Herman Emil Taubeneck (January 2, 1855 - March 19, 1900) was an American politician who served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and as National Chairman of the People's Party.[1]
Herman Taubeneck | |
|---|---|
 Illustration of Herman Taubeneck (1893) | |
| Chairman of the People's Party National Executive Committee | |
| In office 1891–1896 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Marion Butler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 2, 1855 Terre Haute, Indiana |
| Died | March 19, 1900 (aged 45) Seattle, Washington |
| Political party | Populist (1892-1900) Farmers' Alliance (1890-92) |
| Residence | Clark County, Illinois |
| Occupation | Farmer Politician |
Early life
editHerman Emil Taubeneck was born January 2, 1855, in Terre Haute, Indiana to German-American immigrants Otto and Emma Taubeneck (née Nonneubluck) The family lived in Terre Haute until moving to a farmer near Marshall, Illinois in 1860. His formal education consisted of schooling typical of the era, one course at Commercial College in Terra Haute, and reading law working under Jacob W. Wilkin at the firm of Wilkin & Wilkin in Marshall.[2] In the late 1880s, he engaged in the timber business and as a contractor for ties, staves, and piling.[3]
Illinois House of Representatives
editIn the 1890 general election, Taubeneck was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives as one of three representatives from the 45th district alongside Democrat Lawrence Kelly and Republican Ethelbert Callahan.[4] Two other members of Farmers' Alliance were elected that cycle; James Cockrell of Marion County and Hosea H. Moore of Wayne County.[4] In the 1892 general election, Taubeneck was not a successful candidate for reelection, with the 45th district returning Democratic incumbent Lawrence Kelly, Democratic newcomer James P. Warren, and Republican incumbent Ethelbert Callahan to the House.[4]
In the 1891 United States Senate election, the Farmers' Alliance legislators held the balance of power over whom the Illinois General Assembly appointed to the United States Senate. The "Big Three" chose to support Alson Streeter. While Taubeneck stuck with Streeter, Cockrell and Moore defected from the Farmers' Alliance position and voted with the Democratic caucus for John M. Palmer. These defections irreparably damaged the reputation of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association.[1]
Early in his term, Taubeneck was accused of actually being W. H. Rogers, a criminal who defrauded his way out of an Ohio prison in 1886.[5] A five member committee was established by the Illinois House to investigate the matter.[6] Ultimately, the accusation was put to bed due to the height disparity between Taubeneck and Rogers.[7]
National Populist Party
editTaubeneck's steadfast backing of Streeter and refusal to defect to Palmer during the Senate election won him national accolades and inspired his fellow Populists to elect him chair of the national party.[8] He served as chairman from 1891 to 1896. While chairman, Taubeneck was an advocate for the Populist embrace of the Free Silver movement and of fusionism. After the 1896 convention, Marion Butler became the party's chair.[9][10] In the 1896 United States presidential election, Taubeneck served as a presidential elector for the Bryan-Watson ticket.[11]
Death
editIn 1898, he moved to Washington.[12] He died March 19, 1900, in Seattle, Washington.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b Scott, Roy V. (1962). "John Patterson Stelle: Agrarian Crusader from Southern Illinois". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 55 (3): 244. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Those Taubeneck Rumors: Further Testimony Before the Investigating Committee". Chicago Daily Tribune. January 21, 1891 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Taubeneck Talks: Striking Statistics of the Last Election" (PDF). The Representative. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Library of Congress. June 7, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c Illinois Blue Book 1913-1914. pp. 394–396.
- ^ "Was He a Jailbird? Taubeneck's Photograph Identified by Warden". Pittsburgh Dispatch. January 31, 1891. p. 7. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ Hinriehsen, W. H. (Clerk of the House), ed. (January 14, 1891). "Motion by Ethelbert Callahan". Journal of the Illinois House of Representatives. 37 (1). Illinois House of Representatives: 67. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "Too Tall By Three Inches". The Prison Mirror. Stillwater, Minnesota. February 12, 1891. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ Peffer, William Alfred (1992). Argersinger, Peter H. (ed.). Populism, its rise and fall. University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700605095. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ Jones, Stanley Llewellyn (1964). The Presidential Election of 1896. Madison, Illinois: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 319. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "Prominent Populist Dead: H. E. Taubeneck, Once Party's National Chairman, Expires". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Seattle, Washington. March 20, 1900. p. 10. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "People's Party". Rock Island Argus. Rock Island, Illinois: Library of Congress. October 30, 1896. p. 3. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "A Veteran in the Work". The Representative. St. Paul, Minnesota: Library of Congress. May 25, 1898. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "H. E. Taubeneck Dead". San Jose Herald. Associated Press. March 19, 1900. Retrieved August 21, 2022.