Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-William Taylor
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
WILLIAM TAYLOR. This gentleman is an honored citizen of foreign birth who,
while proud of his lineage and his ancestral
home, is yet devoted to the interests and welfare of
the land of his adoption. He was born in Tibberton
Grange, England, June 27, 1839, and reared to
an agricultural life. He grew to manhood on the
parental estate, and at the age of twenty-one made
a voyage from his native land around Cape Horn
to California. He remained on the western coast
of North America for several years, being engaged
for a time as a coast sailor, subsequently spending
some lime in British Columbia, and at various periods
being at Ft. Madison, Ft. Gamboll and at
Seattle, visiting the latter place when it was but a
small village. He owned and worked in mines at
Caribou for a time. In the year 1868 he was on
the United States gun boat "Saginaw," and sailed
to Victoria and also into the Alaska waters. During
the voyage he received an injury, and on
returning to San Francisco he was sent to the hospital
on Mars Island.
When discharged from the hospital, in 1869, Mr.
Taylor returned to England by way of the isthmus.
Being the oldest son he was entitled to the estate
at his father's death, but he preferred to live in this
country, and after a short sojourn in his native land
he returned to America. Before leaving England
he was married, and he and his wife started for
Junction City, where they arrived in October, 1871.
Mr. Taylor homesteaded eighty acres of land in
Athelstane Township, Clay County, and at once
began improving the same. He first built a dugout,
in which they lived one winter, and he then
built a small frame house. There were no houses
to be seen from his home, and but little breaking
had been done in the vicinity, where Texas cattle
roamed at their own will. Mr. Taylor had money
and friends in the Old Country, who would help
him if he needed assistance and called upon them.
He had about sixty acres of his homestead broken,
and beginning operations as a farmer, in 1872 and
1873, he raised corn and other crops. In the grasshopper
year, 1874, he had a good wheat crop but
no corn. From that time to 1885, all his grain
yielded well, after which came another lighter
yield. This year, 1889, all the crops have been
abundant.
Mr. Taylor's present estate comprises 330 acres,
172 of which are bottom land, which is much better
adapted to agricultural purposes than the uplands
of this section. One of the most prominent features
of the fine estate is a blue grass pasture of about
eighteen acres, which is proving a great success for
late use. Mr. Taylor has seen the country around
him settle up, with villages and towns becoming
numerous throughout the country, and is now enjoying
the fruits of his pioneer industry and toil,
and the prosperity of the land which he has made
his own.
William Taylor, Sr., the father of our subject,
belonged to the landed gentry of England. He
married Miss Eliza M., daughter of Thomas Jones,
also an agriculturist there. To this union ten children
were born, bearing the names of: Sarah, William
Jr., Eliza M., Catherine A., Albert, Walter,
Thomas. Emily, Ellen and George. The wife and
mother passed from earth in 1855, and the father
subsequently married Miss Mary Williams, a former
governess in the house. This union resulted in the
birth of one child, Frederick William, and both
mother and child are now deceased. William Taylor,
Sr., departed this life in 1858. One of his sons
formerly lived in this country, and died in Kansas
City, Mo.
The gentleman of whom we write, celebrated his
marriage in 1871. in his native country, the bride
being Miss Louisa J., daughter of Thomas Wood.
who lived and died in England. Mrs. Taylor has
two sisters living in this State. She and her husband
are childless.
Mr. Taylor belongs to the Democratic party, and
takes the side of the opposition on the question
which has been so prominently before the Kansas
citizens during the last few years�the question of
Prohibition. He and his wife were reared in the
faith of the Episcopal Church, in which they hold
membership. He is an honored citizen of Clay
County, and his wife shares in the respect and
friendship of those among whom they have made
their home.