My Genealogy Hound

HON. J. F. TAYLOR, an attorney-at-law, who is successfully engaged in legal practice in Carbondale, is one of the prominent citizens of southern Illinois. His father, James P. Taylor, was born in Columbus, Ind., in 1826, and is a son of Aaron Taylor, who was born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1800, and came of an old Virginian family. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Catherine Formwalt. She was born in Fayetteville, Tenn., in 1829, and was a daughter of Jacob Formwalt, who was born in the same state and was of German descent.

The paternal grandfather emigrated to Illinois in 1832, and settled in Golconda, Pope County, where he followed farming. There James was reared and educated, and for some time he engaged in teaching. The country found him among its defenders during the late war. He was a Sergeant of Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry. When the regiment returned, he was left in the south and was reported dead, but six weeks later he reached home a physical wreck. His brother, Caleb M. Taylor, was Colonel of a Louisiana regiment in the Confederate army.

The Formwalt family came to Illinois in 1835 and settled in Pope County, where Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were married. They now reside near Hartsville, Ill. They hold membership with the Baptist Church, in which the father served as Deacon for forty years. In the family were nine children, six of whom are yet living, namely: J. F., Spencer B., Caleb M., Richard F., William F. S. and Priscilla I.

Our subject, who was born January 4, 1849, in Pope County, was reared on the home farm, and for four terms was a student in the State Normal School at Bloomington. He then served as Principal of the public schools of Elizabethtown for two years, and for two years was Principal in Rosiclare, then a prosperous mining town. Later he attended the law school in Bloomington, Ind., and was admitted to the Bar in the Supreme Court of Illinois in June, 1876. In 1877 he was elected Judge of the County Court of Hardin County, and served for five years, never having but one opinion reversed. In 1886 he was elected to the State Legislature, and served as a member of the judiciary and other important committees. Five years ago he came to Carbondale, where he has since been successfully engaged in law practice.

In 1874 Mr. Taylor married Elizabeth Hemphill, a native of Polk County and a daughter of Squire Davidson Hemphill, of North Carolina. His father removed from that state to Polk County, Ill., in 1830. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were born four sons: Oscar T., Otho Breeze, Clifton L. and Charles Harold, all of whom are students in the Normal Institute of Carbondale. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and take an active part in its work. Mr. Taylor is a Mason, and is now serving as Worshipful Master of Shekinah Lodge No. 241, A. F. & A. M., and as High Priest of Reynolds Chapter No. 75, R. A. M.

As a stanch Democrat Mr. Taylor has always taken a warm interest in political affairs, and has served as Chairman of the Congressional Campaign Committee of the Twenty-second District. He is the author of the only bill which became a law in this state, appropriating money for the aid of Union soldiers who were disabled in the service. By this act, $2,000 were appropriated for the relief of John B. Tucker, of Hardin County, a gallant Union soldier, who enlisted at the call of Governor Yates in 1861, and while in the service of his country lost both arms by the accidental discharge of a cannon. At the time of entering the service he was a citizen of Illinois and crossed the river into Kentucky to enlist. The bill read as follows:

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois represented in General Assembly, that the sum of $10,000 be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the State Treasury to John B. Tucker, of Hardin County, late a private soldier in the Fifteenth Regiment of Kentucky Cavalry in the late war, and afterward by re-enlistment in Company B, First Green River Battery of Kentucky Volunteers, in the service of the United States while in line of duty in obedience to orders of his superior officers, who had both arms shot off by the accidental firing of a cannon.

Sec. 2. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall draw his warrant on the treasury of the state of Illinois for $10,000, hereby appropriated in favor of said John B. Tucker. The Treasurer shall pay said sum of money on presentation of said warrant.

The bill was afterward changed to read $2,000, and was passed as amended. It was first referred to a committee which reported unfavorably, but Mr. Taylor prevailed upon the committee to give him a rehearing and they then reported favorably. The enemies of the bill had it referred to the Committee on Appropriations, which reported favorably. The Chairman of the Judiciary Committee moved to strike out the enacting clause in the House of Representatives, and it was then debated between that gentleman and Mr. Taylor, who won. He followed the bill into the Senate, went before the different committees there, and advocated it until it was enacted into law. He is a lawyer of acknowledged ability, a power in the court room, and his career, both public and private, has won him the high regard of his associates.