TAYLOR, ANGUS. - Of the seven children that resulted from the union of William Taylor and Mary E. Horrom, former old residents of Cass County, Ill., all the sons followed their father's lead and became prominent and prosperous agriculturists, known throughout the country for their intelligence, enterprise and culture, and ranking among the foremost members of the community. Sketches of Robert A. and John H. Taylor, brothers of Angus Taylor, both of whom carry on extensive farming operations in the same vicinity, may be found in this volume, and each illustrates the family record which their father's ability and energy initiated in earlier times. The gentleman to whom the present writing pertains well maintains the high credit shown in the personal narratives of those mentioned.

Angus Taylor was born October 5, 1872, in Cass County, Ill., one mile east of Chandlerville. His father was of Scotch nativity, while his mother was born in Cass County, in Hickory Precinct, on the Sangamon River bottom. In the spring of 1877, Angus moved with his parents to the Horrom farm in that vicinity. In early youth he attended the district schools in his neighborhood, and was a pupil in a Lincoln business college, also taking a course in Lincoln University, and afterwards resuming the work of the farm. The name of Mr. Taylor's place is the "Valley View Farm." It comprises 300 acres, all on the river bottom, except eighty acres, which is on the bluff and used for pasturage. After his marriage Mr. Taylor settled on a farm belonging to his father, on the Sangamon River bottom, in township 18, range 10. He now does general grain farming and raises Percheron horses, Aberdeen cattle, Poland-China hogs and Plymouth Rock chickens. In the summer of 1910 he built a fine stucco house, which is entirely modern, having electric lights, furnace heat, hot and cold water, etc.

On August 24, 1897, Mr. Taylor was married to Emily Treadway, born in Monroe Precinct, Cass County, Ill., a daughter of Franklin M. and Ellen Eliza (Pratt) Treadway, the former born in Monroe Precinct, and the latter in Virginia. The grandparents of Mrs. Taylor were Amos and Elizabeth (Miller) Treadway, of Virginia; and John Wilkes and Emily (Savage) Pratt, the former born in Maryland, and the latter in the state of New York. Grandfather Pratt was the first county clerk of Cass County. Grandmother Pratt was a daughter of John Savage, one of the early sheriffs of Cass County. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are as follows: Mildred Ellen, William Marion, Miriam, Kenneth Archibald, Angus Donald, Emily Christine, and Vivian Pratt.

Mr. Taylor is a member of the Presbyterian church of the Sangamon River bottom, in which he has officiated as elder since 1894, and has been clerk of the session since 1904. In politics he is a Democrat, and held the office of road commissioner six years, serving as county commissioner from 1909 to 1912. He is identified with the M.W.A. Picon Camp No. 530, of Chandlerville.