John Taft, son of John and Jane (Moore) Taft, was born in Ireland June 5, 1832. He attended a private school in his youth. He afterwards emigrated to the United States, and located in Natick, R. I.
On the 20th of February, 1865, he enlisted as a recruit and was assigned to Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery. He reported to the battery at Patrick’s Station, Va., Feb. 24, 1865. In the battles before Petersburg and at Sailor’s Creek he evinced great courage and proved to be reliable in every emergency. He was mustered out with the battery at Providence, R. I., June 28, 1865.
Comrade Taft married Jane Rafferty, daughter of John and Mary Rafferty. Two children have been born to them, namely, Thomas and Joseph P. Taft. Our comrade is an esteemed member of Reno Post No. 6, of East Greenwich, R. I., where he now resides, and is honored and respected by his fellow townsmen.
WILLIAM H. TASKER.
William H. Tasker, son of William and Annie (Carroll) Tasker, was born in Providence, R. I., Nov. 12, 1842. His father served as a soldier in the Mexican War, and was especially commended by his superior officer for bravery in battle. The subject of our sketch attended school in his youth in the city of Providence and also in the town of Johnston, R. I. In the Fall of 1862 he enlisted in the navy as an able seaman, and was assigned to the United States gunboat Iris. He was subsequently promoted to signal quartermaster for good conduct, and afterwards to quartermaster. After serving his time in the navy he was mustered out, and shortly afterwards enlisted as a private in Battery H, when it was stationed near Fort Tracy at Petersburg, March 7, 1865. In the battles before Petersburg, and also at Sailor’s Creek, he displayed good conduct in action, and was finally mustered out with his battery June 28, 1865.
Comrade Tasker is a member of Slocum Post, No. 10, of Providence, and is also a member of Farragut Naval Association, having served as lieutenant, lieutenant-commander, and commander in that association. He is connected with Battery H Veteran Association. He is now a resident of Rehoboth, Mass., having purchased the Bowen farm, and is therefore a respected tiller of the soil, honored and respected in the community.
CHARLES D. VAUGHN.
Charles D. Vaughn, son of John and Catherine (Danforth) Vaughn, was born in Providence, R. I., July 17, 1836. He attended the public schools of that city in his youth. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted as a private in Company C, First Rhode Island Detached Militia, May 2, 1861. He participated with his regiment in the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, and was mustered out at the expiration of his term of service, Aug. 2, 1861. He enlisted as a private in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Feb. 23, 1864, and served with credit in the battery until its muster out of service, June 28, 1865.
ALBERT WELLS.
Albert Wells, son of Silas and Mary (Bowen) Wells, was born in Exeter, R. I., March 21, 1830. He attended the public schools of this place in his youth, also those in River Point and West Greenwich, R. I. His parents removing to Sterling, Conn., he attended school there, working a portion of the time in the Valentine mill in that town. His parents subsequently removed to Central Village, Plainfield, Conn., in 1847, and afterwards, in 1848, to Griswold, Conn., where he worked in Doane’s mill.