Portrait and biographical album of Ingham and Livingston counties, Michigan, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties ... the governors of the state and of all the presidents of the United States.

256

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

is also a native of Yorkshire, and our subject is
their only child.
John W. Taylor was reared on the farm in Missouri and his school advantages were meager.
When the war broke out there were two Rebel
camps near their home, Wellington and Lexington,
and although the family was anxious to leave that
part of the country they could not get through to
the Union lines. The Confederacy offered all kinds
of inducements to our subject and his father to join
their service but the young man was able to escape
conscription, and enlisted in July, 1861, in the
Union forces, joining Company 1), Fifth Missouri
Infantry. His three months of service in that body
was spent in skirmishing and he was mustered out
August 31. The following day he enlisted again
in Company K, Eighth Kansas Infantry, being
mustered in at St. Louis, and taking a three years'
term.
The military experience of Mr. Taylor brought
him into the following general engagements, Chickamauga, Perryville and Stone River as well as
other conflicts. On the 19th of September, 1863,
he was wounded at Chickamauga, by a shell which
struck his left leg, and he was taken prisoner at
the same time. An operation became necessary
and his leg was amputated by Dr. Seeley of tile
Twenty-second Illinois Regiment. Three weeks
later he was paroled and entered the parole camp
at Chattanooga, where he remained until one week
previous to the battle of Missionary Ridge, when
he was sent to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis,
and was mustered out of service May 24, 1864.
This young hero next went to Milwaukee, and
took a commercial course in Bryant & Stratton's
Business College, studying telegraphy also, under
Prof. Spencer. He then entered the employ of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, being
station agent first at Columbia, Wis., and then at
Fall River, Wis., until 1872, when he came to
Michigan in the service of the Detroit, Lansing &
Northern Railroad. lie was agent at Brighton
until 1874, when he took the agency at North
Lansing for one year. The 1st of April, 1875, was
the day when he entered the general office of the
Auditor General of the State as Clerk, and he reiained there just sixteen years to a, day. During

all the time that he was employed in that office he
lost no time, but gave himself steadily and faithfully to the work of the office and became the head
of the purchasing and paying department. In
1881 he built the block known as the Taylor Block,
with dimensions of 25x80 feet, furnishing accommodation for two stores, and here in 1891 he engaged in the confectionery business. lIe also built
in 1878, the Postoffice Block in North Lansing,
20x90 feet which is occupied by the postoffice and
also by Hedges & Reck, druggists, of whom more
may be found under their respective names in this
volume.
In May, 1891, Mr. 'Taylor patented his folding
table and went into partnership with Mr. Barrett
in its manufacture. There are forty-four different
kinds of folding tables on the market, but Mr.
Taylor's friends think that his claim is just in calling this the best one offered to the trade on account
of its simplicity and durability. This gentleman
was married in Mlilwaukee, in 1869, to Miss Joanna
M. Ryan, a native of that city. Their three children
are, Samuel W., Pierce R., and Marie. The eldest
son is a graduate of the Commercial College at
Lansing, and is now in the United States mail service at Chicago. The mother of these children
is a Roman Catholic in ler religious views. The
political views of Mr. Taylor are strongly Republican, and he is prominent among the men of his
party, being a frequent delegate to county and
State conventions and acting as Chairman of the
city and ward committees. Iie is a prominent
member of the (G. A. R., belonging to Charles T.
Foster Post, No. 42.
I LBERT.. WILS)ON. The results of industry and unflagging perseverance are shown
in the'life of the above-named gentleman
/ who owns and occupies one of the lnost
beautiful homes of Leslie, Inghamn ('olltyt. h is
life affords a striking exampllle worthy of imlitation aby young men who are easily discouraged
because they have no large capital.ndl theref'ore