William Taughinbaugh ¹

  General Notes:

William Taughinbaugh

William Taughinbaugh, was born in New Chester, Adams County, Pennsylvania, about nine miles from Gettysburgh, the date of his birth being June 19, 1805. The Taughinbaugh family have lived in the State of Pennsylvania for generations. Mathias Taughinbaugh, the grandfather of our subject, settled in Adams County in a very early day, removing from Berks County in the same State. Nicholas Taughinbaugh, the father of our subject, was reared in Adams County, and on reaching maturity engaged in farming as well as saddle and harness making. He married Margaret Leas, a lady of English descent, whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving under Mad Anthony Wayne. John Leas was a native of Philadelphia, going from that place during the war with the company which became a part of the regiment commanded by Wayne, who was then a Colonel. Both parents of our subject died in Adams County.

He was reared to manhood at New Chester, receiving his education at the Pines Church School-house, about a mile from his home, the school-house, being a primitive log structure. He learned the trade of a saddle and harness maker, beginning to work at his trade at New Chester. From there he went to Hampton, and later to York Sulphur Springs in Adams County, and while living at the latter place, in 1836, he was elected sheriff of Adams County, holding that office for a term of three years. He then resumed work at his trade at Gettysburgh, but in 1842 he left Pennsylvania, locating first in Wisconsin.

In 1843 he came to Blackford County, Indiana, making his home in Hartford City, and built the house which is still standing east of his present residence. It was then a log house but has since been converted into a frame by weather-boarding. He established the saddle and harness business at Hartford City, and was the pioneer in this line here. In 1846 he was elected county recorder, and then kept the office in a case on the end of a bench in his shop, holding the office seven years under the old constitution. His income from this office amounted to but $100 a year, but in those days that amount was considered a good deal. AT the end of his term of service as recorder the constitution was changed, so that the offices of clerk and recorder were combined, and he was again elected, holding this position for eight years, or two terms of four years each. He was then elected treasurer of the county, which office he filled for two terms each, and before the expiration of his second term he was elected to fill the office of clerk, which office he filled for four years, and refused a re-nomination for the position on account of the death of his wife which occurred about this time. Until 1872 he was out of political life, when, in that year, he was elected to the State Legislature as Representative from Jay and Blackford Counties, serving through one session, since which time he has been to a large extent retired from active pursuits, although his exceptional knowledge of the county affairs makes him of great service to the county on many occasions, and for four years of this time he carried on the business of the recorder's office.

Mr. Taughinbaugh was twice married, his first wife being Miss Lydia Myers. She was born near York Springs in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and died in Hartford City, in January, 1868, leaving eight children, all of whom are yet living -Franklin, in Colorado; Margaret, widow of Sanford M. Johnson, is keeping house for her father; Martha Jane, wife of George Gable, hardware merchant of Hartford City; Nicholas, living at Lima, Ohio; Caroline, wife of Andrew Fulton, of Olathe, Kansas; Anna, wife of Kemmer Schick, of Hartford City; Horatio Gates, living in Hartford City; and Emma, wife of Branson F. Pugh, living near Fall River in Greenwood County, Kansas.

For his second wife Mr. Tuaghinbaugh married Mrs. Rose Ann (Sumwalt) Cottrell, widow of Henry W. Cottrell. She was born in that part of Baltimore known as Federal Hill. She is also deceased, her death taking place in January, 1886.

Mr. Taughinbaugh witnessed almost all the progress that has been made in Blackford County, and was intimately connected with almost its entire history. The present spacious and handsome brick residence of his family was erected in 1875. He was a Master and Royal Arch Mason, and passed through all the chairs in the Blue Lodge, and was a representative to the Grand Lodge of the State. Mr. Taughinbaugh died August 22, 1887, and was buried with the honors of his order in the new Odd Fellows Cemetery east of Hartford City.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.

William married Lydia Myers. (Lydia Myers was born in York Springs, Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA and died in 1868 in Hartford City, Blackford County, Indiana, USA.)

William next married Rose Ann Sumwalt. (Rose Ann Sumwalt was born in 1881 in Federal Hill, Baltimore, Maryland, USA and died in Jan 1886 in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA ².)