TAYLOR, C. RIGGS, a prominent and much respected resident of Jacksonville, Ill., who in his active life was one of the most successful and substantial farmers of Morgan County, was born in that county December 2, 1839. He is a son of George and Polly E. (Tucker) Taylor, natives of Kentucky, whose parents in turn were Henry and Frances (Dale) Taylor. In boyhood Mr. Taylor received his mental training in the subscription schools of his neighborhood, and in early manhood became a soldier in the Civil War. In August, 1861, he enlisted at Jacksonville, Ill., the commissioned officers of his company being: Captain, Barbour Lewis; First Lieutenant, James Burnett, and Second Lieutenant, George W. Moore, all of Morgan County. The command, known as "Duncan Rangers", was ordered to St. Louis, Mo., and was sworn into the service as Company G, First Missouri Cavalry, under Colonel Ellis. Mr. Taylor participated in numerous severe skirmishes, and in the one near New Madrid, Mo., on June 3, 1864, when his horse was shot in the breast and his hat perforated by a ball. In the afternoon of the same day, while holding his disabled horse in order that his wounded comrade, Thomas J. Marshall, might be provided with a mount, the command was ambushed by Confederate guerillas. Mr. Marshall fell mortally wounded, having received seventeen balls above the belt, and Mr. Taylor was shot in the side, two of his ribs being fractured. The latter has never completely recovered from the effect of his wounds.
On February 27, 1868, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Mary Foster, daughter of Jonas and Anna Hoopes (Carlile) Scott, who was born in Chester County, Pa., March 20, 1821. Mr. Scott was a native of Essex County, N.J., born January 23, 1818, and came to Morgan County in 1845. The lady who became his wife located there in 1844, the marriage occurring the following year. The couple located three miles west of Franklin, where Mary Foster Scott was born on September 5, 1846. Her family dates back to the early times of the United States, Mrs. Scott's father being of English stock, and her mother of English and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. In religious faith they were Quakers.