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ELMORE FINDLAY TAGGART

Colonel Taggart was born in Orrville, Ohio, October 6, 1858, the son of Samuel M. and Sarah Jane Taggart. After attending Orrville public schools and Wooster College, Taggart was appointed to the Academy by Major William McKinley. Upon graduation in 1883, Taggart was commissioned second lieutenant of infantry.

After serving on frontier duty at Fort Douglas, Utah, where he became well known as an expert rifle shot, he was ordered to Cuba in 1898. As captain and major, he saw active duty in the war with Spain. In July, 1899, he was appointed major, 28th U.S. Volunteer Infantry and went with his command to the Philippines. While in the Philippines, Major Taggart was twice awarded Silver Star Citations for gallantry in action against the insurgent forces.

Taggart was, in 1902, made Chief of Police at Manila and later commissary officer of the Army transport RELIEF. After a short tour at Fort Leavenworth, Taggart returned, in 1906 to the Philippines to command the Second District of Leyte against the Pulajanes. Two years later he was made quartermaster of the transport CROOK in the Alaska
Service and then again ordered to duty in the Philippines with the 24th Infantry. In 1910 Taggart returned to the United States and was assigned to duty at Fort Ontario.

After being stationed at various posts in the United States, Colonel Taggart, at the outbreak of World War 1, assumed command of the officers training camp at the Presidio of San Francisco. Later he took command of the American troops at Vladivostok and served there for the remainder of the war.

When he retired in 1920, upon his own request after more than 41 years' service, Colonel Taggart made his home in Baguio. Not content to lead a life of inactivity, he served as a member of the City Council and as Vice-Mayor of Baguio for a number of years. Colonel Taggart died on September 18, 1935, at Baguio from injuries he suffered in an automobile accident. He was buried in Orrville with military honors.

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