CDV of man believed to be Alexander Taggart
Courtesy of Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA.
Short sketch of Alexander Taggart written by his son, Howard Taggart on May 21, 1924:
“He was born in Baltimore, Md. October 1, 1817. He was a miller by trade, learning the business at Taylor’s Mill near West Chester. He came to Coatesville in 1842 & operated the Grist Mill which at that time was connected with the Viaduct Rolling Mills. For several years the old building was used as a machine shop by the Viaduct Mills.
He was married in 1844 to Emeline Clayton of Marshallton, Pa. He conducted the mill for several years when he purchased a similar mill near Wagontown known as Pierson’s or “Red” Mill (cannot give the date). He afterwards moved to Midway & in 1857 purchased the general store from Mr. Shields. He remained in this location until 1869 when he moved to the brick building he had erected on the corner of Strode Avenue & West Main Street. He conducted a general store in this building until the spring of 1899 when he sold the property & retired from business.
After retiring he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. S. W. Thompson. He died Jauary 3, 1903. In connection with the Viaduct Grist Mill, I might mention James Mace & B. F. Wickersham as having operated the mill prior to Alex Torbert but cannot give any information as to dates.”
CDV of woman believed to be Emeline (Clayton) Taggart
Courtesy of Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA.
Emeline (or Emiline) Clayton (1819-18xx) was the daughter of Uriah Clayton. We know this because Alexander and Emiline of Coatesville are identified in the Chester County Archives and Records Services of West Chester, PA as having appeared in court in January 1869 when the case of Emiline’s father, Uriah Clayton, was heard. Uriah was identified as a “Lunatic and Habitual Drunkard” in the public record.
In the book, Historic Homes and Institutions….(1904) by Gilbert Cope, Henry Graham Ashmead, the Clayton family is featured:
“Among the peaceful towns of Chester county, Pennsylvania, there have lived for many decades the descendants of the original Quaker settlements of the new world, and among these worthy and ever respected people was the Clayton family, some of whose representatives are to be given a place in this sketch.
It was in 1794 that Uriah Clayton was born in West Bradford township, and his wishes never led him to stray from his native place. By trade he was a hatter, but in later life he followed farming. His ancestors had all been Quakers, and he was one of the devout followers of the faith, attended meeting regularly and conformed his life to his religion. It is remembered that he was a regular pupil in the Friends’ School of the township during his youth—that school house is still standing—and he displayed there many of the characteristics which adorned his life in later years. He followed the general trend of political belief enunciated by the Whig-Republican parties. His death occurred in 1869, and his remain now rest in the Friends’ burying ground. He was twice married, His first wife was Ann Fistler and the second was Sarah Woodward, a daughter of Richard Woodward, of West Bradford. Of these marriages the following children were born to him: 1. Emeline, the daughter of his first wife, who was the only one who lived to maturity, is the wife of Alexander Taggert, and the mother of six children; 2. Elizabeth A., who married Oliver P. Edwards and became the mother of eleven children; 3. Mary J., the wife of Charles Rubican, to who she bore two children; 4. Albino, who married Enoch Pennock and had five children; 5. The son Richard is deceased. The youngest child in this family is Caroline, and she has been one of the well known citizens of West Bradford township for many years. She was born in 1838 and for a time lived in Newlin township, where she gained a large part of her education, although she has been one of those women who have always been interested in the higher things of life, and thus may be said to have been a student all her life. She has remained single and has devoted herself to the religious work of the Society of Friends; she is an earnest speaker and has done much good. She is also an active worker in the Woman’s Christian Temperance Workers.”
CDV of Mary Taggart
Courtesy of Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA.
"These few lines" 