Chat
|
Daily Search
|
My GenForum
|
Community Standards
|
Terms of Service
|
|
|
Biographical sketch of STEPHEN G. TAYLOR from the book entitled, "Biographical Memoirs of Saint Clair County, Michigan," published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Publishers in Logansport, Indiana.
============================================
This bio spans four (4) pages: 460-463
STEPHEN G. TAYLOR
The hardy New Englander who migrated westward half a century ago and established himself in a profession or calling, very rarely failed to make a mark for himself and for his posterity in the community to which he transplanted himself. Hundreds of instanced might be adduced where the nervous activity of the New England Yankee in the west is wholly chargeable with the making of towns, the building of cities and the accomplishment of great enterprises that half a century ago could not be conceived even in the wildest dreams of the most highly imaginative mind. If a roll were called of the names of those who had contributed most to make Chicago what it is, it would be found that the great majority of them were transplanted New England Yankees. One of these New Englanders who has spent the most active part of his business career in the west is Stephen G. Taylor. Elijah and Clarissa (Granville) Taylor, the parents of Stephen G., were natives of New Hampshire. The former was born in 1802, and lived an active, useful life of seventy-eight years. Early in life he served his apprenticeship to the trade of carpenter and joiner, became well skilled in that calling, and for a number of years followed it with marked success, at the same time bestowing a great deal of attention on real estate. In politics he was a Democrat, and held the position of town treasurer for a number of years. He was a regular attendant at the services of the Baptist church. He was a man of much prominence in Effingham, New Hampshire, where he resided and was in business. Mrs. Taylor’s maiden name, Granville, indicates that she was of English ancestry, being indeed a descendant of that family which has figured so prominently in English history, and of which Lord Granville is the chief living representative. Stephen G. Taylor was the fifth of eight children born to Mr. And Mrs. Elijah Taylor, viz: Anna M. married Jonathan M. Taylor, a namesake, but not a relative, and had two sons, Channing, who followed bookkeeping as a profession, and Auville D., who was a professional athlete; she died in 1899 at Brooklyn (sic), Massachusetts; Alphonso was a carpenter and joiner by trade, married Elizabeth Waterhouse, of Biddeford, Maine, and they are the parents of two daughters, Amanda and Clara, both married; he is now retired from business and living in Haverhill, Massachusetts; David W. came to Baltimore, Michigan, in 1854, and in 1855 married Hannah Foss, of Freedom, New Hampshire; while in Michigan he first followed teaching, and later, from 1856 to 1861, was engaged in the mercantile business at New Baltimore; he then went to California and served as deputy in the office of the collector of customs at San Francisco; Emma married a gentleman named Lewis, a native of New Hampshire, who died soon afterward; she has followed teaching ten years in the graded schools of Detroit, has since taught in Brookline, Massachusetts, and has retired as a member of the Teachers’ Guild of Massachusetts, after thirty years’ continuous service, and is now living with her sister in Brookline; Stephen G.; John died at four years of age; Thomas F. followed farming all his life, and has a fine farm of two hundred acres at Effingham; he married Elizabeth Knowles of that place, and has a family of five children, Herbert, Maud, Edith, ____________, and Clara, all graduated of the high school and some of whom have taken a commercial course; Anna M. followed dressmaking in early life, but for the past twenty years has taught school in Brookline, Massachusetts. All of the brothers and sisters of Stephen G. Taylor have had exceptionally good educational advantages. Anna M. was a graduate of the College of New Hampshire in the class of ’52; David W. was graduated from the high school at the age of fifteen years, and taught his first term of school immediately thereafter; Emma graduated from Parsonfields Seminary.
Stephen G. Taylor was born in Effingham, New Hampshire, October 13, 1835. In his native state he had all the advantages that could be accorded any youth in the way of a good, liberal education. In 1856, when barely twenty-one years of age, he came west to New Baltimore, Michigan, and the first winter engaged in teaching. It is worthy of note that nearly all of the instructors of those days in the west were natives of New England. Mr. Taylor’s quickness of movement, polished manners and keen business tact soon procured for him a position in one of the early mercantile establishments, and he continued in that line up to the fall of 1859. In December of that year he came to Memphis, Michigan, and opened up a general mercantile store, it being located in the first frame building erected in Memphis. In this he continued with flattering success until June, 1864, when he sold out for the purpose of purchasing a mill and engaging in the manufacture of flour. He entered into partnership in this enterprise, the firm name being Rix & Taylor, but the partnership was of short duration, continuing only to the spring of 1865, when Mr. Taylor went east, spending the summer at his old home at Effingham, New Hampshire. Desirous of knowing a little more of the world, and becoming more familiar with the ways of the people, in August, 1865, he went to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he took charge of the general merchandising store for J. M. Taylor, his brother-in-law, and ably managed it until the severe winter season of the North was passed, when he went to Chicago, but did not remain long, going thence to Rhode Island. From there he visited various points, among them Detroit, where he clerked for Newcomb & Endicott, frequently, however, returning to Memphis. At one time he was the senior member of the firm of Taylor & Jenkinson, general merchants, at Memphis, and in 1868 and 1869 he was again a member of the milling firm of Rix & Taylor. This partnership being again dissolved, he went to Dunkirk, New York, and kept books for J. M. Taylor until October 31, 1872, when he again returned to Memphis and for the third time became the junior partner in the firm of Rix & Taylor.
On the 20th day of October, 1861, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Rix, of Memphis, the daughter of Oel Rix, who came from Romeo, Michigan, in 1838 and settled in Memphis. Mr. And Mrs. Taylor are the parents of four children viz: Charles Rix, born February 4, 1863, is a graduate of Memphis high school, and is now a bookkeeper in Detroit for the Detroit Sanitarium Supply Company; he married Netta Johnson, of Memphis; Adrian Granville, born May 20, 1867, married Mary F. Newberry, of Romney, Michigan, in October, 1896, was educated in Memphis, and is now in the milling business with his father; Mamie L., born September 6, 1877, is a graduate of the high school and proficient in music; she married Herbert Batty, of Richmond, Michigan, a cigar manufacturer, now living at Port Huron; Lucy A., born September 11, 1882, has had the advantages of a good education and has been keeping house for her father since the death of her mother, which occurred on the 28th day of December, 1899.
Stephen G. Taylor has the distinction of having been the first purchaser of grain in this part of the state of Michigan. In politics he is and always has been a Democrat. His belief in Democratic principles, however, did not prevent him from voting for two illustrious Republicans, Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley. Under the administration of Grover Cleveland he was postmaster of Memphis, and he has been president of the board of trustees of the village a number of years. He began life poor – health, strength, a good intellect and a fair education being his only capital. Each he has used in the furtherance of his material interests, and with sufficient effect to place at his disposal today a comfortable fortune and a fair income. He has reared his family in comfort, all being respected and useful members of society and placed in positions where they can exercise the talents with which nature has endowed them.
============================================
PLEASE NOTE: I do not have any personal interest in researching the TAYLOR surname or the St. Clair county, Michigan location. I am merely posting a select number of the biographical sketches found in the above-referenced book *upon specific written request* as a service to the genealogical community; these transcriptions are intended for personal use and are not being done for profit. Please do not contact me with regard to research interests in the above as I have no personal ties. Thank you.
Followups:No followups yet |
| http://genforum.genealogy.com/mi/saintclair/messages/359.html | ||
 |
Agreement of Use Link to GenForum Add Forum |
|