University of Maryland College Park - Terrapin / Reveille Yearbook (College Park, MD)

Page 9 text:

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f rnf. H. (U. IC. (Haltafmn U ROF. W. T. L. TALIAFERRO, head of the department of Agriculture at the tLI Maryland Agricultural College, was born in 1856, at Dunham Massie in Glouces- t[p ter Co., Va., where his family have for generations, devoted themselves to agricul- ture and professional life. His father was Major General Wm. Taliaferro, distinguished for his service in the Mexican and Civil Wars; he was later prominent in the pohtical and legal history of Virginia and at the time of his death was serving as judge of his native county. His mother was, before her marriage. Miss Sallie Lyons, a gentle woman of the old school, who combined those traits of mental culture and true refinement which are typical of the subject of this sketch. Prof. Taliaferro gained the rudiments of his education in private schools, mean- while working upon the farm. Having matriculated at William and Mary College, he was graduated in 1876, valedictorian of his class, with the degree of B. A. For five years succeeding his graduation, he was principal of the high school at Gloucester, Va,, meanwhile living on and managing one of his father ' s farms. In 1881 he accepted the Principalship of the Bel Air Academy, in Harford Coun- ty, Maryland, and the number of distinguished men who were his students recall with gratitude that, thru his inspiration, they sought successfully to reach their goal. In 1886 he accepted the position of Acting Editor of the Harford Democrat; mean- while he kept up his interest in matters agricultural, being a member and Secretary of the Fallston Farmers Club and taking a leading part in organizing the first series of Farmers Institutes ever held in Maryland. While in Bel Air, Mr. Taliaferro was active in the organization of Company D, First Regiment, Md. National Guard, of which he was later made Captain. The practical and theoretical training which he had acquired made Mr. Taliaferro the logical choice for Prof, of Agriculture at this College when it was reorganized in 1892, and he accepted his unanimous election to this post. Although modern methods had not been generally accepted, he entered upon his duties with a stout heaft and ardent zeal, and his success was soon attested by the constant demand for him throughout the State as counsellor, teacher and guide. He was one of the pioneers in the propaganda for improved seed corn and the