The following is an undated, unsourced newspaper clipping from a scrapbook titled: Pioneer Families of Randolph County, Illinois located at Genforum of Oregon, in Portland, Oregon: "Death Claims Silas Taggart, Civil War Vet Randolph County Volunteer Took Part in 46 Battles and Escaped with One Wound Silas Taggart, a Civil War veteran well known in Randolph county, who won the Medal of Honor for bravery in the War of the Rebellion, died at his home in Willisville last Thursday night at the age of 84 years, 3 months and 22 days. The remains were taken to New Palestine in this county, Sunday, and interred in the New Palestine cemetery beside the graves of two of his children who died in infancy. he was given a military burial, the Rogers-Taft Post No. 331, of Willisville, and the B.B.K. Post No.480, of Steeleville, participating. Taps were sounded and a military gun salute fired at the grave. Rev. Grace, of Murphysboro, officiated. Mr. Taggart was born near Chester and spent most of his life in the vicinity of New Palestine and Steeleville. However, he resided in Willisville for a number of years. Classmate of Bryan At the age of 16 he entered law school at Jacksonville and it is said he was a classmate of the late William J. Bryan. He did not complete his law studies as his patriotic energy was greater that his desire for knowledge, and at the age of 18, on August 20, 1861, he enlisted as a private, and re-enlisted as a veteran January 1, 1864. He was mustered out July 17, 1866 (?) as a corporal, receiving his honorable discharge with a medal of honor. After participating in forty-six battles and one hundred skirmishes, his only injury was a minor wound received in 1863. He was a member of the 30th regiment of Company C. After returning from the war, (he) engaged in farming. He was united in marriage with Sarah J. Nixon, daughter of the late William Nixon. His widow, seven children and four grandchildren survive him. Two sons who reside near the pacific Coast and one daughter in New York City could not reach his bedside before death came. Thus passes another of the few remaining heroes of the Civil War and a deep solemnity pervaded the throng attending the last rites at New Palestine, Sunday. His friends were made more solemn by the though that not one of his old comrades remained to attend and it will be but a few years before none of the old warriors of the 60's will be soon at the burial of a war hero. Martha Richards near Seattle

Interesting story. According to Lucille Wiechens' cemetery books, Silas Taggart was born Sept 14, 1843, and died Jan. 5, 1928. His wife, Sarah J. was born Oct 1, 1845, died July 4, 1937. Barb Bolesta