Louise Taft
Encyclopedia
Louisa “Louise” Maria Torrey (September 11, 1827 - December 8, 1907) was the second wife of Alphonso Taft
, and the mother of U.S. President William Howard Taft
.
), Anna Davenport Torrey, and Susan H. Torrey. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College
(then Mount Holyoke Female Seminary) in 1845.
, widowed in 1852, on 26 December 1853 in Millbury, Massachusetts
, becoming stepmother to his two living sons by his first wife, Fanny Phelps, Charles Phelps Taft
, who became the publisher of the Cincinnati Times-Star and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1895 to 1897, and Peter Rawson "Rossy" Taft.
They had five children, four of whom lived to adulthood. The first, who died aged 14 months of pertussis, was Samuel Davenport Torrey Taft. The second was President William Howard Taft; next was Henry Waters Taft, who became a lawyer in New York City; fourth was Horace Dutton Taft
, founder of the Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut
, and the last was Frances Louis "Fanny" Taft, who married surgeon William A. Edwards.
The family lived in Cincinnati during her husband's tenure as judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati, in Washington, D. C. when he was, successively, Secretary of War
and Attorney General
and in Austria-Hungary
and Russia
when he served as U.S. ambassador there.
aged 80 years, and was interred at Spring Grove Cemetery
, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Alphonso Taft
Alphonso Taft was the Attorney General and Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant and the founder of an American political dynasty. He was the father of U.S...
, and the mother of U.S. President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
.
Background
She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the first daughter of Samuel Davenport Torrey (1789-1877) and his second wife, the former Susan Holman Waters (1803-1866). Her three sisters were Delia Chapin Torrey (who married geologist Edward OrtonEdward Orton, Sr.
Edward Francis Baxter Orton, Sr. , a Harvard educated geologist, was the first President of The Ohio State University....
), Anna Davenport Torrey, and Susan H. Torrey. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
(then Mount Holyoke Female Seminary) in 1845.
Marriage and family life
She married Alphonso TaftAlphonso Taft
Alphonso Taft was the Attorney General and Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant and the founder of an American political dynasty. He was the father of U.S...
, widowed in 1852, on 26 December 1853 in Millbury, Massachusetts
Millbury, Massachusetts
Millbury is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,261 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.-History:...
, becoming stepmother to his two living sons by his first wife, Fanny Phelps, Charles Phelps Taft
Charles Phelps Taft
Charles Phelps Taft I was an American lawyer and politician.-Biography:He was born on December 21, 1843 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Alphonso Taft, and his brother was President William Howard Taft....
, who became the publisher of the Cincinnati Times-Star and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1895 to 1897, and Peter Rawson "Rossy" Taft.
They had five children, four of whom lived to adulthood. The first, who died aged 14 months of pertussis, was Samuel Davenport Torrey Taft. The second was President William Howard Taft; next was Henry Waters Taft, who became a lawyer in New York City; fourth was Horace Dutton Taft
Horace Dutton Taft
Horace Dutton Taft was an American educator, and the founder of The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut, United States.He was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, the younger brother of William Howard Taft of the powerful Taft family...
, founder of the Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut
Watertown, Connecticut
Watertown is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 21,661 at the 2000 census. The zip code for Watertown is 06795. It is a suburb of Waterbury. It borders the towns of Woodbury, Middlebury, Litchfield, Plymouth, Bethlehem, and Thomaston.-Founding History:More...
, and the last was Frances Louis "Fanny" Taft, who married surgeon William A. Edwards.
The family lived in Cincinnati during her husband's tenure as judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati, in Washington, D. C. when he was, successively, Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
and Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
and in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
when he served as U.S. ambassador there.
Death
Louise Taft died at Millbury, MassachusettsMillbury, Massachusetts
Millbury is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,261 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.-History:...
aged 80 years, and was interred at Spring Grove Cemetery
Spring Grove Cemetery
Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum is a nonprofit garden cemetery and arboretum located at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the second largest cemetery in the United States and is recognized as a U.S. National Historic Landmark....
, in Cincinnati, Ohio.