USA > California > Los Angeles County > Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities prefaced with a brief history of the state of California, a condensed history of Los Angeles County, 1542-1908 > Part 53
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"About two weeks later the waste gate of the dam was closed and the head gates of the canal were opened. I had given notice in the town paper a few days prior that on Saturday afternoon the water would be let into the canal, so people came from all parts of the county and some from adjoining counties to celebrate the important event. The Springvale Brass Band was present and enlivened the occasion with music, and short addresses were made. As the gates were being hoisted, a Mr. George McCauley called for three cheers for the builder of the new dam, which were given most heartily."
A skiff having been provided and placed below the gates, Mr. Taft stepped into it and rode the advancing stream as it made its course toward the mill while the company, headed by the band, marched down the road on the bank of the canal.
In the autumn of 1869, Mr. Taft visited the east for the purpose of soliciting funds with which to establish a college. He laid his plans before leading business men and scholars. Among those who approved and gave him aid were Garrett Smith, Peter Cooper, George W. Bungay, Dr. Bellows, George W. Curtis, William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Dr. Hale, Dr. James Freeman Clark, Dr. Manning, Dr. Dio Lewis, O. O. Woolcut, Mrs. Anna Richmond and Caroline Richmond, with many others. His success in obtaining funds was such that on returning home he erected a beautiful, substantial building, costing over $40,- 000, located on the bluff at the head of Garrett Smith Avenue. The building was completed and opened for the reception of students in September, 1872. The purpose and character of the institution is set forth in the following terms:
"We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, recognizing the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man, associate ourselves for the purpose of encourag- ing liberal education by the establishment and maintainance at Springvale. Humboldt County, lowa, of an institution for the education of youth in liter- ature, science and enlightened Christian morality, without regard to sex, race or religious sect. The fundamental object of this association is to establish and maintain an educational institution which shall be forever free from sec- tarian control."
The original officers of the association were Stephen H. Taft, president ; Ira L. Welch, vice president ; John Dickey, treasurer, and J. N. Prouty, secretary.
Of the institution, Wendell Phillips once wrote: "I take a deep interest in Humboldt College, believing that it sustains an important relation to the poli- tical, moral and religious welfare of a large section of our common country." And Rev. Edward Everett Hale said in a letter to Dr. Furness, of Philadelphia, introducing Mr. Taft: "I thoroughly endorse the educational enterprise represented by my friend, Rev. S. H. Taft, of Iowa."
For three years students were admitted to all the privileges of the school without tuition, which enabled a large number to attend who were altogether incapable of paying tuition. On the occasion of the laying of the corner stone the principal address was delivered by Hon. C. C. Cole, Chief Justice of Iowa. Many years after this, when Mr. Taft was about to leave Iowa, to make his home
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in California, President Peterson asked him for a life-sized portrait for the college. When the presentation was made, President Peterson asked him to write beneath the picture some motto or sentiment, which Mr. Taft at first declined to do but, finally yielding to the request, wrote underneath the likeness: "I would be remembered for the good I sought to do." This portrait hangs in the college library.
Mr. Taft has been constantly engaged in reformatory work since retiring from the ministerial field and is, at the present time, by speech, pen and money, seeking to advance the cause of righteous civil government. His views on the power of the ballot for good or evil are fitly expressed in his address delivered before the graduating class of Humboldt College, July 13th, 1906, from which we quote as follows:
"There is today no other work half so important to the welfare of our country or of mankind, as the redemption of our government from the control of the representatives of commercial brigandage and murderous greed and bringing it back into harmony with the purpose for which it was founded, to-wit : to establish justice, promote the public welfare and secure the blessing of liberty to all. The present dangerous state of moral confusion, commercial and political cor- ruption, could never have obtained but for the thoughtless and corrupt use of the ballot ; and by no other instrumentality can this nation be saved from certain destruction but by the ballot thoughtfully, conscientiously cast. And in this work of saving the nation with the ballot, we need women's help, and but for the malign influence of the saloon she would have been enfranchised long ago. The ballot is the one distinguishing insignia of American citizenship, giving added value to all other privileges. It is the paladium of American liberty. It is the r in the equation, equalling the sum of all other forces, making for righteous civil government and safe-guarding human rights. The intelligent, conscienti- ous ballot is to the state what the holy spirit is to the church, its cementing, energizing power; while the ignorant, vicious ballot is to the state what a con- tentious, selfish spirit is to a church-a disintegrating, destructive force. Wash- ington said that if the Republic ever perished it would be at the hands of its own citizens. "If our nation goes down to destruction the contemporaneous historian will probably say that its ruin was wrought by avarice, drunkenness and licen- tiousness, but the later historian looking from a higher vantage ground of ob- servation will say that the great American republic was overthrown by ignorant and vicious ballots by which were created environment fostering avarice, drunk- enness and licentiousness, so that social order and justice were overborne by in- justice and anarchy.
"We very properly honor the soldier who defends the country with his gun, but the gun is a negative force. It can kill the enemy but cannot build up the state, while the ballot is a positive, constructive force. By it the foundations of the state were laid and by it the Temple of Liberty is builded and must be defended. The thoughtless, vicious citizen, with his ballot, is a hundred fold more dangerous to his country than a thoughtless, vicious soldier with his gun;
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for the worst the latter can do is to slay some of his comrades, but the traitorous voter undermines the foundation of the state and despoils the Temple of Liberty."
Mr. Taft took an active part in the discussion of political and moral questions claiming public attention preceding and during the War of the Rebellion. Several of his addresses were published. One of them, entitled "The Crisis," awakened deep interest. This address was given before the Proclamation of Freedom was issued, at a time when fugitive slaves seeking freedom in our military camps were driven back to bondage by command of many of our generals. This address concluded with the following appeal to President Lincoln to end the Rebellion by removing its cause-by overthrowing slavery :
"If a voice of one as humble as I could reach the ear of President Lincoln, I would remind him that the destinies of an empire more collossal in proportions than Alexander or Caesar ever dreamed of are committed to his keeping; that he holds in his hand the helm of the grandest ship of state that ever set sail on the billows of time and that it rests with him (under God) whether it shall founder and go down before the wild storm of treason and rebellion which has burst upon it, or sail gloriously on through the ages. I would remind him that the destinies for weal or woe of millions living and hundreds of millions yet to come, hang trembling in the scale which he holds in his hand-that he is about to call down upon himself the blessings or curses of generations yet unborn. I would remind him that there is given to him opportunity and power to serve the cause of liberty and humanity, such as is given to mortals but once in the lapse of ages. I would tell him of the Angel of Justice (which commissioned from God's right hand) is now bending over Columbia's fair land, who holds in one hand a pen dipped in the Stygian pool and in the other a golden crown; and I would tell him that if smothering the just and generous impulses of his great soul, he shall falter and prove unworthy of the sacred trust committed to his keeping, then with tears (while the heavens shall be clothed in sack-cloth) shall the Angel write upon his brow in characters of burning shame: 'Mene, mene tekel, upharsin;' but if, heeding the voice of his conscience and his God, he shall worthily serve the ages and the race, then shall the Angel, stooping low, place upon his brow Liberty's crown of unfading glory while Earth and Heaven shall resound with praise. My friends, let us pray for President Lincoln."
Among Mr. Taft's public addresses, his sermon on the character and death of John Brown, delivered immediately after his execution in December, 1859, ranks among the most important. It was delivered before his church in Martins- burg, New York, to a congregation that filled it to its utmost capacity. In compliance with the wishes of a very few radical abolitionists, the discourse was published in pamphlet form. It received favorable notice in the New York Independent and some other anti-slavery journals. Hon. Garrett Smith and Rev. Dr. Cheever wrote to the author expressing hearty approval of the same. During the war many applications were made by letter for the sermon, so that the edition was exhausted. Rev. Dr. Morrison of Boston, when visiting at Mr. Taft's, on reading the sermon requested him to send a copy of it to Mr. John
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Forbes, of Boston, an old time friend of John Brown. When told by Mr. Taft that it was his last copy, he requested that it be sent to him, to be returned after he had read it. Mr. Taft sent the discourse and when returned by Mr. Forbes there came with it a check for a thousand dollars for his college work. Mr. John M. Williams, of New York, also had the copy to read and on returning it sent the following letter :
REV. S. H. TAFT :
METROPOLITAN NATIONAL BANK, NEW YORK, February 12th, 1872.
My Dear Sir :-
I send herewith the John Brown sermon. Accept our thanks for the privi- lege of seeing what you said in those troublous times of the Civil War, of the scenes of deep interest then transpiring. A friend, seeing it on my desk, wislied it to send abroad to a friend of Lord Byron. I told him it was your last copy, and he said his friend residing in England had a portrait of John Brown, was a great admirer of his, for which reason he wished to send him this sermon. He has given me a check for a hundred dollars (which I enclose) and in return wish a copy of the sermon if it can be obtained.
(Signed) J. E. WILLIAMS.
Mr. Taft also received the following letter from Rev. Dr. Morrison, by whose request he had sent the sermon to Mr. Forbes :
REV. S. H. TAFT :
My Dear Sir :-
MILTON, MASS., March 18th, 1872.
I am glad that you are to have a new edition of your John Brown sermon published. I can easily understand the feelings of the New York gentleman who sent you one hundred dollars for the last copy you had of the old edition. It seems to me, considering the time and circumstances under which it was de- livered, a remarkable production ; one of those mysterious, prophetic utterances made under the impulse of a higher spirit than man's, which preceded the down- fall of slavery. The way in which John Brown's name and acts apparently so insignificant in themselves, connected themselves with the uprising of a great nation against terrible wrong, his soul marching on, the animating spirit of more than a million armed men, would be thought fabulous and incredible, if such an event had been narrated as belonging to the early history of Palestine or Rome. I thank you for doing something to refresh our memories by bringing before us again so vividly the image of one whose name has been identified with the greatest movement of our age.
(Signed) JOHN H. MORRISON.
The following was Mr. Taft's text for the sermon. He said :
"My text, my friends. today is John Brown. You will find it recorded in all the public journals of the land and it will yet be inscribed in bold characters on the record of the world's history."
The conclusion of the discourse was as follows:
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"The once noble form of the departed hero and Christian patriot sleeps sweetly in the silent tomb. But his soul has gone to that land where the bond- man is free from the master and where the voice of lamentation gives place to the song of praise. Aye, he has gone where the outgoing of his great and loving heart brings not peril but increased joy ; where every generous and loving impulse finds a response in the bosom of all, who tread with him the fields of everlasting life and immortal beauty. Let us rejoice not only that "man cannot imprison or chain or hang the soul," but that he cannot blot from the record of history the testimony of the brave and good against wrong; for then would the death of John Brown be an irreparable loss to humanity. But now shall his speech before the court, his letters written in prison, and the record of his heroic, his sublime death, be handed down as a choice legacy to our children. He shall indeed be a favorite of history, aye more, poets shall perform pilgrimages to the place of his tragic death to catch the inspiration which breathes anew on the banks of the Potomac, that they may tune to suceter and loftier strains of the lyre of liberty. But we may not on the present occasion longer hold converse with Freedom's chosen martyr. Ere we bid him adieu, let us in the pres- ence of the great and imperial Father of all breathe the solemn vow that what- ever may betide us, we will 'remember those in bonds as bound with them,' remembering that
Whether on the scaffold high Or in the battle's van, The fittest place for man to dic Is where he dies for mun."
In August, 1874. the Taft family, many hundred in number, celebrated the two hundredth anniversary of the coming to America of their great progenitor, Robert Taft. The meeting was held at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and represen- tatives of the family were present from many states of the Union. The morning service was held in the Congregational church and the genealogical address given by Judge Alphonso Taft, of Cincinnati, Ohio, after which all marched to the music of the American Brass Band to a spacious tent where dinner was served, music discoursed, and toasts given and responded to. Hymns written by Rev. E. Staples and Judge Chapin, whose mothers were Tafts, were sung on the occa- sion. Judge Chapin read a biographical historic poem, after which the presiding officer proposed the several toasts. Of those responding to the toasts were Lieutenant-Governor Taft, of Vermont ; Dr. Jonathan Taft, of Cincinnati ; Rev. Dr. Hatfield, and many others. The subject of this sketch being called upon respond- ed to the following toast : "The educators of our country are entitled to the front rank in the march of progress and it is with commendable pride that we introduce as one of the best, Prof. S. H. Taft, President of Humboldt College, Iowa." Mr. Taft said:
"MR. CHAIRMAN AND KINDRED: It is not difficult to conceive of circum- stances where it would be both profitable and pleasant in responding to the
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sentiment just read, to speak at length of the high mission and measureless influence of the true educator of our lands. But this is not such an occasion and I accept the sentiment with which my name is so pleasantly associated by the Master of Ceremonies as being present in this connection simply to introduce me to the large family of Tafts as one among many others, whose chief attention is being devoted to the cause of Christian education. Agreeing therefore, with our distinguished representative, Judge Taft, of Cincinnati, that you would rather hear of our family affairs today than of other subjects, I will speak as seems to me fitting on this interesting occasion. We have been drawn together, not by the bonds of old time friendship-for we are met for the first time-but by those of relationship. This is not so much a reunion as a first union of those of kindred blood coming from different directions, and some from great distance to meet and commune where lived and died our ancestors, generations ago. While there may be too much account made of birth and blood and name, there may be also too little account made of it. The ties of consanguinity are of nature's giving, of God's appointment, and were designed not only to yield innocent enjoyment but also to conduce to helpful social progress and moral growth. There are stages of development (or states of moral debauchery rather) in the history of society where such a gathering as this might prove a curse instead of a blessing by being so used as to dim the moral and spiritual vision of its members. But sueh will not be the fruits gathered from this meeting, for I am sure that we shall each desire to give and receive of our best in thought and character. Thus doing we shall part upon a higher plane than we met upon and so shed upon each others' future pathway the light of a virtuous friendship. Not only shall we make acquaintance with each other, but we shall learn of our ancestry what many of us could not have known by any other means and, per chance, aid our distinguished relative, of Ohio, Judge Alphonso Taft. to round out and further develop our family tree. In reporting to this meeting regarding the Tafts of whom I have knowledge, I have to say that they are industrious, frugal, worthy citizens and were all loyal to the government during our late Civil War. In religion they are Protestants of the Protestants, not only denying the religious authority of councils or the Pope, but also denying the authority of any ecele- siastical body to legislate for the individual in matters of belief, faith or con- science.
My genealogical report will be very brief for the reason that my knowledge of the ancestral line is limited. I remember that Nasby once commeneed a lecture in Boston by gravely saying: 'Ladies and Gentlemen: We are all descended from -- we are all descended from -- grandparents.' Well, I had learned that much, and was quite certain that the line extended much further baek. If I had heretofore entertained any doubts on that point, what I see and enjoy today would altogether remove them. My grandfather, Nathaniel Taft, settled in New Hampshire in the latter part of the eighteenth century, where he resided until his death. He had a number of children. Among the names they bore were David, Daniel, Nathaniel, Rufus and Stephen, the last named being
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my father. His mother was grandfather's second wife. My father and his brother David left New Hampshire in the early part of the present century and settled in Richfield, Otsego County, New York, whence my father soon moved a hundred miles further west into Oswego County. Uncle David had a number of sons, two of whom, Ferdinand and Nathaniel, also moved into Oswego County.
My father married Miss Vienna Harris, whose father, Stephen Harris, lived and died in Richmond, New Hampshire. My parents had seven children who lived to years of maturity, four girls and three boys, all but one of whom are still living. One of my brothers, Jerome B. Taft, who took an active part in protecting Kansas from the curse of slavery, died in the autumn of 1863.
In 1853 I married Miss Mary A. Burnham, of Madison County, New York, and in the spring of 1863 went west with a colony of over forty persons and settled upon a tract of land in the Des Moines Valley, which I purchased of the State of Iowa. Here I have since been at work, building up a town and estab- lishing an institution of learning. We have had six children, five of whom are still living, namely, four sons and one daughter. My brother, Lorenzo P. Taft, has a family of four daughters and one son, and the brother who died left one son, Wendell Phillips Taft. My four sisters are married and all have families.
I trust I shall be pardoned if, in this connection, I speak of some incidents in my own history which, under ordinary circumstances, would hardly be appro- priate, but which the present occasion would warrant. We learn from the ad- mirable historic address to which we have listened this morning that our great progenitor, Robert Taft, was an active participant in a colony enterprise, in connection with which he bought and sold much land, built bridges, made roads and bore other burdens incident to a pioneer life. It seems that all unbeknown to myself I have in the order of divine providence been repeating the history of our family in the line of colony work for, as already remarked, I took with me to the distant west a company of friends, bought a large tract of wild land and entered upon the work of building up society, in the course of which it fell to my lot to open up roads, build bridges and mills and dispose of numerous pieces of real estate. The county records show that I have sold over eighty farms and many hundred pieces of town property since commencing this colony enterprise. This work has not been all sunshine and prosperity ; but instead, want of means with which to do, loss by floods, sickness, severe trials and exposure, have dimmed the light of many a day, but at no time have I been bereft of that hope and strength which comes of an assurance that I was doing the work to which I had been ap- pointed of God. The burden would have been lighter had I known as I now do that like and severer experiences had been the lot of our great progenitor, whose memory we so sacredly cherish today. The family history which I have given, taken in connection with the numerous descendants of Robert Taft here assem- bled, who represent a still larger number not here, warrants us in congratulating ourselves that our family does not belong to the number which are running out because of self-imposed sterility. That this is true of many families is painfully
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evident. On this subject an able scholar and careful observer, Dr. Nathan Allen, of Lowell, said in an address delivered in June last, before the Massachusetts Medical Society: 'It is safe, we believe, to state that the average number of children to each marriage has diminished nearly one-half since the present century commenced.' And he further adds, 'If this decrease is continued another hun- dred years in the same proportion as in the past it will, in all probability, remove the old New England stock from the stage. Their record will exist only in his- tory. In this quiet, gradual decline of population is one of the greatest problems of the age.'
Well, Mr. Chairman, that impeachment does not apply to the Taft family, and I am glad of it. I am told that little or no credit is due to the male line in which the name descends, since the mothers generally bore other names than Taft. And then I submit to you, Mr. Chairman, whether it is not creditable to our side of the house, that we have been able to select and possess ourselves of such good and noble wives.
I will add but a few words more. The growth of our family tree has been hopefully vigorous and promises well for the future. We need not concern ourselves to try to settle the question as to whether we originally ascended from the lower forms of animal life or have descended from a state of angelic 1 erfection ; for, if from the former, then have we made noble progress upward, and if from the latter, the evidence warrants us in believing that we are making our way home again. Let us remember that there is given to mankind a surplus of vital force beyond what is necessary for the performance of the ordinary functions of life and that the use made of this surplusage determines the destiny of individuals. families and nations. If devoted to self discipline, in knowledge and virtue, so as to find expression in noble, helpful acts and high aims, then does its possessor walk the pathway of the just which grows brighter and brighter unto the perfect day; but if devoted to selfish ends and merely animal pleasures, then does it lead down to moral corruption and spiritual death. May it be ours to come into such harmony with the divine order and such virtuous relationship with each other that the spiritual breezes of heaven as they move through the branches of the family tree may make still sweeter music in the future than in the past. thus making glad the hearts of men and angels. I offer in conclusion the follow- ing sentiment :
Our Family Tree-Removed from Old England two hundred years ago and planted at no great distance from Plymouth Rock. May it continue to gather strength and beauty from cach succeeding century and yield such fruits of vigorous, virtuous man and womanhood that the approbation of the good and the favor of Heaven may ever rest upon it, causing it to extend its roots and multiply its branches through all coming time.
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