In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1859, Geauga County
From Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910), A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903)
RUFUS E. TAYLOR.
This gentleman, at present with the Sucker Rod Company at Findlay, has had an interesting career in oil, and can relate some graphic experiences of the ups and owns of that hazardous but fascinating business. One year getting a salary of $150 a month, the next glad to work for $20; now on the high tide of success with money in the bank, and a fortune in sight, and later completely out of both friends and work, and in that rueful condition which speculators denominate as "busted." Such are a few of the contrasts which Mr. Taylor experienced and can describe graphically as well as amusingly, but in the end fickle fortune smiled upon him, crowned his labors with success and enabled him to extract from the slippery subterranean fluid the means of competence and comfort.
Rufus E. Taylor was born on a farm in Geauga county, Ohio, June 6, 1859, and remained at home until thirteen years old, after which he got only two months' schooling. At the tender age mentioned the boy went alone to Petrolia, Pennsylvania, to clerk in a grocery store owned by his brother, E. C. Taylor. He remained there, however, but a short time, then returned to Ohio, and worked on a farm in Lake county for seven months, after which, with the restlessness of youth, he again went back to Petrolia. This time he engaged ia the oil business and when only fifteen years old was getting $80 per month, which was increased in the following year to $150 per month. The wheel of fortune, however, took a turn before his departure from Petrolia, which occurred in 1877, when he w'as in that impecunious condition described by the initiated as "broke." The next move took him over to Connecticut and in this "land of steady habits" he was glad to get a job at $20 a month, for which he worked about one year aqd again turned his face westward. Going back to his home county in Ohio, he was married there in 1880 to Ella L., daughter of William L. Leland, after which event he remained quietly at home for a year and a half. Six months were then spent in the employment of a firm engaged in the oil business in Allegany county, New York, when again we find Mr. Taylor in Geauga county running a threshing machine. This occupation lasted during one fall and winter and in 1886 Mr. Taylor came to Findlay with scarcely a dollar in his pocket. Nothing daunted, however, he formed a partnership with H. A. Watts and E. C. Taylor for the drilling of oil wells by contract and this venture proved another favorable turn in his fortunes. He operated with his partners until August, 1897, when he disposed of his interests and found himself in possession of a handsome profit. Feeling entitled to a rest, Mr. Taylor put in a year or so in travel, being absent from Findlay until the spring of 1898, and two years later he purchased a half interest in the Findlay Sucker Rod Company, which he dis- Itosed of in March, 1902. Mr. Taylor's political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he served one year on the city board of improvements of Findlay. His fraternal coimections are with Masonry, in which he has reached the thirty-second degree, the Elks, Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
As printed in A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
RUFUS E. TAYLOR, capitalist and well known citizen of Findlay, where he owns a beautiful home at No. 207 Center Street, formerly and for many years, was closely identified with the oil interests of both Ohio and Pennsylvania. He was born June 6, 1859, in Geauga County, O. When thirteen years of age he left home and joined his older brother, E. C. Taylor, who was then conducting a store at Petrolia, in the center of the Pennsylvania oil fields.
That region, at that time, was a poor place for a lad of tender years and his brother soon sent him back to Ohio. To prove that he could be self-supporting, he worked for seven months on a farm in Lake County and then returned to Petrolia, where, when fifteen years of age he was earning a salary large enough to turn the head of any youth. When he left Petrolia a second time, his money had all been lost in oil speculation and he spent the next year ha-d at work in Connecticut. In the course of time the coming instinct took him back to Ohio, where he married and continued to reside for eighteen months and then spent six months in the oil business in Allegheny County, N. Y. In 1886, Mr. Taylor came to Findlay and with his experience in oil, was qualified as a desirable partner in oil enterprises, and shortly afterward became associated in this relation with H. A. Watts and E. C. Taylor. They formed a firm for the drilling of oil wells by contract and he continued with these partners until 1897, disposing of his interests after ten years of profitable work. During the following year Mr. Taylor enjoyed a period of travel and after he returned to Findlay was interested for several years in a local enterprise, from which he released himself in 1902. He is one of the city’s capitalists, a state brought about through his own efforts, with no advantages in early life, either educational or social. He is a stockholder in the Commercial Banking & Savings Company of this city.
In 1880, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Ella L. Leland, a daughter of William L. Leland. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally he is a 32nd degree Mason, an Odd Fellows, Elk and Knight of Pythias. Since possessed of capital, Mr. Taylor has been a generous citizen of Findlay and has been actively interested in her welfare, for one year serving very efficiently on the board of city improvements.
As printed in Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.