Taggart, Joseph, teacher, lawyer and member of Congress, was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, June 15, 1870. His early education was received in a log school house. He came to Kansas in 1885 and worked on a farm for three years, during which time he earned enough money to take the normal course at Salina, where he graduated. He studied law with Capt. J. G. Mohler at Salina; was admitted to the bar in 1894; taught school for a number of years, beginning the practice of law in Kansas City, Kan., in 1898. In 1904 the Democrats nominated him for county attorney and he was defeated by 419 votes in a county which Roosevelt carried by a majority of 5,300. In 1906 he was elected county attorney; was reëlected in 1908 and again in 1910, and while filling this office won 95 per cent. of the cases prosecuted. Upon the death of Congressman Mitchell, Mr. Taggart was elected by a majority of 1,472 at a special election held in the fall of 1911 to fill the vacancy, being the first Democrat to represent the 2nd district of Kansas in Congress since 1870.