Taylor Family
William H. Taylor
William H. Taylor, for many years one of the prominent and honored residents of Clinton who in the face of difficulties won success and yet to whose name there was never attached the slightest taint of dishonor, passed from this life in 1905. He was at that time sixty-nine years of age, his birth having occurred in Muskingum county, Ohio, June 4, 1836. The Taylor family is of English origin and the ancestry is traced back to Edward Taylor who came from London to America in 1692 and settled in New Jersey at a place called Garret's Hill but in later years known as Pigeon Hill. This place is a prominent landmark and can be seen from all parts of the lower harbor of New York. The Taylor family was related by marriage to Sir George Carteret, proprietor of East New Jersey, and through him the Taylors acquired large landed estates in Monmouth and Somerset counties, New Jersey.
Henry Taylor, the father of William H. Taylor was a native of Delaware and a second cousin of Zachary Taylor who was elected president of the United States after having rendered a brilliant service to the country in commanding of the American forces in Louisiana and Texas and in the Mexican war, after which he proceeded southward into Mexico and there defeated Santa Anna in the crowning battle of this campaign at Buena Vista.
Henry Taylor devoted much of his life to merchandising. He removed from Delaware to Somerset county, Ohio, there living until 1853, when he came to Illinois, settling in Clinton which was then a small town of little industrial or commercial importance. He joined George Bell and Henry Litzembarger [sic] in purchasing the ground upon which the Magill House now stands and there erected a two-story frame building in which he opened a general store. In 1857 the building and its contents were destroyed by fire but later he again became a factor in commercial circles in connection with his sons and they continued in business until the panic of 1873 when, like hundreds of others, they were overcome by financial reverses. Thus for a second time Henry Taylor lost all he had. Soon afterward he opened a coal business at the corner where his grandson, Walter M. Taylor, is now continuing in the same line of business. His son, Fletcher Taylor, was associated with him for some time and afterward succeeded to the business which he conducted until he sold out the firm of William H. Taylor & Son. Henry Taylor continued a resident of Clinton from the time of his arrival here in 1853 until his death in 1891. He was at that time seventy-seven years of age and his wife passed away in 1898 at the age of eighty years.
The youthful days of William H. Taylor were passed in the place of his nativity up to the age of seventeen years during which period he acquired his education in the public schools. In 1853, he came to Illinois with his parents, Henry and Mary (Miller) Taylor, who settled in Clinton. As previously stated, his father established a store and William H. Taylor assisted him in its conduct until 1857. He afterward opened a shoe store in the rear of his father's store. After the building was burned he became a partner of a Mr. Toury in the same business and so continued until 1861 when his patriotic spirit prompted him to put aside all business and personal considerations and he offered his services to the government, enlisting as a member of Company F, Forty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The following year he was made second lieutenant, six months later he became first lieutenant and was afterward promoted to the rank of adjutant. His military experience covered three years and one month, during which time he participated in a number of hotly contested battles and met all of the hardships and rigors of war. Following his return from the army he again became connected with merchandising in Clinton, carrying on the business until 1872 when he again lost all of his property but paid all of his obligations at the rate of one hundred cents on the dollar. He then sought and obtained a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery house and from that time until his death remained continuously upon the road, covering a period of about twenty-three years. In the meantime he again prospered for, as opportunity offered, he made investments in property and became the owner of considerable valuable real estate which included the Magill House, worth about fifty thousand dollars, his residence on Main street, and also valuable holdings on East Washington street. When he went upon the road he possessed an indebtedness of ten thousand dollars with a salary of but thirty dollars per month. With resolute spirit that was most commendable and with unflinching honor that has ever been unassailable, he resolved that he would meet every obligation and each year saw a larger portion of his indebtedness wiped out until he stood clear of all incumberance and ready again to take up the work of building up his own fortune. This he did until at his death his estate was valued at about one hundred thousand dollars.
Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Merrell, a native of Ohio and a daughter of James Merrell, who was likewise born in the Buckeye state and after arriving at years of maturity wedded a Miss Baker. At an early day they removed westward to Clinton where Mr. Merrell became the owner of considerable property but lived retired from the active management of his business affairs. Soon afterward he and his wife removed to Champaign, Illinois where they both passed away at an advanced age. Their children were: Frank, Lucy, Lucinda, and Kate. Of these Lucy became the wife of William H. Taylor and the mother of three children but only one is now living; Walter M. Taylor, a well known business man of Clinton. The others died in childhood. Mrs. Lucy Taylor passed away in 1872 at the age of thirty-four years and in 1874 Mr. Taylor was again married, his second union being with Miss Jennie Rennick who survives him. They became the parents of three children: Nellie, who was the wife of Dr. C. S. Bogardus, died in 1901 at the age of twenty-five years; William, who was connected with the United States Army in the Philippines, and Edward M., an employee of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, living in Clinton.
Mr. Taylor was one of the devoted and prominent members of the Methodist Church, doing all in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. He gave liberally to its support and took great pleasure in its prosperity and progress. He held membership in Frank Lowry Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and for half a century was an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity. He held the most important offices in the church and in the lodges with which he was connected, but he never sought or desired political preferment although he gave earnest support at the polls to the republican party. Few men were as widely known in central Illinois and none were held in more favorable regard. He was recognized as a strong man-strong in his honor and good name, strong in his ability to plan and perform. He possessed a genial social nature that made him popular and the strength of his character and his high ideals were manifest in the honorable course which he pursued following his failure in meeting every obligation that devolved upon him. No man suffered loss at his hands and his commercial integrity as well as his private honor remained unsullied throughout the years of an active and useful career.
History of DeWitt County, pgs. 128-130
1860 Illinois Census
DeWitt County (Clinton Twp.)
Page: 586; Line: 22; Dwelling: 694; Family 675
Henry Taylor — 46 — M — Merchant — 8000 — 10,000 —
Del.
Mary Taylor — 44 — F — Pa.
Nellie Taylor — 19 — F — O(hio).
Homer Taylor — 17 — M — O(hio). — Attended School
Fletcher Taylor — 15 —M. — O(hio). — Attended School
Frank Taylor — 5 — M — ILL.
Anna H. Taylor — 1 — F — ILL.
1860 Illinois Census
DeWitt County (Wilson Twp.)
Page: 680; Line 36; Dwelling: 1351; Family 1329
George S. Taylor — 25 — M — Farmer — 1600 — 700 —
Ohio
Mary J. Taylor — 22 — F — ILL.
John H. Taylor — 4 — M — ILL.
Eva K. Taylor — 1 — F — ILL.
Children of Henry Taylor and Mary Miller are:
- George S. Taylor, b. August 10, 1834, Lancaster County, OH; d. July 06, 1911, Pana, Christian Co., IL.; m. Mary Jane Wolfe, June 17, 1855; b. July 06, 1837, Bond County, IL.; d. August 02, 1935, Decatur, Macon County, IL.; occupation: Farmer.
- Nellie Taylor, b. 1841.
- Homer Taylor, b. 1843
- Fletcher Taylor, b. 1845.
- Frank Taylor, b.1855.
- Anna Taylor, b. 1859.
Submitted by
Mary Vanderheydt
Transcribed by Sheryl Byrd