My Genealogy Hound

FREDERICK TAYLOR, one of the oldest native-born citizens of Granby, where his birth occurred July 26, 1816, has been intimately associated with the agricultural, manufacturing, and financial interests of Hampshire County for more than half a century.

His parents, Willard and Sarah (Cook) Taylor, were both lifelong residents of Granby. Wiliard’ s death occurred in January, 1834, and his wife’s in January, 1842. The father was a farmer by occupation, in which he met with signal success. He and his wife had eleven children, as follows: Francis, who died in infancy; Sarah, born in 1810, the widow of the late David S. Cook, and now living with her son in Lexington, Mass.; Francis (second), who died in infancy; George W., deceased, the father of Willard A. Taylor, of whom a sketch is presented on another page; Frederick, the subject of this notice; Speedy, born in 1818, who died at the age of twenty-seven years; Wiliard, who died at the age of two and one-half years; Francis E., born in 1820, who died in March, 1894; Horace W., born in 1823, now a prominent attorney of Rockford, Ill.; Pamelia, the wife of Julius G. Lyman, of Hartford, Conn.; and one other who died in infancy.

Frederick Taylor, in common with his brothers and sisters, had every advantage that the county afforded for acquiring an education. After the death of his father, which occurred when he was eighteen years old, he and his brother assumed the management of the home farm. He had been employed in this way for twelve or more years, when he engaged in the manufacture of paper. Purchasing a mill he started the business and had acquired an extensive trade, when in 1865 his mill was burned. He then bought a mill in South Hadley and resumed business, continuing until 1883, when he was again burned out. After this second conflagration he remained in the business but one year longer. By his excellent management and superior business tact he has accumulated an ample competency, and is now living retired from the activities of business, enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of unwearied toil.

Mr. Taylor has been twice married. On January 5, 1840, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah H. Knight, who was born in Stafford, Conn., November 21, 1819, a daughter of the Rev. Joseph Knight, who subsequently located in Granby. Her death occurred October 5, 1855. They had five children, as follows: Joseph K., born December 6, 1840, who served in the late rebellion, and at the battle in Charleston, W.Va., August 21, 1864, received injuries that caused his death nine days later; a child, born April 1, 1848, who died in infancy; Frank A., born August 25, 1851, who died March 2, 1858; Henry F., born September 26, 1853, who died April 25, 1854; and Sarah H., born April 3, 1855, who died October 7, 1855. Mr. Taylor’s second marriage was with Mary Ingraham Cowles, on November 2, 1856. She is a native of Granby, born May 29, 1835, being a daughter of Lucius and Mary (Ingraham) Cowles. The father was born in Granby, and died in this place April 6, 1870. Mrs. Cowles was born in South Hadley, her death occurring in that town also, on September 12, 1885. They were the parents of three children: Mary Ingraham (Mrs. Taylor), Ruth Eliza, and Sarah Irene. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, the following being their record: Georgie, born January 5, 1858, died on the 21st of the following March; Helen Irene, born March 30, 1859, died March 21, 1865; Frederick Cowles, born November 4, 1860, now pastor of the Congregational Church in Hyde Park, Vt.; Arthur Strong, born August 17, 1862, died September 11, 1864; Angeline Cook, born September 24, 1864, died March 11, 1865; Horace Sanders, born March 19, 1866, a farmer in Granby; Mary Irene, born June 22, 1868, formerly a successful teacher, but now living at home; Harry Horton, born July 26, 1870, on the staff of the Boston Herald; an infant, born October 24, 1874, lived but a brief time; and Grace Agnes, born August 7, 1880.

Mr. Taylor has been the architect of his own fortunes. This he accomplished by giving close attention to his business, and the exercise of other qualities which won for him the confidence and respect of the business community. In his earlier years he was identified with the Whigs, but since the formation of the Republican party has been one of its warmest supporters. He has served most satisfactorily in various town offices, having been Assessor, Selectman, and also a Justice of the Peace for fourteen years. He is a Trustee of the People’s Bank, and a stockholder in the Park Bank and the Home Bank, of Holyoke. He has been a Director in the latter institution for years. He is an active worker in religious circles, and, with his family, belongs to the Congregational church.