My Genealogy Hound

William Taylor, in his association with the affairs of this county, has come to be recognized as one of the prominent farmers. Born in Alabama, in 1830, he is a son of Joseph and Susan (Levesque) Taylor, and growing up was reared principally in Alabama, receiving a good education, for the times, in the common schools. At the age of twenty he commenced farming for himself on rented land, and in 1852, removed with his father to Western Tennessee, where he remained only one year, then going to Panola County, Miss. He worked at the carpenter trade for a few years in that county, and in 1859, came to Cross County (then Poinsett County), Ark., locating in what is now Mitchell Township. At first renting land until 1866, he then bought eighty acres on Crowley’s Ridge, but in 1871, he sold this place, and bought his present estate, consisting of 160 acres, with twenty-five acres under cultivation. He has also cleared up some seventy-five acres of fine bottom land, and has a splendid frame house close to the village of Cherry Valley. Besides his farming interests he is in the carpentering trade. In 1861 Mr. Taylor enlisted on the side of the Confederacy, in the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, serving in the Tennessee Division. He acted as wagon-master for some time, and took part in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Dalton, Ga. After this last battle he came west and joined Gen. Price’s command as first lieutenant in a cavalry regiment, remaining with him on his raid through Missouri, in 1864 and 1865. Mr. Taylor has been married twice; first, in 1851, to Mary C. Murphy, a native of Alabama, who died in 1871, leaving five children (three now living): Julia O. (wife of P. C. Crumpton), Frederick P. (deceased), W. C. (deceased), John M. (clerk in the Commercial Hotel of St. Louis) and James P. (deceased, who was killed in a storm while riding through the woods, by a tree falling on and killing him). Mr. Taylor was married the second time in 1872, to Mrs. Emma C. Brinkley (nee Stevens), daughter of James and Rachel (Stovall) Stevens, of Tennessee nativity. By this union there are five children, (four living): Robert N., Charles (deceased), Rachel, Maud and Lillie (twins). Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also the first wife. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and belongs to Arcada Lodge No. 183, in which he holds the office of Senior Warden. Mr. Taylor is also connected with the I. O. O. F., and the K. of H. A strong Democrat, he is a liberal donator to all church, educational and charitable objects.