Taft, the Honorable Man
Dr. Taft's decision in 1879 to continue to lead the Michigan University Dental College, and to resign his faculty position in Ohio, came at great personal cost to Dr. Taft. He continued to show a strong commitment to Cincinnati, his true home, throughout the rest of his career. He maintained his clinical practice in Cincinnati until his death. He also maintained an extremely active involvement as a leader in his church there, and commuted from his permanent residence in Cincinnati, at the end being buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.
Dr. Taft's most active period of involvement with his church also began around this same time, and is a most exemplary example of his kindness and commitment to personal charity. The following illustrative paragraph is quoted in its entirely from his obituary in the Dental Register.
He took great interest in benevolent work of various kinds. He was an earnest member of the Congregational Church for many years, and served his church in many official relations. He was superintendent of the Vine Street Congregational Church Sabbath-school for twenty-five years. He was Registrar of Miami Conference for about thirty years. He was Assistant Superintendent of the great Bethel Sunday-School in Cincinnati, and a member of its Board of Directors for many years. Through his personal efforts a mission enterprise for mountain whites in the mountains of Kentucky was organized several years ago which has become an influence for good in all that part of the State. In many other ways he has shown his interest in the general welfare of the poor and helpless. He took a deep interest in political matters, while never personally engaged in active politics he supported men always who stood for high moral principles.
"Jonathan Taft, D.D.S., M.D." Dental Register LVII(11) November 15, 1903:541-546.
The Bethel Sunday School mentioned above was a large mission school with an attendance ranging from two to three thousand children. It was widely acknowledged at the time that Dr. Taft gave generously not only of his time, as seen above, but also of his personal resources. Indeed, the phrases used were "charitable to a fault" and "victim of imposition."
Dr. Taft brought the same intense sense of honor and duty to his work with the School of Dentistry, and to all his professional activities.
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