Octavia Pannell Taylor (15 August 1816September 1820) was the third child and third daughter of Zachary Taylor and his wife Margaret Mackall Smith. Life The third child of the couple, Octavia Pannell Taylor was born on August 15, 1816, in Louisville, Kentucky. Her siblings were: Anne Margaret Mackall Taylor Wood (April 9, 1811 - December 2, 1875), Sarah Knox "Knoxie" Taylor (1813 - September 15, 1835), Margaret Smith Taylor (July 17, 1819 - October 1820), Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Taylor Bliss Dandridge (April 20, 1824 - July 25, 1909) and Richard "Dick" Taylor (January 27, 1826 - April 17, 1879). In 1820, Zachary Taylor took his family to Bayou Sara, Louisiana. Soon after their arrival, Octavia, her younger sister Margaret, and her older sister Knoxie became ill with what their parents called a "bilious fever", which was most likely of malaria,, and were pleased to leave Louisiana behind. Eisenhower suggests that Zachary Taylor may have been convinced that "military life, with its long separations, was unsuitable for families" as a result of Octavia's death. Name spelling Although her name was most likely Octavia Pannell Taylor because her uncle's full name was Joseph Pannell Taylor, her name is also spelled Octavia Pannel Taylor depending on the source.
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