History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

1518

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

mercial and industrial principles and conditions, are requisites for success. Commencing practice more than forty-three years ago in Grand
Rapids, William Wisner Taylor has steadily advanced to the front in
reputation and the legitimate rewards of such a standing.
Mr. Taylor was born at Geneva, New York, April 25, 1843, and is a
son of Walter T. and Charlotte (Dobbins) Taylor. He comes of distinguished ancestry, his paternal grandfather, Walter Taylor, a New York
farmer, having served in the Patriot army during the War of the Revolution, while his grandfather on the maternal side, Hugh Woodruff, a
native of New Jersey, who moved to New York in early life, in I800, was
one of three lieutenant-colonels appointed by Governor Tompkins during
the War of 1812, and at the close of that struggle bore the rank of brigadier-general. Walter T. Taylor, the father of William W. Taylor, was
born in I802, in New York, and early in life became an educator, being
for many years at the head of Hobart College, New York. He was a
member of the Episcopal church, was a Democrat in his political views,
and was long connected with Masonry, being a member of the Royal Arch
Chapter. When he died, in I857, he was succeeded as head of Hobart
College by his son, Hugh W. Professor Taylor was married in New York
to Charlotte Dobbin, who was born in 1802 and died in I889, and they
became the parents of thirteen children, of whom William W. was the
twelfth in order of. birth, and beside whom three are living: Hugh W.,
who after his educational experience took up banking and is now. living
retired at Stockton, California, where he is devoting himself to literary
pursuits; Mrs. C. Van der Veen, widow of Rev. C. Van der Veen; and
Mrs. Francis Wood, a widow of Stockton, California, who is devoting
her time to proofreading.
William Wisner Taylor was given his early education under the preceptorship of his father, and in I865 graduated from Taylor College with
the second highest honors of his class. Following this he entered Columbia Law School, Washington, D. C., and after his graduation in I867 was
placed in charge of a large school at Charleston, South Carolina, where
he continued for two years. In I869 Mr. Taylor came to Grand Rapids
and entered upon the practice of his profession, and this city has continued to be the scene of his labors'and successes. In I873 he was elected
city attorney, in which capacity he served for five years, and again in
1889 was again sent to that office for a like period. His rulings on city
charter provisions were always upheld by the courts, and judges and attorneys considered that he was remarkably successful. In 1914 he again announced himself as candidate for the office of city attorney. Mr. Taylor
is a prodigous worker and his large practice has been principally in the
field of corporation law, in which he is rated as one of the best authorities
in the state. His offices are located at No. 333 Michigan Trust Building.
In I871 Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Olivia R. Burtis, of Oyster
Bay, Long Island, New York, and to this' union there have been born six
children: William W., Jr., a captain in the Regular United States Army;
Mrs. Frank J. Fess, whose husband is in the general insurance business
in Detroit; Louise R., a public stenographer of Grand Rapids, at the head
of a force of seven employes; Mrs. Andrew Peterson, whose husband is
an expert electrician with the City Telephone Company of this city; Mrs.
William J. Hoey, wife of a lieutenant in the United States Army, and
Julia, who resides at home with her parents. In political matters Mr.
Taylor is a Democrat. With his family, he attends the Episcopal church.
REV. JOHN BRADFORD PENGELLY, A. M., D. B. Although the Rev.
J. Bradford Pengelly, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, has been
known to the people of Flint for but a short period, he has already im