Anna Sinton Taft

Annie Sinton Taft was a prominent socialite, heiress and philanthropist within 20th century Cincinnati. Her art collection and house make up the modern Taft Museum of Art, and her inheritance made her the richest woman in Ohio.

Early Life Annie Taft was born Anna Sinton on March 12th, 1852 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was born to industrialist and pig iron stockpiler David Sinton

She had one brother, Edward M. Sinton.

Marriage and Inheritance Anna married Charles Phelps Taft in 1873, taking his surname. They were married in her father's home. Charles was part of the Taft family, and had recently graduated from Yale and Columbia , only boosting her social status.

Annie's brother Edward had died in 1869 , making her the sole heir to her father's fortune. When her father died in 1900, he left her $20 million dollars (the equivalent of $786,221,428.57 in 2026 ), and his house. This inheritance made her the wealthiest woman in Ohio.

The money later went towards funding the couple's art collections, expansions to their home, and financing William Howard Taft's presidential campaign.

Notable Pieces

Later Life

Annie Taft's later life was marked with the construction of the Cincinnati Times-Star Building, increased philanthropy, and the death of her husband in 1929.

Death Annie died on March 12, 1931, in her family's home.

She is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery. giving UC $2,000,000 to endow the Charles Phelps Taft Memorial Fund, which supports studies in humanities, languages, economics and mathematics helped in the founding of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra , and helped establish the Cincinnati Opera buying the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for $250,000, saving it from financial demise Advocating for a public art museum through the Women’s Art Museum Association helped in the founding of the Cincinnati MacDowell Society

Descendents Through her daughter Jane, she was the grandmother of First World War flying ace David Sinton Ingalls (1899–1985), who married Louise Hale Harkness, daughter of William L. Harkness and granddaughter of Daniel M. Harkness, who was instrumental in the formation of Standard Oil. She was also the grandmother of Anne Taft Ingalls, who married Rupert E. L. Warburton, "a scion of one of England's oldest families," in 1929.