William H. Taylor

As printed in 1907

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.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

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 Past and present of Guthrie County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1907). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.