Milton and Rachel Taggart in front of their log cabin. Photo taken in 1920s or 1930s.

Also see Taggart Family Photo pages

History of Milton and Rachel Taggart

(from A Century of Progress, Sheridan County, Nebraska. 1985)

Rachel Thompson Taggart was of Irish descent and Milton Taggart was of Dutch descent. They met and married in Wisconsin in 1870. Milton was a carpenter by trade.

After their marriage they moved to Kansas and from Kansas they moved the community of Neligh and Clearwater, Nebraska in Antelope County. They lived there for a time and then moved to western Nebraska in the late 1800's or early 1900's. They settled north of Hay Springs in the vicinity of where the Abold's lived. Milton homesteaded in the name of his son Lee. One 120 acre tract was in Section 11 and 160 acres of the homestead extended on into Section 12.

The farm's income was taken mostly from Milton's apple orchard, hogs, chickens and milk cows.

Milton Taggart passed away in 1937. The following spring, 1938, his widow Rachel was forced to leave the homestead. She moved due east of the home place on land owned by her son Lee Taggart. She lived there until her passing in 1939.

Their family consisted of Alfred, Lee, Chester, Joe, Ben, William, Forrest, Ella May, Theressa and Gertrude.

Both the father and mother are buried in the Beaver Community Cemetery. Five of their six sons are buried there also.

Photos of Taggart cemetery stones, click here.

Additional Information:

Milton Taggart (July 30, 1840 in Pennsylvania - April 22, 1937 in Hay Springs, Nebraska). I have not been able to determine the names of Milton's parents, but an interesting case has been made by another Taggart researcher that he is the son of George and Martha Taggart (as provided in this post at Rootsweb). According to the Alfred Taggart obituary, when the Milton Taggart family moved to western Nebraska, they came by oxen team.

Rachel Thompson (Nov 18, 1855 in Gratiot, Lafayette Co., Wisconsin - April 27, 1939 in Sheridan Co., Nebraska). Rachel's parents were John Thompson (Sept 3, 1812 in Deerfield, Warren Co., Pennsylvania - March 28, 1889) and Lydia Ann Bennet (Nov 10, 1816 in NY - Mar 26, 1886 in Chester, Nebraska). John and Lydia had seven children - John, Robert, Wesley, Philander, Lydia, George and Rachel. John and Lydia divorced and Lydia moved to Kansas.

For lots more on John Thompson, click here!

Milton and Rachel's children and birth/death dates are as follows:

Ben Taggart ......b. Apr 26, 1891 .. d. July 9, 1915 .. Buried Beaver Valley Cemetery, NW Nebraska.

Alfred Taggart....b. May 16, 1871 Jewell Co., KS ..d. Oct 19, 1947 Hot Spring, SD ... married Emma Carle.

Ela May Taggart b. May 7, 1874 Antelope Co, NE d. Sept 22, 1962 ....... married Anderson Jacobs

Lee Taggart ......b. 1876 d. 1945.. Buried Beaver Valley Cemetery, NW Nebraska.

Chester Taggart ...b. March 9, 1880 Antelope Co, NE ..d. Dec 8, 1903 ... Buried Beaver Valley Cemetery, NW Nebraska.

Joseph Taggart ....b. Dec 1882 Antelope Co, NE d. July 28, 1916 Sheridan Co, NE....married Dora Cook (see card below). Buried Beaver Valley Cemetery, NW Nebraska.

Theresa Taggart ...b. Oct 1884 Antelope Co, NE d. 1980 ....married Bill McCray

Gertrude Taggart ..b. 1888 ...d. 1972 .... married Lawrence Jacobs

William Floyd Taggart ....b. 1896 Hay Springs, NE .....d. 1960 ... married Viola Thompson. Buried Beaver Valley Cemetery, NW Nebraska.

The above "Remembrance Card" was made in honor of Joe Taggart (son of Milton) after he died.

In Loving Remembrance of

Joe Taggart

Born in 1882

Died July 28, 1916

Age 34 yrs, 6 mon, 30 days

More on Milton Taggart:

The following two pieces of information contradict each other. The Census shows that Milton was part of the 100th Penn, while the newpaper article states the 10th Penn. I would tend to believe the Census. More importantly, the Census does document the fact that Milton was in Sheridan County in 1890. The family history (above) from the Century of Progress book, stated that Milton and Rachel moved to western Nebraska in the late 1800s or early 1900s. The Census proves that Milton was in Rushville prior to 1890. Considering that Theresa was born 1884 in Antelope Co (eastern NE), then they must have moved to western Nebraska between 1884 and 1890. The gap narrows...

1890 Census of Surviving Soldiers, Sailors and Marines for the State of Nebraska.

The entry for Milton Taggart was found in the Sheridan County section of the Census with the following information:

Name: Milton Taggart

Residence: Rushville, Nebraska

Rank: Private

Company: G

Regiment: 100 Penn Infantry

Date of Enlistment: April 18, 1862

Date of Discharge: June 22, 1865

Length of Service: 3 yr, 2 mon, 4 days

Disabilities or Remarks: None

Newspaper clipping from Rushville, Nebraska, circa 1927:

Milton Taggart was down from Hay Springs and came in to see us. Milton is one of the very few old soldiers left in Sheridan County. His mind is still very clear, in spite of his 87 years, as he recalls his experience in the battle of the Wilderness under Grant, where he had five hours continuous fighting with the 10th Pennsylvania. His regiment at that time numbered only 481 men and at the end of the battle 69 were killed and 202 wounded. They fought at a range of 300 yards charging back and forth. Mr Taggart has been one of the most loyal supporters of the Recorder, taking it ever since we have had charge of the same, and again renewed. It is sad to think of so many of these splendid heroes joining the great majority. But the time must come when the last call is sounded, and the recollection that they have done their duty by the country and maintained this splendid inheritance for so many who have succeeded them, will always hold their memory dear to us all.

Letters written by Milton Taggart:

Letter to daughter Gertrude November 27, 1914, click here!

Letter to daughter Gertrude February 26, 1915, click here!

Letter to daughter Gertrude March 8, 1915, click here!

Letter to daughter Gertrude April 26, 1915, click here!

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