Nathaniel Taylor c/o his grandson William H. Taylor
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The Biographical Record of DeWitt County, Illinois, Illustrated.
Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901.
Submitted by Judy Simpson
Note: These biographies were transcribed as written and may contain errors. We welcome your corrections concerning factual data. Just send an e-mail to the County Coordinator or Assistant Coordinator, and be sure to give us your name and return e-mail address.
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR. (Volume 1, Page 285)
William H. Taylor, who is one of Clinton's representative citizens and a popular traveling salesman, was born on the 4th of June, 1836, in Muskingum county, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Mary E. (Miller) Taylor. History records that there were four brothers of the Taylor family who came to this country from Scotland, one locating in Pennsylvania, another in Delaware, and the third in Virginia, while the fourth, being a sea captain, was lost at sea. Nathaniel Taylor, our subject's paternal grandfather, was a son of the one who settled in Delaware. He married and throughout life followed farming.
Henry Taylor, our subject's father, was born in Delaware and in early life emigrated to Ohio, where he wedded Miss Mary E. Miller, a native of Pennsylvania. In 1853 they came to Clinton, Illinois, which was then a small town, and in company with Henry and George Bell and Henry Lutzenbarger, Mr. Taylor purchased the vacant corner where the Magill House now stands, and erected a large two-story frame building, which they stocked with general merchandise, being successfully engaged in business there until 1857, when a fire destroyed their store and it contents. Later Mr. Taylor, in partnership with A. J. Blackford, rented a building and again embarked in merchandising, under the firm name of Taylor & Blackford, but during the panic of 1873, they failed and he again lost everything. Nothing daunted, however, he opened a small coal office, where our subject's son, Walter, is now carrying on business, and his son, Fletcher, became associated with him in 1880 and later succeeded to the business. He was a strong man, both physically and mentally, and although he twice met with misfortune in business he always gave liberally of his means to all enterprises for the public good. His fellow citizens recognizing his worth and ability called upon him to fill many official positions. Both he and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were highly respected and esteemed by all who knew them. He died in 1891, at the age of seventy-seven years, and she departed this life in 1898, when over eighty years of age. Their children were George; William H.; Samuel K.; Mary E.; Homer B.; John T., who died in infancy; Fletcher C.; a daughter who died in infancy; Frank Z.; and Annie.
William H. Taylor, of this review, came to Clinton with his parents, and assisted his father in business until 1857, when he opened a shoe store in the rear of his father's place of business. After the fire which destroyed their property, he formed a partnership with Mr. Toury, and carried on the same line of business until after the Civil war broke out. In 1861, Mr. Taylor enlisted in Company F, Forty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted to second lieutenant on the 1st of October of the same year, after which he served as adjutant of the regiment. He was in the service three years and one month. Being six feet in height, broad shouldered and of fine physique, his was a commanding figure, and he made a handsome officer. Those who served under him still speak in glowing terms of their first lieutenant.
On his return from the war Mr. Taylor again engaged in the general store business until 1872, when he went upon the road as a traveling salesman for the grocery house of Harmon, Merrian & Company of Chicago, which since the death of Mr. Harmon has become Merrian, Collins & Dexter. During the years that have since passed Mr. Taylor has remained in their employ, having now been with them almost a quarter of a century. In 1868 the Magill Brothers built what is known as the Magill House, which is a large three-story brick structure on North Center street, extending from the square to Washington street. This our subject bought in 1898, and has since remodeled and enlarged it by building a thirty-two-foot addition on the west. It is to to-day a good modern hotel—the best in the city. For his home he purchased the Coverdale property at 1006 East Main street, which is a beautiful place, the elegant residence being surrounded by wide lawns, shady drives, lovely trees and shrubs. His first home was on the corner of Washington and Jackson streets.
Mr. Taylor has been twice married, his first wife being Lucy, daughter of James H. Merrill, and to them were born three children: Walter M., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Emma, who died young; and Lula, who died in infancy. The wife and mother died in 1873, at the age of thirty-four years. In 1875 Mr. Taylor married Miss Jennie Rennick, by whom he also had three children: Nellie married Dr. Charles Bogardus, a prominent physician of Clinton, and died in 1901, at the age of twenty-five years. She was one of the leading young ladies of the city and very popular. William H. enlisted in 1900 as a private in Company D, Thirteenth United States Regiment, and is now serving at Dangupon, Philippine Islands. Edward M. was also in the service, enlisting at Denver, Colorado, in May, 1898, in the first Colorado Infantry, at the first call for troops to be sent to Manilla. With his regiment he started for San Francisco, May 17, and on the 14th of June, on the steamer China, for Honolulu. On the 4th of July they stopped at Wakes Island, where General Green and Colonel Hill planted the United States flag, and fourteen days later landed at Camp Dewey, on the Island of Luzon, seven miles from the city of Manilla. There they began throwing up entrenchments within one hundred and twenty-five yards of the enemy's lines. They took part in the famous battle of Manilla, and the battles of Hesty, Manquena, Antapelo and Paranaque, besides many skirmishes, being under fire most of the time. On the 4th of July, 1900, they received orders at Manilla to embark for home, and arrived at San Francisco on the 10th of August. Edward M. Taylor was mustered out on the 8th of the following September and returned home. In 1901 he opened a grocery store in Clinton, in connection with his brother Walter H. [should be M.], and is now conducting the same. He can relate many thrilling experiences of his life in the Philippines, which if written would make a very fascinating book.
Fraternally Mr. Taylor is a member of Lodge No. 84, F. & A. M., of which he was master three terms, and was a member and high priest of the Chapter. He is now serving as trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which the family have been connected for several generations, and have always been active church workers. Our subject has never cared for office, but has always taken a commendable interest in all enterprises calculated to advance the welfare of the city which has now been his home for almost fifty years.
The Biographical Record of DeWitt County, Illinois, Illustrated.
Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901.
Submitted by Judy Simpson
Note: These biographies were transcribed as written and may contain errors. We welcome your corrections concerning factual data. Just send an e-mail to the County Coordinator or Assistant Coordinator, and be sure to give us your name and return e-mail address.
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR. (Volume 1, Page 285)
William H. Taylor, who is one of Clinton's representative citizens and a popular traveling salesman, was born on the 4th of June, 1836, in Muskingum county, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Mary E. (Miller) Taylor. History records that there were four brothers of the Taylor family who came to this country from Scotland, one locating in Pennsylvania, another in Delaware, and the third in Virginia, while the fourth, being a sea captain, was lost at sea. Nathaniel Taylor, our subject's paternal grandfather, was a son of the one who settled in Delaware. He married and throughout life followed farming.
Henry Taylor, our subject's father, was born in Delaware and in early life emigrated to Ohio, where he wedded Miss Mary E. Miller, a native of Pennsylvania. In 1853 they came to Clinton, Illinois, which was then a small town, and in company with Henry and George Bell and Henry Lutzenbarger, Mr. Taylor purchased the vacant corner where the Magill House now stands, and erected a large two-story frame building, which they stocked with general merchandise, being successfully engaged in business there until 1857, when a fire destroyed their store and it contents. Later Mr. Taylor, in partnership with A. J. Blackford, rented a building and again embarked in merchandising, under the firm name of Taylor & Blackford, but during the panic of 1873, they failed and he again lost everything. Nothing daunted, however, he opened a small coal office, where our subject's son, Walter, is now carrying on business, and his son, Fletcher, became associated with him in 1880 and later succeeded to the business. He was a strong man, both physically and mentally, and although he twice met with misfortune in business he always gave liberally of his means to all enterprises for the public good. His fellow citizens recognizing his worth and ability called upon him to fill many official positions. Both he and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were highly respected and esteemed by all who knew them. He died in 1891, at the age of seventy-seven years, and she departed this life in 1898, when over eighty years of age. Their children were George; William H.; Samuel K.; Mary E.; Homer B.; John T., who died in infancy; Fletcher C.; a daughter who died in infancy; Frank Z.; and Annie.
William H. Taylor, of this review, came to Clinton with his parents, and assisted his father in business until 1857, when he opened a shoe store in the rear of his father's place of business. After the fire which destroyed their property, he formed a partnership with Mr. Toury, and carried on the same line of business until after the Civil war broke out. In 1861, Mr. Taylor enlisted in Company F, Forty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted to second lieutenant on the 1st of October of the same year, after which he served as adjutant of the regiment. He was in the service three years and one month. Being six feet in height, broad shouldered and of fine physique, his was a commanding figure, and he made a handsome officer. Those who served under him still speak in glowing terms of their first lieutenant.
On his return from the war Mr. Taylor again engaged in the general store business until 1872, when he went upon the road as a traveling salesman for the grocery house of Harmon, Merrian & Company of Chicago, which since the death of Mr. Harmon has become Merrian, Collins & Dexter. During the years that have since passed Mr. Taylor has remained in their employ, having now been with them almost a quarter of a century. In 1868 the Magill Brothers built what is known as the Magill House, which is a large three-story brick structure on North Center street, extending from the square to Washington street. This our subject bought in 1898, and has since remodeled and enlarged it by building a thirty-two-foot addition on the west. It is to to-day a good modern hotel—the best in the city. For his home he purchased the Coverdale property at 1006 East Main street, which is a beautiful place, the elegant residence being surrounded by wide lawns, shady drives, lovely trees and shrubs. His first home was on the corner of Washington and Jackson streets.
Mr. Taylor has been twice married, his first wife being Lucy, daughter of James H. Merrill, and to them were born three children: Walter M., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Emma, who died young; and Lula, who died in infancy. The wife and mother died in 1873, at the age of thirty-four years. In 1875 Mr. Taylor married Miss Jennie Rennick, by whom he also had three children: Nellie married Dr. Charles Bogardus, a prominent physician of Clinton, and died in 1901, at the age of twenty-five years. She was one of the leading young ladies of the city and very popular. William H. enlisted in 1900 as a private in Company D, Thirteenth United States Regiment, and is now serving at Dangupon, Philippine Islands. Edward M. was also in the service, enlisting at Denver, Colorado, in May, 1898, in the first Colorado Infantry, at the first call for troops to be sent to Manilla. With his regiment he started for San Francisco, May 17, and on the 14th of June, on the steamer China, for Honolulu. On the 4th of July they stopped at Wakes Island, where General Green and Colonel Hill planted the United States flag, and fourteen days later landed at Camp Dewey, on the Island of Luzon, seven miles from the city of Manilla. There they began throwing up entrenchments within one hundred and twenty-five yards of the enemy's lines. They took part in the famous battle of Manilla, and the battles of Hesty, Manquena, Antapelo and Paranaque, besides many skirmishes, being under fire most of the time. On the 4th of July, 1900, they received orders at Manilla to embark for home, and arrived at San Francisco on the 10th of August. Edward M. Taylor was mustered out on the 8th of the following September and returned home. In 1901 he opened a grocery store in Clinton, in connection with his brother Walter H. [should be M.], and is now conducting the same. He can relate many thrilling experiences of his life in the Philippines, which if written would make a very fascinating book.
Fraternally Mr. Taylor is a member of Lodge No. 84, F. & A. M., of which he was master three terms, and was a member and high priest of the Chapter. He is now serving as trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which the family have been connected for several generations, and have always been active church workers. Our subject has never cared for office, but has always taken a commendable interest in all enterprises calculated to advance the welfare of the city which has now been his home for almost fifty years.
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