Sullivan County PA Biographies
T
GEORGE E. TAYLOR
GEORGE E. TAYLOR,* a prominent and influential farmer of Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, Pa., owns a fine farm of 350 acres, upon which he lives. He is a son of Frederick and Margaret (Edkin) Taylor, and was born in Shrewsbury township, February 13, 1833.
On the paternal side of the family, our subject is a grandson of Robert Taylor, who was a native of Lewistown, Pa., and was the first to establish the family in Sullivan county. Upon locating there he acquired a large tract of timberland which he cleared with a great deal of difficulty and much hard work, after which he erected a home. He operated a grist-mill and a distillery, in connection with which he engaged in agricultural pursuits with considerable success, owning 600 acres of land at the time of his demise, at the age of sixty-two years. He was joined in matrimonial bonds with Elizabeth Mayhue and they reared a family of children, one of whom was Frederick, our subject's father.
Frederick Taylor was a native of Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, and there resided for many years of his life, being a prominent citizen of Muncy Valley. Politically he was a Democrat and served as supervisor and school director of his township. He formed a matrimonial alliance with Margaret Edkin, who was born in England and emigrated to this country with her father, George Edkin, who settled on a farm in Shrewsbury township, where he resided until his death at the age of eighty years. His wife reached the advanced age of ninety-three years before submitting to the inevitable. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor: Sarah, deceased, was the wife of Beaver Kitchen, who resides at Montgomery Station, Pa.; William, deceased, married Mary Anderson, and now resides in Shrewsbury township; Robert, Jr., whose life sketch also appears in this volume; George E., our subject; Sophia, the widow of John Faust, who resides in Muncy, Lycoming County; Deborah, deceased, who was the wife of John Roach, who is also deceased; Margaret, deceased; and Theodore, who was killed in the Civil War, in 1865. Mr. Taylor died on March 13, 1886, and his wife survived him five years, dying in February, 1891.
George E. Taylor was reared on the farm and attended the common schools of his district. Upon leaving school he aided his father in clearing off a tract of timberland and lived on the home farm. He continued to live there after his marriage, and after his father's death succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead. He is recognized as a man of worth and influence in his community, and has a large circle of friends. On December 25, 1881, Mr. Taylor was joined in wedlock with Margaret Biddle, who was born in Bradford County, Pa., September 16, 1842, and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Stout) Biddle. Mr. Biddle was a farmer by occupation. Politically Mr. Taylor has always been a stanch Democrat and has held many of the township offices. Religiously his wife is a member of the Lutheran Church of Dushore, Pa.
* The information contained in this biography was supplied by the subject of this sketch. A type-set copy of the biography was sent to the subject to be proof-read, but the subject did not edit and return the copy, so this biography may contain typographical errors.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 776 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
MATTHEW TAYLOR
MATTHEW TAYLOR. The Taylor family is classed among the pioneer families of Sullivan County, Pa., and its members have contributed their full share toward the county's prosperity and development. The gentleman whose biography we write, and whose portrait is presented on a preceding page, is a representative of this prosperous and energetic family and was born in Shrewsbury township, November 12, 1833; his parents were James and Delia (Edkin) Taylor and his grandfather; Robert Taylor.
Robert Taylor was the first of this prominent family to settle in Sullivan County, having located there in 1803; he formerly resided at Warrior Run, Northumberland County, Pa., and was a life-long farmer. His wife was Elizabeth Mayes. James Taylor, father of our subject, was also born in Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, and resided there all his life. He carried on farming in Shrewsbury and Davidson townships and also owned a saw-mill and was one of the prosperous lumbermen of his community. He departed from this life August 31, 1870. His wife, Delia Edkin, was also a native of Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, and they were the parents of a family of five children, namely: Matthew; Alfred, deceased; Katie, who is the wife of James Stroup, whose biography may be found elsewhere in this book; Sarah Jane, who died aged twelve years; and Margaret Jane, who died aged eighteen years.
Matthew Taylor was educated in the district schools of Shrewsbury township and reared to agricultural pursuits on his father's farm. He has always followed farming in Shrewsbury township and in March, 1870, he took charge of his present fine farm which consists of 174 acres. He is regarded as one of the most progressive and industrious farmers of Sullivan County. Our subject is ably assisted in carrying on the farm by his son George.
Mr. Taylor and Sarah Ann Richarts were united in matrimonial bonds September 10, 1862. She was born in Davidson township, Sullivan County, November 27, 1844, and is a daughter of David and Louisa (Weaver) Richarts, both now deceased; her father was a stonemason and shoemaker by trade. A family of six children was born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, namely: Laura I., who wedded Lloyd V. Buckholder, a wagonmaker of Muncy Valley, Pa., and they are the parents of eight children,-Dora May, Lulu Maria, Eveline, Josie Alice, Charles Matthew, Sarah Helen, Jessie Lillian, and Dorothy; James; Margaret J., wife of Delanson Poust, a farmer near Hughesville, Lycoming County, Pa., and four children have blessed their home,- Elwell, Seeley Jane, Garrett Lindsay, and Clarence; George S., born October 8, 1867, married Eleanor Craft, born November 5, 1874, and Charles Leroy and Sarah Ethel have been born to them, the latter dying December 17, 1898; Anna, who married Samuel Sucules, a farmer of Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, and they have three children,- Myrtle, Hurley Raymond, and Arthur Jennings; and Clyde W., a farmer of Hughesville, Pa., who married Martha J. Kahler. Politically Mr. Taylor is a Democrat and for the past four years has served as tax-collector of Shrewsbury township. Religiously he favors the Baptist Church.
The Taylor family always has been well known and esteemed for honesty of purpose and high moral principles, which traits of character have been transmitted to its descendants, of whom Matthew Taylor is one of the most honored.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 729 Transcribed by Tammy Clark
ROBERT TAYLOR, Jr.,
JUDGE ROBERT TAYLOR, Jr., who for five years faithfully served in the capacity of associate judge of Sullivan County, Pa., is now extensively engaged in fanning and lumbering on his estate of 370 acres in Davidson township. He is a son of Frederick and Margaret (Edkin) Taylor, and was born in Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, October 2, 1832.
Our subject comes from one of the oldest and a leading family of the county, and is a grandson of Robert Taylor, who was the first of the family to locate in Sullivan County. He came from Lewistown, Pa., and took up a tract of land, thickly covered with timber, which he cleared. He next built a house and carried on farming in connection with operating a grist-mill and a distillery. Thus he continued until his death at the age of sixty-two years, and became quite wealthy, owning at one time some 600 acres of land. He formed a marital union with Elizabeth Mayhue, and among their children was Frederick, the father of our subject. Frederick Taylor was born in Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, where he lived most of his life, and became a prominent citizen of Muncy Valley. He was a Democrat in politics and served as supervisor in the township and as school director for many years. He was united in marriage with Margaret Edkin, a native of England, who came to this country with her father, George Edkin, who settled in Shrewsbury township, where he lived the remainder of his life, dying at the advanced age of eighty years. Mrs. Taylor's mother lived to reach the ripe old age of ninety-three. This union was blessed by the birth of eight children, namely: Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of Beaver Kitchen, who resides at Montgomery Station, Pa.; William, deceased, who married Mary Anderson, who now resides in Shrewsbury township; Robert, Jr., the subject of this personal history; George E., a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this Book of Biographies; Sophia, the widow of John Foust, resides in Muncy, Lycoming County; Deborah, deceased, was the wife of John Roach, who is also deceased; Margaret, deceased; and Theodore, who lost his life in 1865, while serving in the Union Army. Mr. Taylor died on March 13, 1886, and his wife joined him beyond the river of Death in February, 1891.
Robert Taylor, Jr., after receiving intellectual training in the common schools, at the age of eighteen years began working on the farm for his father and also engaged in lumbering, continuing with his father until after his marriage. He then moved to his present farm, which consists of 370 acres of good land, and there has since carried on general farming and lumbering, besides dealing extensively in cattle. He has improved the land to such an extent that it is one of the most valuable pieces of property in the section. He is a man of great energy and enterprise and has been decidedly successful in his various lines of business. In private life he is a good neighbor and a kind friend, and possesses the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances.
In 1868 our subject married Sarah Sellers of Lycoming County, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Sellers. The former was a blacksmith by trade, and both are now deceased. This union resulted in the following offspring: Ocy, the wife of A. T. Armstrong, a merchant, lumber dealer, and the proprietor of a grist-mill at Sonestown,-they have four children, Rita, Taylor, Erma and Mary; Harry, born October 30, 1871; and Edna, who lives at home. In political affiliations Mr. Taylor is an unswerving supporter of the Democratic party, and for five years served the county as associate judge. He has been tax collector and supervisor, and has held many township offices of minor importance. Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A recent portrait of Mr. Taylor is shown on a preceding page, in connection with the above sketch of his life.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 151 Transcribed by Tammy Clark
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