The Taylor Families of Nodaway County, Missouri

CHARLES E. TAYLOR.

Through struggles to triumph seems to be the maxim which holds sway for the majority of our citizens and, though it is undeniably true, that many a one falls exhausted in the conflict, a few by their inherent force of char after and strong mentality rise above their environments until they reach the plane of prosperity. Such has been the record of the gentleman whose name appears as the caption of this sketch and who is today numbered among the representative citizens of Hughes township, Nodawray county, Missouri.

Mr. Taylor is a native of the county in which he now lives, his birth having occurred in the northwestern part of Nodawray township on March 20. 1859. His parents were Dr. John C. and Marietta (McVeigh) Taylor, natives respectively of Kentucky and Indiana. After their marriage these parents located in Indiana, where they continued to reside until the fall of 1858, when they came to Nodaway county, locating in Nodaway township, where the father engaged in the active practice of his profession for many years. Eventually he removed to Topeka, Kansas, where for ten years, or up to the time of his death, he was numbered among the leaders in the medical profession, his death occurring when he was eighty-four years old. His wife died in Graham, this county, when seventy-four years old. Of their eight children, the second in order of birth was Charles E. He was reared in Nodaway county, where he has always resided, and he secured a good, practical education in the common schools. His school discipline has been liberally supplemented by much reading and habits of close observation of men and events, so that he is considered a well-informed man on general topics.

In 1880 Mr. Taylor came to Graham and engaged in the mercantile business, in which for a quarter of a century he was recognized as one of the leaders in his line, enjoying a large and remunerative patronage and the respect and confidence of all who had business dealings with him. In 1905 he sold his business interests, since which time he has given his attention mainly to farming. His rise in the business world was steady and permanent, and it is worthy of note that for six years prior to 1880 he acted as clerk in the same store which he afterwards owned. He is now the owner of two hundred and ten acres of finely improved and productive land, which is a source of a very satisfactory income.

Mr. Taylor was married in Graham, Missouri, on May 27, 1884, to Jennie Turnure, who was born in Boone county, Illinois, on January 1, 1862, a daughter of Egbert and Emily ( Compton) Turnure. Her parents, who were natives of New York state, came to Nodawav county in 1866 and for a time lived in Polk township, going then to Maryville, where they lived until 1879, when they came to Graham. Here the father died at the age of fifty-one years, his widow still surviving. They were the parents of seven children, Mrs. Taylor being the fourth in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born six children. Beryl D., Harvey C., Bronson W., True D. and Lura E.; a son died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. Taylor supports the Republican party and takes an intelligent interest in local public affairs, having held a number of offices, in eluding those of township treasurer, school director and member of the township board. Fraternally, he is a member of the Woodmen of the World, while his religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church. He is a man of public spirit and progressive ideas and is numbered among the strong and influential citizens of his community, as such being eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character.

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

WILLIAM M. TAYLOR.

One of Green township’s steady workers is William M. Taylor, who has a good farm on which he adds some valuable improvements from time to time. He is one of those persistent workers, rather than one who tries to do everything in a brief space of time or accomplish great undertakings by “starts and jerks.” His method of procedure would seem to the national mind to be the best.

Mr. Taylor was born in Huntington county, Indiana, October 14, 1866. and is the son of John and Phoebe (Jinks) Taylor, both natives of Indiana and of good, honorable families. John Taylor is deceased, but Mrs. Phoebe Taylor is living in Franklin county, Indiana.

William M. Taylor grew to manhood in his native county on the home farm where he assisted with the work until eighteen years old when he sought his fortune in the West, coming to Kansas City, Missouri, where he lived about a year, then came to Nodaway county and worked on a farm near Skidmore. About 1893 he began farming for himself, having gotten a start by being economical and keeping at work. On April 22, 1896, he was married to Mattie A. Cottril, daughter of Andrew Cottril and wife, a record of whom appears in this work. After his marriage, Mr. Taylor continued farming near Skidmore until about 1901, when he bought a farm of rich soil in the southern edge of Green township where he now resides, his place consisting of one hundred and nine acres, which he tills successfully, steadily improving it and making a very comfortable living for himself and family, and laying something aside for “rainy days" ahead.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, named as follows: Adrian A., Elta May, Mabel, Paul, Maude and Glenn.

Mr. Taylor is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge. He is a over of home and family, takes a great delight in his farm, is a man of good habits and reliable, therefore well thought of in his community.

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

E. TAYLOR, farmer, section 31, post office Hopkins, is a native of Baltimore Count)', Maryland, and was born April 19, 1821. He was reared on a farm in this and Frederick Counties, until eighteen years of age, and, in 1838, he removed to Ohio, settling in Clark County. He Avas married in 1849, to Miss Margaret O'Brien, a native of New Jersey. In 1855, he immigrated to Grant County, Wisconsin, and remained there until 1876, when he came to Nodaway County, Missouri. His farm contains 136 acres of land. Mr. Taylor has made farming and teaching his life work. His family consists of five children: John W., Benjamin F., Lewis E., Joseph G. and S. Douglas. Two are deceased, Mary and Emma F.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM W. TAYLOR, blacksmith and wagonmaker. In 1876, this gentleman engaged in his present business in Clearmont. Having the principal shop in town, he does a thriving business. He is a native of Ohio, and was born November 17, 1836. He was raised to manhood in his native state, and at an early age learned the trade of blacksmithing. In 185 1, he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked at his trade till 1853, then going to Waterford, Pennsylvania. After one year he was in the employ of the Ohio Stage Company, working along their line. Upon leaving, he emigrated to Brooks County, Iowa, where he resided nine years, and from there went to Bedford, of the same state, being located there for two years. His next move was to St. Joseph, Missouri, and there he was engaged as a government blacksmith for four years, working between there and Clearmont, till he settled in his present location. Mr. Taylor was married in 1862, to Miss Josephine Peltier, the first white child born in St. Joseph. They have three children: Adelia M., Walter, and Alma. During the war, Mr. T. enlisted in Company H, Thirty-fifth Missouri Regiment. In the engagement at Lexington, Missouri, he was taken prisoner and held in confinement for eight months. He is a member of the Good Templars.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

C. W. TAYLOR, cashier of the Bank of Hopkins, was born August 14, 1858, in Pike County, Illinois. The family moved to Hartford, Connecticut, when Charles was quite young, and when eight years of age he accompanied his parents west to Wataga, Illinois. Two years later they moved to Taylor County, Iowa, where they resided some nine years. During two years of this time Mr. Taylor made his home in Bedford. Being somewhat frail in his younger days he could not attend school, and his education was derived principally by self application, though he did attend the high school and normal, at Bedford. When nineteen years of age he commenced teaching, and afterwards accepted the position of deputy county clerk of Taylor County, Iowa. This office he held before becoming of age. He continued to occupy it two years satisfactorily to all parties interested. In April, 1879, he made his first visit to Hopkins, and upon returning to Bedford accepted the position of assistant cashier in the Citizens Bank of that place. In January, 1880, he entered upon the duties of his present position as cashier of the Bank of Hopkins, which he fills with credit to himself and to his employers. In the discharge of his duties he uses scrupulous care and fidelity, and well merits the esteem in which he is held by a host of friends. Mr. Taylor was married December 24, 1880, to Miss Susy E. Seaman, a native of Evansville, Wisconsin. She was born November 8, 1859, hut was principally reared in Maryville, Nodaway County, Missouri, receiving her education in the schools of that city. Mr. and Mrs. T. attend the Presbyterian Church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.