Date of Birth: September 15, 1857
Place of Birth: Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Date of Death: March 8, 1930
Place of Death: Washington, D.C., U.S.
Ethnicity: English
William Howard Taft was an American politician and jurist. A Republican, he was the 27th President of the United States, from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1913, and the 10th Chief Justice of the United States, from July 11, 1921 to February 3, 1930. He is the only person to hold both offices. He was also the Republican Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 1912.
President Taft was also the 42nd United States Secretary of War, from February 1, 1904 to June 30, 1908, the 1st Provisional Governor of Cuba, from September 29, 1906 to October 13, 1906, the Governor-General of the Philippines, from July 4, 1901 to December 23, 1903, and the 6th Solicitor General of the United States, from February 1890 to March 1892.
President Taft was the son of Louisa Maria “Louise” (Torrey) and Alphonso Taft, a jurist and diplomat, who was the 34th United States Attorney General, from May 22, 1876 to March 4, 1877, and the 31st United States Secretary of War, from March 8, 1876 to May 22, 1876. President Taft’s children were Robert A. Taft, a politician and statesman, Helen Taft Manning, a history professor and college dean, and Charles Phelps Taft II, a politician.
As far as is currently known, President Taft was of entirely Colonial American (English) ancestry. Just about every line of his family has been in the U.S. since the 1600s.
President Taft’s paternal grandfather was Peter Rawson Taft (the son of Aaron Taft and Rhoda Rawson). Aaron was the son of Peter Taft and Elizabeth Mason Cheney. Rhoda was the daughter of Abner Rawson and Mary Allen.
President Taft’s paternal grandmother was Sylvia Howard (the daughter of Levi Hayward and Berthiah Chapin). Levi was the son of Benjamin Howard/Hayward and Mary Wheaton. Berthiah was the daughter of John Chapin, Jr. and Rhoda Albee.
President Taft’s maternal grandfather was Samuel Davenport Torrey (the son of William Torrey and Anna Davenport). William was the son of Joseph Torrey and Deborah Holbrook. Anna was the daughter of Seth Davenport and Chloe Daniels.
President Taft’s maternal grandmother was Susan Holman Waters (the daughter of Asa Waters and Susan Trask Holman). Asa was the son of Asa Waters and Sarah Goodale. President Taft’s great-grandmother Susan was the daughter of Jonathan H. Holman and Susanna Trask.
Source: Genealogy of William Howard Taft – https://www.geni.com