Thomas Taber II
Member of the United States House of Representatives
In office
November 5, 1828 – March 3, 1829
Preceded byThomas Jackson Oakley
Succeeded byAbraham Bockee
ConstituencyNew York's 5th congressional district
Member of the New York State Assembly
In office
January 1, 1826 – January 9, 1826
Serving with Isaac R. Adriance, Daniel D. Akin, Martin Lawrence
Preceded byJohn Armstrong, Jr., Eli Augerine, Enos Hopkins
Succeeded byJohn Fowks Jr.
ConstituencyDutchess County
Personal details
Born(1785-05-19)May 19, 1785
Dover, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 21, 1862(1862-03-21) (aged 76)
Roslyn, New York
Resting placeFriends Cemetery, Westbury, New York
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations		Democratic-Republican
Jacksonian
Free Soil
SpousePhebe Titus (m. 1820–1824, her death)
Children2 (including Stephen Taber)
RelativesGeorge T. Pierce (nephew)
OccupationFarmer
Businessman

Thomas Taber II[lower-alpha 1] (May 19, 1785 – March 21, 1862) was an American farmer, businessman, and politician from New York. He was most notable for his service as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1826 and as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1828 to 1829.

A native of Dover, New York, Taber was educated locally and became active in farming and businesses, including insurance, banking, and railroads. Taber was long active in politics as a Democratic-Republican, Jacksonian, and Democrat, and during his life attended numerous local, county, and state party conventions as a delegate. In 1825, Taber appeared to win election to the New York State Assembly, and he took his seat in January; John Fowks Jr. successfully contested the result and replaced Taber after Taber had served just a few days. In 1828, Taber won a special election to fill a vacancy in the United States House of Representatives, and he served in the second session of the 20th United States Congress, November 1828 to March 1829.

In his later years, Taber moved to Roslyn, New York, to live near his son, Stephen Taber. He died in Roslyn on March 21, 1862, and was buried at Friends Cemetery in Westbury, New York.

Early life

Taber was born in Dover, New York, on May 19, 1785, one of ten children born to William Taber and Martha (Akin) Taber, and the grandson of Thomas Taber (1732–1783).[1] William Taber was a successful farmer who also served as a judge and a member of the New York State Assembly.[1] Thomas Taber attended the common schools of Dutchess County and became active in farming and business ventures.[1]

Start of career

In 1811, Taber was appointed a justice of the peace.[2] The Dutchess County Agricultural Society was organized in May 1819, and Taber was a charter member.[3] He remained active in the society for most of his life, and served as a vice president in the 1840s.[4] In March 1815, Taber was one of several Dutchess County Democratic-Republicans who requested that New York's council of appointment rescind the appointment of Philip Spencer Jr. as county clerk.[5] Spencer, the brother of Ambrose Spencer and brother-in-law of DeWitt Clinton, had been accused of crimes including arson, and had developed an unsavory reputation as a result.[6] His appointment proved so unpopular that he resigned later that year.[6]

In March 1817, Taber was a delegate to the county Democratic-Republican nominating convention that appointed state convention delegates pledged to DeWitt Clinton for governor and John Tayler for lieutenant governor, and he was selected as a delegate to the state convention.[7] In June 1818, Taber was appointed one of the state's commissioners for Dutchess County; commissioners were responsible for officially acknowledging the transfer of deeds and other sale documents.[8][9] Clinton and Tayler were elected, and in 1819, Taber was an unsuccessful candidate for the New York State Assembly, running as a Clinton supporter during a factional split in New York's Democratic-Republican Party.[10][11] In October 1822, Taber was a delegate to the Dutchess County Democratic-Republican convention that chose candidates for county sheriff, clerk, coroner, the state legislature, and the U.S. House.[12]

In September 1824, Taber was a delegate to the Dutchess County Democratic-Republican convention which met to select delegates to the state party convention scheduled for Utica.[13] In October 1824, he was a delegate to the county nominating convention that chose candidates for Congress, the New York State Senate, and the state assembly.[14] In January 1825, Taber chaired a meeting of Dutchess County Democratic-Republicans that resolved to support Andrew Jackson for president in the 1825 contingent election and requested that their U.S. House member, William W. Van Wyck, vote for Jackson.[15] Taber served briefly in the New York State Assembly beginning on January 1, 1826; his election to the 49th New York State Legislature was contested by John Fowks Jr., who was seated on January 10.[16]

In April 1828, the Dover and Union Vale Turnpike Company was created with the intent of constructing a toll road from the Connecticut state line in Dover west through Poughkeepsie to the town of Union Vale, and Taber was an original incorporator.[17] Later in 1828, Taber won a special election as a Jacksonian to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat left vacant by the resignation of Thomas Jackson Oakley.[18] He served for one session of the 20th United States Congress, November 5, 1828, to March 3, 1829.[19]

Continued career

When the Bank of Poughkeepsie was chartered in 1829, Taber was elected to its first board of directors.[20] Taber was a delegate to the September 1830 county Democratic-Republican convention that chose delegates to the state party nominating convention that was scheduled for later that month, which chose Enos T. Throop for governor and Edward Philip Livingston for lieutenant governor.[21][22] In 1831, Taber was a delegate to a nationwide protectionist convention that took place in New York City and met to argue for high tariffs and opposition to free trade.[23] The convention's position on the issue was codified at the national level with passage of the Tariff of 1832.[24]

On February 7, 1832, delegates to a convention of Dutchess County farmers chose Taber as one of the county's delegates to a state agricultural convention which took place in Albany on February 14.[25] In September 1832, Taber was a delegate to the county Democratic-Republican convention that nominated delegates to the party's state convention, and he was chosen as a state convention delegate.[26] When the New York and Albany Railroad was incorporated in June 1833, Taber was an original incorporator and was one of the commissioners appointed to oversee the corporation's initial stock subscription.[27] In October 1835, Taber was a delegate to the county Democratic convention that nominated candidates for the state senate.[28]

In January 1836, Taber was chosen as a Dutchess County delegate to a statewide agricultiural convention that took place In February.[29] In May 1836, the Dutchess County Mutual Insurance Company was organized in Poughkeepsie, and Taber was elected to its first board of directors.[30] In September 1838, Taber was a delegate to the Democratic county convention that selected delegates to the state party's nominating convention, and won election as a delegate to the state convention.[31] In 1839, Taber was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the state assembly.[32][33] In September 1840, Taber took part in a mass Democratic rally that was held in Poughkeepsie with the intent of building statewide support for that year's elections.[34] He was subsequently appointed one of the campaign's vice presidents for Dutchess County.[34]

In September 1843, Taber was a delegate to the state Democratic convention.[35] In October 1844, Taber was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress, but lost to William W. Woodworth, who went on to win the general election.[36][37] In May 1846, he was appointed one of the judges of the Dutchess County Court.[38] In October 1846, he was a delegate to the state Democratic convention.[39]

In 1848, New York's state Democratic convention chose Taber as a presidential elector, and he was later selected as an elector by the Free Soil Party, but Whig nominee Zachary Taylor won New York's electoral votes.[40][41][42] In July 1849, Taber was one of the prominent Democrats who attempted to resolve the dispute between New York's Barnburners and Hunkers by serving as vice president of a union convention in Dutchess County.[43] The county convention called for a statewide union convention, and Taber was chosen as a delegate.[43] In August 1854, the shareholders and directors of the New York and Harlem Railroad were victimized by a fraud involving counterfeit stock certificates.[44] During the company's response, Taber was one of the shareholders appointed to the nominating committee that proposed candidates for a reorganized board of directors.[44]

Later life

In his later years, Taber moved to Roslyn to live with his son Stephen.[45] He died in Roslyn on March 21, 1862[46][47] and was buried at Friends Cemetery in Westbury.[48]

Family

On February 2, 1820, Taber married Phebe Titus.[1] They were the parents of two sons, Samuel and Stephen.[1] Stephen Taber also served in the state assembly and as a member of Congress.[1]

Taber was the uncle of George T. Pierce, a member of the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate.[1][49]

Notes

  1. ↑ His name is sometimes spelled "Tabor" and he sometimes used the suffix "2nd" or "2d" to distinguished himself from a relative, Thomas Taber (1767–1830).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Dutchess and Putnam. Vol. 1. Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co. 1897. pp. 212, 218 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ "Judges and Justices of the Peace". The Political Barometer. Poughkeepsie, NY. March 6, 1811. p. 3 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  3. ↑ Ver Nooy, Amy Pearce, ed. (1946). Year Book of the Dutchess County Historical Society. Vol. 31. Poughkeepsie, NY: Dutchess County Historical Society. p. 14 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ Transactions of the New York State Agricultural Society. Vol. IV. Albany, NY: E. Mack. 1844. p. 397 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ "Memorial and Petition of the Republican Citizens of the County of Dutchess". The Evening Post. New York, NY. March 20, 1815. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  6. 1 2 Jefferson, Thomas (2016). McClure, James P. (ed.). The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. Vol. 42. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 169. ISBN 978-0-691-17046-6 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ "Dutchess County Meeting". The Columbian. New York, NY. March 22, 1817. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  8. ↑ "Appointments by the Hon. Council of Appointment, June 22, 1818". The New-York Columbian. New York, NY. June 25, 1818. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  9. ↑ Eriksson, Erik McKinley (November 1925). "Thurlow Weed: Anti-Masonic Editor and Politician". Grand Lodge Bulletin. Vol. XXIV–XXVI. Cedar Rapids, IA: Grand Lodge of Iowa, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. p. 237 – via Google Books.
  10. ↑ "Democratic County Convention". Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, NY. February 24, 1819. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Members of Assembly". Long-Island Star. Brooklyn, NY. January 19, 1820. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "County Meeting". The Dutchess Observer. Poughkeepsie, NY. October 9, 1822. p. 3 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  13. ↑ "Meeting of the Democratic-Republican Electors of the County of Dutchess". Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, NY. September 8, 1824. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "People's Meeting". Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, NY. October 13, 1824. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Meeting of the Inhabitants of Dutchess County". The Dutchess Observer. Poughkeepsie, NY. January 19, 1825. p. 3 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  16. ↑ Armstrong, C. W. (1871). A Compilation of Cases of Contested Elections to Seats in the Assembly of the State of New York. Albany, NY: The Argus Company. pp. 62–63 – via Google Books.
  17. ↑ New York State Legislature (1827). Laws of the State of New York: Passed at the Fiftieth Session of the Legislature. Albany, NY: E. Croswell. p. 43 – via Google Books.
  18. ↑ "Members of Congress". New-York Baptist Register. Utica, NY. November 28, 1828. p. 3 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  19. ↑ United States Senate (1913). A Biographical Congressional Directory, 1774–1911. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 1040 – via Google Books.
  20. ↑ Platt, Edmund (1905). The Eagle's History of Poughkeepsie: From the Earliest Settlements 1683 to 1905. Poughkeepsie, NY: Platt & Platt. p. 107 – via Google Books.
  21. ↑ "Dutchess County". Albany Argus. Albany, NY. September 7, 1830. p. 1 – via GenealogyBank.
  22. ↑ "N. Y. Nominations". Vermont Watchman and State Journal. Montpelier, VT. September 21, 1830. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ Niles, Hezekiah, ed. (November 5, 1831). "Tariff Convention: List of Officers and Members". Niles' Register. Baltimore, MD. p. 191 – via Google Books.
  24. ↑ Searles, Harry (June 30, 2020). "Tariff of 1832 Summary". American History Central. Dublin, OH: R.Squared Communications, LLC. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  25. ↑ "County Convention of Farmers". Albany Argus. Albany, NY. February 10, 1832. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  26. ↑ "Movements of the People". Albany Argus. Albany, NY. September 11, 1832. p. 3 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  27. ↑ "New York and Albany Railroad Company Notice". New-York American. New York, NY. June 21, 1833. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  28. ↑ "The Republicans of Dutchess County". Albany Argus. Albany, NY. October 13, 1835. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  29. ↑ "Agricultural Convention". Albany Argus. Albany, NY. February 5, 1836. p. 3 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  30. ↑ Platt, p. 277.
  31. ↑ "Dutchess County: The Convention". The Evening Post. New York, NY. September 10, 1838. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  32. ↑ "Democratic Nominations: Dutchess County". The Evening Post. New York, NY. October 15, 1839. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "Legislature of New York: House of Assembly". Rochester Freeman. Rochester, NY. November 27, 1839. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. 1 2 "Mass Convention at Poughkeepsie". The Evening Post. New York, NY. September 18, 1840. p. 1 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  35. ↑ "Democratic State Convention". New York Post. New York, NY. September 9, 1843. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  36. ↑ "Loco Foco Congressional Nomination". Journal & Eagle. Poughkeepsie, NY. October 12, 1844. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ "Members of Congress Elected". Brooklyn Eagle. Brooklyn, NY. November 8, 1844. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ "Appointments by the Governor". Albany Evening Atlas. Albany, NY. May 15, 1846. p. 2 – via genealogyBank.com.
  39. ↑ "Democratic County Conventions". Albany Argus. Albany, NY. October 3, 1846. p. 4 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  40. ↑ "Second Day of the Convention". The Evening Post. New York, NY. September 15, 1848. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  41. ↑ "Democratic Free Soil Nominations". Buffalo Daily Republic. Buffalo, NY. November 6, 1848. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ↑ "New York: The Full Vote". Brooklyn Eagle. Brooklyn, NY. November 17, 1848. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. 1 2 "Dutchess County Union Convention". Albany Argus. Albany, NY. July 3, 1849. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  44. 1 2 "Meeting of Harlem Railroad Stockholders at Tammany Hall". The Evening Post. New York, NY. August 16, 1854. p. 1 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  45. ↑ "1860 United States Federal Census, Entry for Stephen Taber Family". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. August 20, 1860. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Death Notice, Thomas Taber". The Evening Post. New York, NY. March 22, 1862. p. 3 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  47. ↑ "Death of an Ex-Congressman". The Commercial Advertiser. Buffalo, NY. March 25, 1862. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ↑ Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried. Clearfield Company: Baltimore, MD. ISBN 978-0-8063-4823-0 – via Google Books.
  49. ↑ "Death Notice, Hon. Thomas Taber". Albany Evening Journal. Albany, NY. March 24, 1862. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
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