My Genealogy Hound

Mrs. Cyrena M. Taylor, widow of the late John Taylor (deceased), is a daughter of Hiram and Phoebe (Bolin) Pinnell. Hiram Pinnell was a native of South Carolina, and was a soldier in the War of 1812, being one of the staff officers of Jackson at the time of the latter’s interview with Packingham. Mrs. Phoebe Pinnell was born in Virginia, but was reared in Kentucky, in which State her parents were early settlers; it was for this family the city of Bowling Green, Ky., was named. Mrs. Taylor was born in Washington County, Mo., in 1819, to which State her parents had immigrated from Kentucky a short time before her birth, returning to Kentucky soon afterward; they moved back to Missouri in 1829, and settled in Gasconade (now Crawford) County in the woods, on what is known as Brush Creek, where he was the first white man to build a house. The family were the first to settle in this section of the country, where the Indians as well as all kinds of game were plentiful, but signs of civilization scarce. About 1835 John Taylor entered land not far from Mr. Pinnell’s settlement, and in 1838 occurred his marriage to Cyrena M. The young couple moved to their new homestead, which is the same Mrs. Taylor still resides upon. Of their twelve children ten grew to maturity, as follows: Joseph N., Emily C., Louisa J., William A., Miles B., Charles N., Phoebe A., Henry T., John E., Jefferson D.; two dying in childhood. John Taylor was a stanch Democrat, and was one of the most prominent citizens of the county; his death, which occurred February 15, 1873, was sincerely mourned by a devoted family and a large circle of admiring friends. He was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 94, A. F. & A. M., of Cuba, Mo. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which Mrs. Taylor also is an honored member. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Taylor has been cared for by her sons, who still own the old homestead upon which their father settled in the pioneer days, and which is a tract of 300 acres. Jefferson D. Taylor was elected high sheriff of Crawford County, in 1882, and was re-elected in 1884. He is now a member of the firm of Taylor & Bass, liverymen of Cuba. He was married in June, 1886, to Mollie, daughter of George W. Isgrig, of Crawford County, Mo.