The Taylor Families of Guthrie County, Iowa

WILLIAAI H. TAYLOR.

William H. Taylor, who attained the Wenerable age of eighty-one years, was a man whom to know was to respect and honor. He was born in Grafton, Lorain county, Ohio, August II, 1819, and was the first white child born in that county. He passed away on the 3d of November, 1900. His parents were among the early settlers of his native county, removing to Ohio from Massachusetts. His father and mother died within ten days of each other and he was left an orphan at the earl\' age of five years. He then went to live in the family of Rev. Nesbitt and at the age of fourteen years started out in life to make his own way in the world. He educated himself while working on a farm in the summer and attending school in the winter. He read broadly, made good use of his opportunities and did everything in his power to win intellectual advancement. At the age of nineteen he apprenticed himself to the wagon-maker's trade, and after mastering the business followed it as a life occupation for about forty years. Industry was one of his strong and salient characteristics and brought him a goodly measure of success.

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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were born the following children: Ellen A., wife of J. A. Lyons; Mrs. James H. Rogers, who is mentioned on another page of this wcMk; Mrs. W. S. Houghton; Mrs. J. M. King; and William.

Mr. Taylor was a true man in the full meaning of that term. He was revered and loved for his genial manner and kindly ways. He manifested deference for the opinions of others, and, moreover, was a man of strict integrity, honest and fair in all his dealings and conscientious in all his conduct. His life was an open book, which any might read, and he was a member of the Presbyterian church, living at all times in harmony with his professions. His wife survived him until March 7, 1904, when she was called to her final rest. They were married in 1840 and for a half century traveled life's journey together, sharing its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. It was largely an ideal marriage relation and they made a splendid home for their family. When a young woman Mrs. Taylor joined the Baptist church. She spent her last days in the home of her daughter and son-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Rogers. No history of this community would be complete without mention of this worthy couple, for their influence was ever on the side of right, progress, truth and reform, and their memory remains as a blessed Ijenediction to all who knew them.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CAPTAIN JAMES D. TAYLOR.

In a detailed history of the city of Guthrie Center and of the county, mention should be made of Captain James D. Taylor, who has resided within the borders of the county since 1880 and has made his home at the county seat since 1885. He was for a long period associated with its building operations, but is now living retired. His activity and honor in business, his loyalty in citizenship and the splendid record which he made as a soldier of the Civil war entitle him to distinctive mention in this volume.

A native of Iowa, he was born in Van Buren county September 11, 1840, and in the paternal line comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The family was founded in America during the colonial epoch in the history of the country, and was represented in the Revolutionary war. James Taylor, the grandfather of our subject, removed from Virginia to Kentucky at an early day, aiding in the reclamation of the "dark and bloody ground" for the uses of the white race and civilization.

His son, Samuel Taylor, was born in Kentucky and learned the carpenter's trade, but followed farming during the greater part of his life. In 1836, when Iowa was still under territorial rule, he took up his above in this state, settling in Van Buren county, where he secured a claim of eighty acres, which hitherto was wild and uncultivated. With characteristic energy he began its development and remained in Van Buren county until 1855, when he removed to Jasper county, where he resided until 1880. He then went to Kansas, where he lived for five years, and on the expiration of that period he took up his above at Pella, Marion county, where he remained for about eighteen years. After losing his wife he afterward lived with his children, principally with his son, James D. Taylor, in whose home he passed away in 1899, in his eighty-fifth year. He was successful in his business, working his way upward from a humble financial position to one of affluence. His religious faith, as a member of the Methodist church, was indicated in his honorable, upright life and his fraternal spirit was manifest in his membership with the Masons and the Odd Fellows. In politics he was always a democrat. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Frances R. Sage, was born in Indiana in 1818, was of German descent and died in the year 1893. In their family were six children: William, a resident farmer of Kansas; James D., Milton, deceased; Sarah, the wife of Dr. Charles Quire, who is living in Linnville, Iowa; Pernecia and Levina, both deceased.

James D. Taylor was reared upon the home farm and attended the country schools. His educational advantages, however, were somewhat limited and after he had left school he remained on the farm for a short time, after which he began learning the carpenter's trade. He resided in Jasper county, where he followed carpentering until 1880, in which year he came to Guthrie county, settling at Menlo, where he resided until

1885. In that year he came to Guthrie Center, where he worked-at his trade until 1900, when he retired. He was an expert builder and carpenter and a liberal patronage was accorded him, so that as the years passed by he was enabled to save from his earnings a goodly sum that* has made him one of the substantial citizens of the community in which he lives.

Captain Taylor was married in 1860 to Miss Frances Mitchell, who was born in Indiana and died in 1873, at the age of thirty-one years. There were three children by that marriage: James, who has passed away; Charles E., who is living in Nebraska City, and Fred, who is a carpenter of Guthrie Center. In 1875 the Captain was united in marriage to Miss Amelia A. Clemson, who was born in Ohio, March 12, 1841.

It was after his first marriage that Captain Taylor enlisted for service in the Civil war, offering his aid to the government in Jasper county in August, 1862, at which time he was assigned to duty with Company D, Fortieth Iowa Infantry. He was mustered out at Davenport, August 23, 1865, after three years' service, and returned home with a most creditable military record. He joined the army as a private and in recognition of his meritorious service was advanced through different subordinate grades until he attained the rank of captain, and was in command about a year. He participated in many important engagements, including the siege of Vicksburg, various skirmishes and the Red River campaign. He was never on the sick list and was never wounded, although a musket ball cut through the leg of his trousers and burned the flesh on his leg at one time. After the war he returned to Jasper county and resumed the arts of peace, continuing in active business life until his retirement in 1900. He is now a member of the Grand Army post and has five times served as commander of Tracy post. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows lodge, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. Although not a politician in the commonly accepted sense of office seeking, he has served as justice of the peace and at all times has been loyal to the interests of the community in which he lives, local advancement and national progress being both near to his heart. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and are highly esteemed people, having an extensive circle of friends in this county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. P. TAYLOR.

In the matter of progressive farming and stock-raising Guthrie county has always been in the front rank. Prominent among the men who have helped to put it there is J. P. Taylor. He is a native of England, born in Nottinghamshire, June 23, 1850, a son of Samuel Taylor, who came to the United

States in 1856 and located on a farm near Iowa City. Iowa. He and his brother John were largely engaged in freighting in early days. Our subject accompanied the family on their emigration to America and remained with his father until 1862, when he went to Colorado and spent eight years in South Park, carrying mail and mining.

Returning to Iowa in 1880. ]\Mr. Taylor settled in Panora. For many years he was in the railroad service and then turned his attention to farming. In 1881 he moved to Jamaica, where he purchased ten acres of land. Upon this he began market gardening and made so great a success of it that he later furnished garden truck for all the miners at Angus and Daw-son. Financially the enterprise was so successful that in 1890 he was able to buy one hundred and twenty acres of the Brown estate on section 2. Richland township. Here it was that Mr. Taylor feels he began life, for here he built his house and home, s.et out all the trees and lived until 1905. After adding all that was necessary to his farm he was interested in doing the same for other land. In consequence he sold his home and bought one hundred and forty acres of the Godfrey estate, on section i. Richland township, which w'as one of the first settled farms in this section. With his usual interest in adding to the value of the land he owned. Mr. Taylor began the many improvements which are to be seen today on this place. He has fenced it all, has greatly improved the land and has also engaged in raising shorthorn cattle and red hogs.

At Centerville. Iowa, in 1873, occurred the marriage of J. P. Taylor and Susannah Bowman. Eight children were born to this union: James, who is at home; John, a resident of South Dakota; Ida. who married William Pitsor. of Ames. Iowa: 'william. who is a railroad employe in Nebraska; Samuel, a section boss in the same state; George, a well known and successful farmer; and Grover and Alice, who are at home.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.