Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-John Taylor
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
JOHN TAYLOR, one of the most extensive
land-owners of Dickinson County, was born
on the 15th of April, 1825, in Lincolnshire,
England, and his parents, William
and Elizabeth (Wells) Taylor, were also natives of
that country. He came to America in 1838, with
two older brothers and a sister, locating in Cincinnati.
His brother Thomas established a grocery
store on what is now Central Avenue, and with him
John worked for five years, when Hiram Clearwater,
a distiller and pork-packer who had taken an interest
in the young lad, gave him a start in the grocery
business. During the first year from his small store
he cleared $ 1,000, but the next year he lost $6,000.
The third year he paid off all indebtedness, and the
fourth year he bought out Mr. Clearwater and also
became interested in the pork-packing business
with his benefactor. This was in 1847, he having
taken charge of the store in the winter of 1843.
From that time success attended his efforts; his
business was constantly increased and he finally
embarked in the jobbing business. He is still a
leading grocer of Cincinnati. He has a large
jobbing trade and owns five stores in that city,
which are carried on by his two sons.
In September, 1847, in Hamilton, Ohio, Mr.
Taylor married Elizabeth, daughter of David
Timberman, and a native of Ohio. She died in
1854, leaving one child, Maggie, wife of Dr.
Ament, a well-known physician of Cincinnati.
Mr. Taylor was again married, in 1856, his second
union being with Miss Margaret A. Hart, a native
of New Jersey, and a daughter of Asher Hart, a
farmer. They have six living children: John
Hiram, who is married and lives in Rhinehart
Township; Nettie, wife of Edward Kruse, a wholesale
dealer in toys in New York City; Clarence,
who is married and also makes his home in Rhinehart
Township; Florence, wife of D. W. Wightson,
of Abilene, Secretary of a fire insurance company;
Pearl, who resides at home; and Willetts, who
completes the family.
Mr. Taylor came to Kansas in 1872 and bought
five or six sections of land in Dickinson County.
His brother also bought two sections and they
purchased a section each for two nephews, whom
they thus established in business. Mr. Taylor
then returned to Cincinnati and continued in the
grocery trade for some time longer, but for several
years past has been a resident of this State and
has been extensively engaged in fanning. During
one year he raised seventy-five thousand bushels
of wheat. He owns all of sections 12, 13, 14 and
24 in Logan Township, one-half of section 18 and
ail of section 6 in Liberty Township, three hundred
and twenty acres on section 29, Rhinehart
Township, a like amount on section 1, Ridge
Township, one hundred and sixty acres on section
9, Ridge Township, forty acres on section 26,
Logan Township, and his wife has three hundred
and twenty acres on section 8, Liberty Township.
He has also given a section each to his sons, John
and Clarence. . He is extensively engaged in the
raising of stock having between six and seven hundred
bead of cattle. Mr. Taylor is one of the
wealthiest citizens of Dickinson County and his
success is all the more remarkable from the fact
that he started in life for himself without a dollar.
All his vast property has been acquired through
his own efforts and he may well be termed a self-made
man.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP