| Notes |
- John's place of birth is uncertain. According to the 1851 census he was born in England. According to the 1861 census, he was born in Ontario. According to his 1865 marriage registration, he was born in Scotland. According to the 1871 census he was born in England. According to the 1881 census he was born in Scotland. According to the 1887 Washington State Census, he was born in Scotland. In the 1910 USA census, his son John L Tait records John W Tait's birthplace as Scotland. His obituary states that he was born in Cumberland, England. On his petition for naturalization as a citizen of the United States, he states that he was born in Scotland. *insert eye roll*
John does not appear with his father in Northumberland, England in the 1841 census which would suggest that he was likely born shortly after the census. However, there is a 4 year old John Tait in 1841 residing in Botchergate, St Cuthbert, Cumberland, England, living only with his mother, Bridget Tait, born 1821 in Ireland, suggesting the possibility that John's father, Leonard, may have been previously married.
In 1851 and 1861 John was residing with his parents in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. John married in 1865 in Garafraxa Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada to Jane Brown. At the time of the wedding, John was residing in Eramosa Township, Wellington County and Jane was residing in Caledon Township.
In 1865, John W Tait married in Garafraxa, Wellington, Ontario, Canada to Jane C Brown. The marriage was witnessed by William Brown and Alex Mclean.
In 1871 John was residing in Elora, Wellington Centre, Ontario with his wife and children and was employed as a teacher.
In 1881 John was residing in Collingwood, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada with his wife and children and was employed as a teacher. John consistently gives his ethnicity as Scottish.
John and his family immigrated to the USA in Dec 1885, and settled in Tacoma, Washington, USA.
In the 1887 Washington State Territorial Census, John was residing in Tacoma, Washington, USA with his wife and children, J L Tait, and Bessie Tait. The entire family are listed as teachers.
In 1889, John is listed in the Tacoma Directory as the proprietor of the Tacoma Business College. He is also listen in a newspaper advertisement the same year for the Tacoma Business School at 938 Pacific Ave, as "J. Tait, Principal." The college taught Business, English, French, Gernan, Latin, Greek, Spanish, Mathematics, Shorthand and a "Normal Department" for the preparation of school teachers.
"THE TACOMA BUSINESS COLLEGE. This college, at 938 Pacific Avenue, is "a school that gives a practical education," and is it not for a moment to be doubted that a business education, such as can be acquired here, does sharpen and develop the reasoning and perceptive faculties, and fit one for the entire duties of life. Prof. John W. Tait is the principal of the college, and is assisted by a corps of capable teachers. He is prepared to ground pupils thoroughly in single and double entry bookkeeping, plain penmanship, commercial law, business arithmetic, practical grammar, letter writing, spelling actual business and office practice, exchange, partnership settlements, and Hydrostatics, Greek, Latin, French and German. The college occupies upper floor of 938, and is already full to overflowing, so that increased quarters will soon be needed to accommodate all its pupils. Mr. Tait was born in Canada, and has been engaged in teaching for over twenty-eight years. he is not only thoroughly experienced in his profession, but is a man of very considerable ability, and is endowed with an excellent education." (Tacoma Illustrated, 1889, Tacoma Chamber of Commerce)
The 1890 census for the USA was destroyed by fire.
On 13 Feb 1890, John W Tait petitioned for naturalization as an American citizen in Pierce County, Washington State, USA, three days after his brother David Tait and his son, John L Tait, who petitioned on 10 Feb 1890.
In 1890 and 1891, he is listed in the Tacoma, Washington Directory as John W Tait, occupation: proprietor of the Tacoma Business College.
In 1892, John is listed in the Tacoma, Washington Directory as "Prof. John W. Tait, principal of the Tacoma Business College."
In the 1892 Washington State Territorial Census, John was residing in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, USA with his wife and children, John L, Elizabeth, and Maude. All members of the family were employed as teachers except Maude who was a student.
John W Tait, died 12 Dec 1893 of appendecitis, residing at 903-1/2 S Tacoma Ave in Tacoma, Washington, USA, age 48, born in England, married, both parents born in Scotland. His obituary gives his address as Tacoma Ave and Ninth Street, Tacoma Falls, Washington, USA.
John W Tait's will indicates that his only heirs were his widow Jane C Tait and children Bessie J Tait and John L Tait. Also that he was the owner of several properties including the college in Tacoma; the east half of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 31 in Township 21 North, Range 5 East W. M., in the county of Stuck, state of Washington (20 acres); south half of the southwest of the northwest of the northwest of section or lot 8, township or block 34, Range 2 in Anacortes County, Washington (including timber rights); lot two in block nine in Chautauqua Beach, King County, Washington; lot twenty-five in bock five in Kalama, Cowlitz County, Washington; and south half of section 22, township 4 South Range 5 east in Clackamas County, Oregon (160 acres). All of these properties, including the furnishings of the college, passed to the ownership of his widow Jane C Tait for her income and maintainance. (Anacortes is on Fidalgo Island, near Mt Vernon and Skagit.) These properties in total were appraised at $985 in 1893. (Roughly $32,000 in 2022, not taking into account the prime locations.)
After John's death, he was succeeded by his son, John L Tait as principal of the Tacoma Business College as noted in an 1895 directory listing. The same listing shows:
Jane C Tait, widow of John W, residing at Tacoma Business College
Mirs J L Tait, teacher of elocution and oratory, Tacoma Business College, residing at same.
Miss Bessie J Tait, teacher of shorthand and typewriting, Tacoma Business College, residing at same.
Maude Tait, student at Tacoma Business College, bording at 903-1/2 S Tacoma Ave (the address where John W Tait died.)
John L Tait was later succeeded by W. R. Shoemake and W. H. Stapelton as principals of the Tacoma Business College as advertised in 1899, located at 9th Street and Tacoma Ave.
|
1841 - 1893 (52 years)
[2, 3, 8]