82-648: The Warsaw Signal was a newspaper edited and published in Warsaw, Illinois during the 1840s and early 1850s. For most of its history, the Signal' s editorial stance was one of vigorous anti-Mormonism and the advancement of the policies of the Whig Party . The newspaper was founded as the Western World , with its first edition published on May 13, 1840. In its May 12, 1841 edition, noting that Western World
164-650: A Pilgrim leader of the Plymouth Colony , a Mayflower immigrant, and a signer of the Mayflower Compact ; and Isaac Allerton Jr. , a colonial merchant, colonel, and son of Mayflower Pilgrim Isaac Allerton and Fear Brewster . Taylor's second cousin through that line was James Madison , the fourth president. He was also a member of the famous Lee family of Virginia, and a third cousin once removed of Confederate General Robert E. Lee . His family forsook its exhausted Virginia land, joined
246-613: A June 14, 1844 extra edition , the Signal published the minutes of a meeting of Warsaw residents organized by Sharp whereby those in attendance condemned Smith's destruction of the printing press of the Nauvoo Expositor and resolved that "the Prophet [Smith] and his miscreant adherents, should ... be demanded at their [the Latter Day Saints'] hands, and if not surrendered, a war of extermination should be waged to
328-407: A brevet promotion to major general and a formal commendation from Congress. In June, he was promoted to the full rank of major general. The national press compared him to George Washington and Andrew Jackson, both generals who had ascended to the presidency, but Taylor denied any interest in running for office. "Such an idea never entered my head," he remarked in a letter, "nor is it likely to enter
410-407: A contender for the vice-presidential nominee in the 1844 election . Fillmore's selection was largely an attempt at reconciliation with northern Whigs, who were furious at the nomination of a slave-owning southerner; no faction of the party was satisfied with the final ticket. It was initially unclear whether Taylor would accept the nomination because he did not respond to the letters notifying him of
492-787: A cost of over 1,500 Mexican casualties. Outmatched, the Mexican forces retreated, ensuring a "far-reaching" victory for the Americans. In recognition of his victory at Buena Vista, on July 4, 1847, Taylor was elected an honorary member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati , the Virginia branch of which included his father as a charter member. Taylor also was made a member of the Aztec Club of 1847 , Military Society of
574-563: A few weeks before it was burned. In 1815 another military camp, Fort Edwards, was built nearby at a different location. Warsaw became an important fur trading post and one of the earliest American settlements in northern Illinois. During the 1840s, Warsaw was a center of opposition to Mormon settlement in Nauvoo and other areas in Hancock County during the conflict sometimes known as the " Mormon Illinois War ". The local newspaper at
656-450: A few words, that is, Taylor pronounced an epitaph for the entire Whig economic program. As president-elect, Taylor kept his distance from Washington, not resigning his Western Division command until late January 1849. He spent the months following the election formulating his cabinet selections. He was deliberate and quiet about his decisions, to the frustration of his fellow Whigs. While he despised patronage and political games, he endured
738-399: A flurry of advances from office-seekers looking to play a role in his administration. While he would appoint no Democrats, Taylor wanted his cabinet to reflect the nation's diverse interests, and so apportioned the seats geographically. He also avoided choosing prominent Whigs, sidestepping such obvious selections as Clay. He saw Crittenden as a cornerstone of his administration, offering him
820-559: A hero's welcome in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, setting the stage for the 1848 presidential election. Ulysses S. Grant served under Taylor in this war and said of his style of leadership: "A better army, man for man, probably never faced an enemy than the one commanded by General Taylor in the earliest two engagements of the Mexican War." General Taylor was not an officer to trouble the administration much with his demands but
902-569: A letter from Scott about Taylor's smaller force, and he moved north, intent on destroying Taylor's force before confronting Scott's army. Learning of Santa Anna's approach, and refusing to retreat despite the Mexican army's greater numbers, Taylor established a strong defensive position near the town of Saltillo . Santa Anna attacked Taylor with 20,000 men at the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847, leaving around 700 Americans dead or wounded at
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#1732772363785984-544: A presidential run had weakened, and it became clear that his principles resembled Whig orthodoxy. Taylor despised both Polk and his policies, while the Whigs were considering nominating another war hero for the presidency after the success of its previous winning nominee, William Henry Harrison , in 1840. As support for Taylor's candidacy grew, he continued to keep his distance from both parties, but made clear that he would have voted for Whig Henry Clay in 1844 had he voted. In
1066-525: A school operated by Elisha Ayer, a teacher originally from Connecticut. He also attended a Middletown, Kentucky , academy run by Kean O'Hara, a classically trained scholar from Ireland and the father of Theodore O'Hara . Ayer recalled Taylor as a patient and quick learner, but his early letters showed a weak grasp of spelling and grammar, as well as poor handwriting. All improved over time, but his handwriting remained difficult to read. In June 1810, Taylor married Margaret Mackall Smith , whom he had met
1148-607: A strong and sound banking system for the country, and thought that President Andrew Jackson should not have allowed the Second Bank of the United States to collapse in 1836. He believed it was impractical to expand slavery into the Western United States , as neither cotton nor sugar (both produced in great quantities as a result of slavery) could be easily grown there through a plantation economy . He
1230-656: A third-party effort led by former president Martin Van Buren and Charles Francis Adams Sr. of the Free Soil Party . Taylor became the first president to be elected without having previously held political office. As president, he kept his distance from Congress and his Cabinet , even though partisan tensions threatened to divide the Union. Debate over the status of slavery in the Mexican Cession dominated
1312-466: A war hero who could replicate the success of the party's only other successful presidential candidate, William Henry Harrison. At the 1848 Whig National Convention , Taylor defeated Clay and Winfield Scott for the presidential nomination. For its vice-presidential nominee the convention chose Millard Fillmore , a prominent New York Whig who had chaired the House Ways and Means Committee and been
1394-419: A widely publicized September 1847 letter, Taylor stated his positions on several issues. He did not favor chartering another national bank, favored a low tariff , and believed that the president should play no role in making laws. Taylor did believe that the president could veto laws, but only when they were clearly unconstitutional. Many southerners believed that Taylor supported slavery and its expansion into
1476-603: Is a city in Hancock County , Illinois , United States . The population was 1,510 at the 2020 census, a decline from 1,607 in 2010. The city is notable for its historic downtown. The city of Warsaw began in 1814, when young Major Zachary Taylor founded Fort Johnson on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River across from the mouth of the Des Moines River . Fort Johnson was occupied only for
1558-500: Is uncertain. Another possibility, one recognized by a historical marker, is Montebello, another Orange County estate. He was the third of five surviving sons in his family (a sixth died in infancy) and had three younger sisters. His mother was Sarah Dabney (née Strother) Taylor. His father, Richard Taylor , served as a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolution . Taylor was a descendant of Elder William Brewster ,
1640-403: The 1848 presidential election , despite his unclear political tenets and lack of interest in politics. At the 1848 Whig National Convention , Taylor defeated Winfield Scott and former senator Henry Clay for the party's nomination. He won the general election alongside New York politician Millard Fillmore , defeating Democratic Party nominees Lewis Cass and William Orlando Butler , as well as
1722-424: The Battle of Monterrey . Defying orders, Taylor led his troops further south and, despite being severely outnumbered, dealt a crushing blow to Mexican forces under General Antonio López de Santa Anna at the Battle of Buena Vista . Taylor's troops were transferred to the command of Major General Winfield Scott , but Taylor retained his popularity. The Whig Party convinced a reluctant Taylor to lead its ticket in
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#17327723637851804-655: The Commercial Journal with the Journal of the People to create the Warsaw Express and Journal , which published until the late 1850s. In 1975, a new paper began publishing under the name Warsaw Signal , but its existence was short-lived. The Signal was vigorously anti-Mormon in its editorial stance. During the two separate periods of time when it bore the name Warsaw Signal , the owner and editor of
1886-611: The Second Seminole War was underway when Taylor was directed to Florida. He built Fort Gardiner and Fort Basinger as supply depots and communication centers in support of Major General Thomas S. Jesup 's campaign to penetrate deep into Seminole territory with large forces and trap the Seminoles and their allies in order to force them to fight or surrender. He engaged in battle with the Seminole Indians in
1968-452: The 290 electoral votes . In the popular vote, he took 47.3%, to Cass's 42.5% and Van Buren's 10.1%. Taylor ignored the Whig platform, as historian Michael F. Holt explains: Taylor was equally indifferent to programs Whigs had long considered vital. Publicly, he was artfully ambiguous, refusing to answer questions about his views on banking, the tariff, and internal improvements. Privately, he
2050-617: The Christmas Day Battle of Lake Okeechobee , among the largest U.S.–Indian battles of the 19th century; as a result, he was promoted to brigadier general. In May 1838, Jesup stepped down and placed Taylor in command of all American troops in Florida, a position he held for two years—his reputation as a military leader was growing and he became known as "Old Rough and Ready." Taylor was criticized for using bloodhounds in order to track Seminole. After his long-requested relief
2132-579: The Interior , so Taylor would be appointing that department's inaugural secretary. Thomas Ewing , who had previously served as a senator from Ohio and as Secretary of the Treasury under William Henry Harrison, accepted the patronage-rich position of Secretary of the Interior . For the position of Postmaster General , also a center of patronage, Taylor chose Congressman Jacob Collamer of Vermont. After Horace Binney refused appointment as Secretary of
2214-540: The Mexican War. He received three Congressional Gold Medals for his service in the Mexican-American War and remains the only person to have received the medal three times. Taylor remained at Monterrey until late November 1847, when he set sail for home. While he spent the following year in command of the Army's entire western division, his active military career was effectively over. In December he received
2296-529: The Mexicans to sell Alta California and New Mexico , but the Mexicans remained unwilling to part with so much territory. Polk sent an army under the command of Winfield Scott to besiege Veracruz , an important Mexican port city, while Taylor was ordered to remain near Monterrey. Many of Taylor's experienced soldiers were placed under Scott's command, leaving Taylor with a smaller and less effective force. Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna intercepted
2378-536: The Mississippi, Keokuk, Iowa lies 3.5 miles to the northeast and the city of Hamilton lies approximately six miles to the east-northeast. According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Warsaw has a total area of 7.47 square miles (19.35 km ), of which 6.52 square miles (16.89 km ) (or 87.29%) is land and 0.95 square miles (2.46 km ) (or 12.71%) is water. As of the 2020 census there were 1,510 people, 691 households, and 435 families residing in
2460-580: The Rio Grande. Taylor was later praised for his humane treatment of the wounded Mexican soldiers before the prisoner exchange with Arista, giving them the same care as was given to American wounded. After tending to the wounded, he performed the last rites for the dead of both the American and Mexican soldiers killed during the battle. These victories made him a popular hero, and in May 1846 Taylor received
2542-632: The Sabine River frontier. By March 1822, Taylor had established Fort Jesup at the Shield's Spring site southwest of Natchitoches. That November (1822), Taylor was transferred to Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River in Louisiana , where he remained until February 1824. He spent the next few years on recruiting duty. In late 1826, he was called to Washington, D.C., for work on an Army committee to consolidate and improve military organization. In
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2624-472: The Treasury, Taylor chose another prominent Philadelphian, William M. Meredith . George W. Crawford , a former governor of Georgia, accepted the position of Secretary of War , while Congressman William B. Preston of Virginia became Secretary of the Navy . Senator Reverdy Johnson of Maryland accepted appointment as Attorney General , and became one of the most influential members of Taylor's cabinet. Fillmore
2706-532: The Warsaw Brewery opened in 1861 and operated for more than 100 years, ending production in 1971. The facility was renovated and reopened in 2006 as a bar and restaurant. Warsaw is located in southwestern Hancock County. It is bordered to the west and northwest by the Mississippi River, which forms the state border with Missouri . The community of Alexandria, Missouri lies due west across
2788-406: The Whigs, as former Democratic President Martin Van Buren broke from the party and led the anti-slavery Free Soil Party 's ticket. Van Buren won the support of many Democrats and Whigs who opposed the extension of slavery into the territories, but he took more votes from Democratic nominee Lewis Cass in the crucial state of New York. Nationally, Taylor defeated Cass and Van Buren, taking 163 of
2870-645: The annexation of the Republic of Texas , which had established independence in 1836, Taylor was sent in April 1844 to Fort Jesup in Louisiana, and ordered to guard against attempts by Mexico to reclaim the territory. More senior generals in the army might have taken this important command, such as Winfield Scott and Edmund P. Gaines . But both were known members of the Whig Party , and Taylor's apolitical reputation and friendly relations with Andrew Jackson made him
2952-412: The average family size was 2.32. The city's age distribution consisted of 24.9% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 29% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 53,920, and
3034-508: The bottom quartile of U.S. presidents, owing in part to his short term of office (16 months), though he has been described as "more a forgettable president than a failed one". Zachary Taylor was born on November 24, 1784, on a plantation in Orange County, Virginia , to a prominent family of planters of English ancestry. His birthplace may have been Hare Forest Farm , the home of his maternal grandfather William Strother, but this
3116-765: The choice of President James K. Polk . Polk directed him to deploy into disputed territory in Texas, "on or near the Rio Grande " near Mexico. Taylor chose a spot at Corpus Christi , and his Army of Occupation encamped there until the following spring in anticipation of a Mexican attack. When Polk's attempts to negotiate with Mexico failed, Taylor's men advanced to the Rio Grande in March 1846, and war appeared imminent. Violence broke out several weeks later, when Mexican forces attacked some of Captain Seth B. Thornton's men north of
3198-425: The city. The population density was 202.17 inhabitants per square mile (78.06/km ). There were 762 housing units at an average density of 102.02 per square mile (39.39/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 94.50% White , 0.26% African American , 0.46% Native American , 0.73% Asian , 0.07% Pacific Islander , 0.00% from other races , and 3.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of
3280-496: The convention's outcome, because he had instructed his local post office not to deliver his mail to avoid postage fees. Taylor continued to minimize his role in the campaign, preferring not to directly meet with voters or correspond about his political views. He did little active campaigning, and may not have voted. His campaign was skillfully directed by Crittenden and bolstered by a late endorsement from Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts. Democrats were even less unified than
3362-642: The courtship of his 17-year-old daughter Sarah Knox Taylor with Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, the future President of the Confederate States of America . He respected Davis but did not wish his daughter to become a military wife, as he knew it was a hard life for families. Davis and Sarah Taylor married in June 1835 (when she was 21), but she died three months later of malaria contracted on a visit to Davis's sister's home in St. Francisville, Louisiana . By 1837,
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3444-458: The crucial seat of Secretary of State , but Crittenden insisted on serving out the governorship of Kentucky to which he had just been elected. Taylor settled on Senator John M. Clayton of Delaware, a close associate of Crittenden's. With Clayton's aid, Taylor chose the six remaining members of his cabinet. One of the incoming Congress's first actions would be to establish the Department of
3526-471: The entire destruction, if necessary for our protection, of his adherents." After Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed by a mob on June 27, Sharp editorialized in the July 10 edition: Joe and Hiram [sic] Smith, at the time their lives were taken, were in the custody of the officers of the law; and it is asked by those who condemn the act, why the law was not first allowed to take its course before violence
3608-594: The forces of Tecumseh , a Shawnee chief . During the War of 1812 , in which U.S. forces battled the British Empire and its Indian allies, Taylor defended Fort Harrison in Indiana Territory from an Indian attack commanded by Tecumseh. The September 1812 battle was the American forces' first land victory of the war, for which Taylor received wide praise, as well as a brevet (temporary) promotion to
3690-468: The head of any sane person." After crossing the Rio Grande, in September Taylor inflicted heavy casualties upon the Mexicans at the Battle of Monterrey , and captured that city in three days, despite its impregnable repute. Taylor was criticized for signing a "liberal" truce rather than pressing for a large-scale surrender. Polk had hoped that the occupation of Northern Mexico would induce
3772-579: The junior high level attend Nauvoo-Colusa Junior High School in the Nauvoo-Colusa Community Unit School District 325 . Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military officer and politician who was the 12th president of the United States , serving from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army , rising to
3854-549: The last toehold of the U.S. Army in the upper Mississippi River Valley. Upon Howard's death a few weeks later, Taylor was ordered to abandon the fort and retreat to St. Louis. Reduced to the rank of captain when the war ended in 1815, he resigned from the army. He reentered it a year later after gaining a commission as a major. Taylor commanded Fort Howard at the Green Bay , Michigan Territory settlement for two years, then returned to Louisville and his family. In April 1819 he
3936-570: The many tasks facing the nation, but presented a governing style of deference to Congress and sectional compromise instead of assertive executive action. His speech also emphasized the importance of following President Washington's precedent in avoiding entangling alliances . During the period after his inauguration, Taylor made time to meet with numerous office-seekers and other ordinary citizens who desired his attention. He also attended an unusual number of funerals, including services for Polk and Dolley Madison . According to Eisenhower, Taylor coined
4018-406: The means at hand without parading his grievance before the public. No soldier could face either danger or responsibility more calmly than he. These are qualities more rarely found than genius or physical courage. General Taylor never made any great show or parade, either of uniform or retinue. In dress he was possibly too plain, rarely wearing anything in the field to indicate his rank, or even that he
4100-604: The meantime he acquired his first Louisiana plantation and decided to move with his family to a new home in Baton Rouge . In May 1828, Taylor was called back to action, commanding Fort Snelling in Michigan Territory (now Minnesota ) on the Upper Mississippi River for a year, and then nearby Fort Crawford for a year. After some time on furlough, spent expanding his landholdings, Taylor
4182-560: The median income for a family was $ 73,092. Males had a median income of $ 53,472 versus $ 25,859 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 31,066. About 5.3% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over. Warsaw Community Unit School District 316 is the community school district. It operates two schools, Warsaw Elementary School and Warsaw High School . Prior to 2008 Warsaw CUSD 316 operated its own junior high school; as of 2008 students at
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#17327723637854264-459: The national political agenda and led to threats of secession from Southerners. Despite being a Southerner and a slaveholder himself, Taylor did not push for the expansion of slavery, and sought sectional harmony above all other concerns. To avoid the issue of slavery, he urged settlers in New Mexico and California to bypass the territorial stage and draft constitutions for statehood , setting
4346-648: The new territory absorbed from Mexico, and some were angered when Taylor suggested that if elected president he would not veto the Wilmot Proviso , which proposed against such an expansion. This position did not enhance his support from activist antislavery elements in the Northern United States , as they wanted Taylor to speak out strongly in support of the Proviso, not simply fail to veto it. Most abolitionists did not support Taylor, since he
4428-706: The newspaper was Thomas C. Sharp , a leader in opposing Joseph Smith and the Latter Day Saint presence in Illinois . Upon hearing news of the city-ordered destruction of neighboring, Mormon-critical press Nauvoo Expositor with assistance from an armed pro-Mormon mob, Sharp editorialized: War and extermination is inevitable! Citizens ARISE, ONE and ALL!!!—Can you stand by, and suffer such INFERNAL DEVILS! To ROB men of their property and RIGHTS, without avenging them. We have no time for comment, every man will make his own. LET IT BE MADE WITH POWDER AND BALL!!! In
4510-556: The nickname "Old Rough and Ready". In 1845, during the annexation of Texas , President James K. Polk dispatched Taylor to the Rio Grande in anticipation of a battle with Mexico over the disputed Texas–Mexico border . The Mexican–American War broke out in April 1846, and Taylor defeated Mexican troops commanded by General Mariano Arista at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma , driving Arista's troops out of Texas . Taylor then led his troops into Mexico, where they defeated Mexican troops commanded by Pedro de Ampudia at
4592-409: The population. There were 691 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.24% were married couples living together, 7.81% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.05% were non-families. 30.97% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.96% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and
4674-721: The previous autumn in Louisville. "Peggy" Smith came from a prominent family of Maryland planters—her father was Major Walter Smith, who had served in the Revolutionary War. The couple had six children: After serving briefly in the Kentucky militia in 1806, Taylor joined the U.S. Army on May 3, 1808; receiving a commission from President Thomas Jefferson as a first lieutenant of the Kentuckian Seventh Infantry Regiment . He
4756-635: The rank of major general and becoming a national hero for his victories in the Mexican–American War . As a result, he won election to the White House despite his vague political beliefs. His top priority as president was to preserve the Union. He died 16 months into his term from a stomach disease . Taylor had the third-shortest presidential term in U.S. history. Taylor was born into a prominent family of plantation owners who moved westward from Virginia to Louisville, Kentucky , in his youth. He
4838-542: The rank of major. According to historian John Eisenhower , this was the first brevet awarded in U.S. history. Later that year, Taylor joined General Samuel Hopkins as an aide on two expeditions—one into the Illinois Territory and one to the Tippecanoe battle site, where they were forced to retreat in the Battle of Wild Cat Creek . Taylor moved his family to Fort Knox after the violence subsided. In
4920-516: The river. Learning of the Thornton Affair , Polk told Congress in May that a war between Mexico and the U.S. had begun. That same month, Taylor commanded American forces at the Battle of Palo Alto and the nearby Battle of Resaca de la Palma . Though greatly outnumbered, he defeated the Mexican " Army of the North " commanded by General Mariano Arista , and forced the troops back across
5002-543: The spring of 1814, Taylor was called back into action under Brigadier General Benjamin Howard , and after Howard fell sick, Taylor led a 430-man expedition from St. Louis , up the Mississippi River. In the Battle of Credit Island , Taylor defeated Indian forces, but retreated after the Indians were joined by their British allies. That October he supervised the construction of Fort Johnson near present-day Warsaw, Illinois ,
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#17327723637855084-439: The stage for the Compromise of 1850 . Taylor died suddenly of a stomach disease on July 9, 1850, with his administration having accomplished little aside from the ratification of the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty and having made no progress on the most divisive issue in Congress and the nation: slavery . Vice President Fillmore assumed the presidency and served the remainder of his term. Historians and scholars have ranked Taylor in
5166-424: The station" of president. Taylor spent the next week meeting with political elites, some of whom were unimpressed with his appearance and demeanor. With less than two weeks until his inauguration, he met with Clayton and hastily finalized his cabinet. Taylor's term as president began on Sunday, March 4, but his inauguration was not held until the next day out of religious concerns. His inauguration speech discussed
5248-470: The time, the Warsaw Signal edited by Thomas C. Sharp , was a vocal opponent of Mormon settlement and practices in western Illinois. The Mormons, led by Willard Richards , attempted to establish a settlement at a site just south of Warsaw during this period, but abandoned these plans due to local opposition and other problems. The city is notable for its well-preserved downtown with a number of remaining historic businesses. Founded by German immigrants ,
5330-431: The westward migration and settled near future Louisville, Kentucky , on the Ohio River . Taylor grew up in a small woodland cabin until, with increased prosperity, his family moved to a brick house. As a child, he lived in a battleground of the American Indian Wars , later claiming that he had seen Native Americans abduct and scalp his classmates while they were walking down the road together. Louisville's rapid growth
5412-406: Was a boon for Taylor's father, who by the start of the 19th century had acquired 10,000 acres (40 km ) throughout Kentucky , as well as 26 slaves to cultivate the most developed portion of his holdings. Taylor's formal education was sporadic because Kentucky's education system was just taking shape during his formative years. Taylor's mother taught him to read and write, and he later attended
5494-483: Was a slave-owner. In February 1848, Taylor again announced that he would not accept either party's presidential nomination. His reluctance to identify himself as a Whig nearly cost him the party's presidential nomination, but Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky and other supporters finally convinced Taylor to declare himself a Whig. Though Clay retained a strong following among the Whigs, Whig leaders like William H. Seward and Abraham Lincoln were eager to support
5576-453: Was a title that was "too extensive in its signification", the paper, which had been purchased by Thomas C. Sharp , changed its name to Warsaw Signal . On January 7, 1843, the name was changed to Warsaw Message after Sharp sold the newspaper, but on February 14, 1844 the name reverted to Warsaw Signal when it was repurchased by Sharp. In 1850, it was purchased by James McKee who renamed it Warsaw Commercial Journal . In 1855, McKee merged
5658-512: Was a type-setter and contributor to the Warsaw Signal for a few weeks in late 1855 or early 1856. In a January 1856 edition of the newspaper, an article attributed to "Thomas Jefferson Sole" entitled "Learning Grammar" appeared on the fourth page of the publication. Historians have noted that the article resembles much of Twain's later writings and that Twain would later use the pseudonyms "Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass" and "Soleather" before settling on "Mark Twain". Warsaw, Illinois Warsaw
5740-543: Was also a firm American nationalist , and due to his experience of seeing many people die as a result of warfare, believed that secession was a bad way to resolve national problems. Well before the American victory at Buena Vista, political clubs formed that supported Taylor for president. His support was drawn from an unusually broad assortment of political bands, including Whigs and Democrats, Northerners and Southerners, allies and opponents of national leaders such as Polk and Henry Clay. By late 1846, Taylor's opposition to
5822-481: Was among the new officers Congress commissioned in response to the Chesapeake–Leopard affair , in which the crew of a British Royal Navy warship had boarded a United States Navy frigate, sparking calls for war. Taylor spent much of 1809 in the dilapidated camps of New Orleans and nearby Terre aux Boeufs , in the Territory of Orleans . Under James Wilkinson 's command, the soldiers at Terre aux Boeufs suffered greatly from disease and lack of supplies, and Taylor
5904-478: Was an officer; but he was known to every soldier in his army, and was respected by all. Note - Major General Taylor resigned his commission in the U.S. Army on January 31, 1849, shortly before he became president. In his capacity as a career officer, Taylor had never publicly revealed his political beliefs before 1848 nor voted before that time. He was apolitical and had a negative opinion of most politicians. He thought of himself as an independent , believing in
5986-544: Was called to the Indiana Territory , where he assumed control of Fort Knox after the commandant fled. In a few weeks, he was able to restore order in the garrison, for which he was lauded by Governor William Henry Harrison . Taylor was temporarily called to Washington, D.C. , to testify for Wilkinson as a witness in a court-martial , and so did not take part in the November 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe against
6068-664: Was given an extended leave, returning to Louisville to recover. Taylor was promoted to captain in November 1810. His army duties were limited at this time, and he attended to his personal finances. Over the next several years, he began to purchase a good deal of bank stock in Louisville. He also bought a plantation in Louisville, as well as the Cypress Grove Plantation in Jefferson County , Mississippi Territory . These acquisitions included slaves, rising in number to more than 200. In July 1811 he
6150-712: Was granted, Taylor spent a comfortable year touring the nation with his family and meeting with military leaders. During this period, he began to be interested in politics and corresponded with President William Henry Harrison . He was made commander of the Second Department of the Army's Western Division in May 1841. The sizable territory ran from the Mississippi River westward, south of the 37th parallel north . Stationed in Arkansas , Taylor enjoyed several uneventful years, spending as much time attending to his land speculation as to military matters. In anticipation of
6232-399: Was inclined to do the best he could with the means given to him. He felt his responsibility as going no further. If he had thought that he was sent to perform an impossibility with the means given him, he would probably have informed the authorities of his opinion and left them to determine what should be done. If the judgment was against him he would have gone on and done the best he could with
6314-417: Was more forthright. The idea of a national bank "is dead, and will not be revived in my time." In the future the tariff "will be increased only for revenue"; in other words, Whig hopes of restoring the protective tariff of 1842 were vain. There would never again be surplus federal funds from public land sales to distribute to the states, and internal improvements "will go on in spite of presidential vetoes." In
6396-469: Was not in favor with Taylor, and was largely sidelined throughout Taylor's presidency. Taylor began his trek to Washington in late January, a journey rife with bad weather, delays, injuries, sickness—and an abduction by a family friend. Taylor finally arrived in the nation's capital on February 24 and soon met with the outgoing President Polk. Polk held a low opinion of Taylor, privately deeming him "without political information" and "wholly unqualified for
6478-567: Was promoted to colonel of the 1st Infantry Regiment in April 1832, when the Black Hawk War was beginning in the West. Taylor campaigned under General Henry Atkinson to pursue and later defend against Chief Black Hawk 's forces throughout the summer. The end of the war in August 1832 signaled the final Indian resistance to U.S. expansion in the area. During this period, Taylor opposed
6560-579: Was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and dined with President James Monroe and General Andrew Jackson . In late 1820, Taylor took the 7th Infantry to Natchitoches , Louisiana , on the Red River . He subsequently established Fort Selden at the confluence of the Sulphur River and the Red River. On the orders of General Edmund P. Gaines , he later found a new post more convenient to
6642-727: Was resorted to? We answer that the course of law in the case of these wretches would have been a mere mockery; and such was the conviction of every sensible man. After the majority of the Latter Day Saints left Illinois under the leadership of Brigham Young , the Signal continued to report on the Mormons and their progression west and remained editorially opposed to the presence of Latter Day Saints in Illinois and surrounding states, particularly those who chose to follow James Strang . Some literary historians have suggested that Mark Twain , then known by his birth name Samuel Langhorne Clemens,
6724-494: Was the last president born before the adoption of the Constitution . He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army in 1808 and made a name for himself as a captain in the War of 1812 . He climbed the ranks of the military, establishing military forts along the Mississippi River and entering the Black Hawk War as a colonel in 1832. His success in the Second Seminole War attracted national attention and earned him
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