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 R. SMITH TAYLOR, a physician of good repute, and who has been a resident of North Okaw Township since the fall of 1860, is an extensive land-owner and has carried on stock-farming with more than ordinary success. His property includes 478 acres in the home farm, 212 acres on section 31, in North Okaw Township, and forty-five acres on section 13. The family residence is a fine frame structure, which was put up after the close of the war. The barn is substantial and commodious, and in ordinary seasons the entire area of land is generously supplied with good water. Dr. Taylor has always been fond of country life, and would not exchange it for the King’s palace in a crowded city. He has been prominent in the affairs of North Okaw Township since coming here, representing it on the County Board of Supervisors and serving it as Assessor. He cast his first Presidential vote for Prank Pierce in 1852, and since then has been a stanch advocate of Democratic principles. The first recollections of our subject are of his father’s farm in Niagara County, N. Y., where he first opened his eyes to the light, Aug. 20, 1829. His family was well known in that section. His paternal grandparents were natives of New Jersey, where they were reared and married, and whence they afterward removed to New York State. The Taylors are of German ancestry. The grandfather was an extensive land-owner in New York State, where he spent his last years. His family included five sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to mature years and were married. The sons were named respectively, William, Christopher, Henry, Jacob and Jeromus. The names of the daughters are not known to any of the living descendants. Jeromus Taylor, the father of our subject, was the fourth child of his parents and was born in New Jersey. He grew to manhood in his native township, and then going into Niagara County, N. Y., entered a tract of land in the Holland Purchase, where he made considerable improvement, and after a few years sold out and purchased on another section in the same county. This also he sold after a few years, and removing to Delaware County, Ohio, purchased land in the Military Tract. There he established a comfortable homestead, upon which he remained the balance of his days. He was married in Niagara County, N. Y., to Miss Wall, who became the mother of four children Jacob, John, Mary A. and Elizabeth, of whom Jacob is the only survivor. The mother died in New York. The second wife of Jeromus Taylor was formerly Miss Eliza Smith, to whom he was married in Niagara County, N. Y., and who became the mother of eleven children, namely, George, Henry, Smith of our sketch, Adam, Nancy J., Charles, Susanna, Eliza, Elizabeth, Sarah and Jeromus. With the exception of one all grew to mature years and were married. The mother died in the spring of 1885, in Marion County, Mo. She was a highly esteemed lady and a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Young Taylor received a common-school education and remained a member of the parental household until nineteen years of age. He was but three years old when his parents removed from New York to Ohio. After starting out for himself he was employed on a farm at $12 per month during the summer seasons, and in the winter made himself useful in the shop of a blacksmith in Niagara County, N. Y. For his services at the latter place he was to receive $6 per month, but only succeeded in obtaining $13 for six mouths. The summer following he worked six months on a farm at $12.50 per month, and in the fall returned to his parents in Ohio. The marriage of Smith Taylor and Miss Lucinda Smith took place in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1851. Mrs. Taylor was born in Franklin County, Ohio, and is the daughter of Dr. Silas Smith. After his marriage our subject took up the study of medicine under the tutelage of his father-in-law, and two years later commenced practice in Delaware County, Ohio. After a few months he removed to Middletown, Champaign County, and thence two years later to Grove City, Franklin County. He then crossed the Mississippi, and locating in Scotland County. Mo., took possession of a tract of land and carried on farming there in connection with his practice until the spring of 1856. He then recrossed the Father of Waters and purchased 160 acres of railroad land in Moultrie County, this State, and during the period of his four years’ residence upon this, turned his attention entirely to agriculture. Dr. Taylor became a resident of North Okaw Township in 1860, and for several years carried on farming and the practice of medicine. He then purchased his present farm, and for several years thereafter was entirely interested in agricultural pursuits, giving but little attention to his profession. He met with a severe affliction by the death of his wife, on the 5th of March, 1874. Mrs. Taylor was a lady of many estimable qualities, a faithful and affectionate wife and mother, and her death was deeply mourned by her family and friends. Their nine children are recorded as follows: Mary E., the wife of William Myers, is a resident of Coles County; Jeromus L. married Miss Rosa Baley, and is engaged in farming in this county; Samantha was married to Leonidas H. Ellison, of North Okaw Township; Jonah W. is at home with his father; Elizabeth is the wife of William Deckard, who is farming in Paradise Township; Charles is engaged in agricultural pursuits in this county; George and Walter S. are at home; Eliza died in infancy. The present wife of our subject was formerly Mrs. Matilda Brannon, the daughter of Simpson Kinnery, and widow of Thomas Brannon, who was formerly a resident of Cumberland County, Ill. |
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