family of eleven to America.  They crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel and were six weeks making the voyage.  After some visits to relatives and acquaintances in other states, the family settled on this very farm, where for more than sixty years has dwelt, this man 'amongst men,' "who stood four square to all the winds that blew" and who was known at every farm house as an honest man.

The father and mother, John and Elizabeth, remembered only by our oldest people, are buried in the Orleans Cemetery.  Of the family who crossed the sea, there survives,  Mrs. William (Margaret) Magner, of this neighborhood and Mrs. Lanville (Anna) Magner, now residing in Galesburg, Kansas.

Mr. Taggart was married three times.  First, to Mary Ellen Magner in 1853.  Of this marriage, one child was born who survives, Emma Parker Taggart, now Mrs. D.F. Easley.  The mother, Mary died in 1856.

Mr. Taggart's second wife was Margaret McIntyre, of Lawrence County, who died about one year after the marriage.  A child was born, but died in infancy.

The third marriage of the deceased was to Margaret Marks, May 15, 1862.  To them eleven children were born.  Three died in infancy.  Of the children who grew up in this happy family, death has claimed two; Luella, October 25, 1893 and Molly L. on June 19, 1895.  On the 19th of last July the mother died and the father, as he held her hand in the last good-bye, said "You'll not be waiting for me long."  The children of this union who survive are; Nannie, John, Mattie, Robert, Samuel and Matthew.

He was for sixty years a member of the Presbyterian Church; for over forty years an elder,.  He helped to erect the present edifice and was in the forefront of every movement for the church's good.

His death marks the disintegration of a happy home.  Those who have partaken of the hospitality of this cheery household, who have sat next to the hearth when the old man talked, who have lingered long after it was time to go, and departed with a picture of incomparable home-life on their hearts, will realize what it means that the "silver cord be loosed--that the pitcher be broken at the fountain."

He left to his kindred and to this community a rich legacy.  His affable manner and manly bearing made him a welcome visitor in every home.  But his predominate trait was his rugged honesty.  Living in an age of venality, following an occupation full of temptations to care for one's self first, he not only kept his promises with scrupulous exactness, but he was fair and just in his dealings.  He handled thousands of dollars of the money of others, traded for them and was trusted by them to sell and to buy, with never a suspicion of his integrity.

He was companionable.  He often stopped at the farm house when he was neither wanted to buy nor sell, just to say "howdy do."  He was, in his years of activity, known by more people than any other man in this community.  A great number of those who knew him best, sought eagerly his advice in business matters and often asked his counsel in affairs of grave import.  Outside his family, he was the sage of a circle, who came to Uncle Hamilton with whatever needed straightening and he made it right.

To have lived in the neighborhood of this man, truly great--to have had him put his hand on our heads and speak to us kindly words, to know that he counted us of those for whom he would do a special favor, is, even in the sorrow of his death, a pleasant memory.  We can only say good-bye.  There is to him rest and peace we know--for he was the workmanship of God the noblest and the best.

Funeral services were held Sunday morning at 11 o'clock at the residence, Reverend J. Hickling, officiating.  The remains were interred in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

I.O.O.F. stands for The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, an organization that began in the 18th Century England for the purpose of giving aid to those in need without recognition and pursuing projects for the benefit of mankind.  This organization began in North America, with the United States and Canada in 1819.

NOTE: A very special thank you to Cathy Clark for obtaining this obituary for me!