My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES F. TAYLOR was born in Zanesville, Ohio, May 19, 1842. His father, William Taylor, was a native of England, born in 1798, and died at Independence, Mo., in 1861; and his mother, Mary R. (Timms) Taylor, was a native of Virginia, born about the year 1809, and died in 1877, also at Independence, Mo. During his infancy our subject moved with his parents to Hannibal, Mo., and two years later to Paris, same state. There they remained five years, after which they moved to Independence, Jackson county, and his father, who for many years had been a well-known educator in the East, established a high school. In this school young Taylor received a liberal education. At the breaking out of the war he was taken prisoner at Camp Jackson, near St. Louis, but was released, and soon afterward joined the Tennessee army, under General Pillow. One year later, his regiment having been badly cut up in the various engagements, he became connected with the Virginia and Confederate troops. He was taken prisoner at Newport News, and sent to General Wool, at Fortress Monroe, and afterward to the headquarters of Gen. John A. Dix, at Baltimore. Mr. Taylor fortunately escaped, and after traveling for a time returned to Missouri, and the close of the war found him in Texas. In the fall of 1865 he moved to Nashville, Tenn., where for about two years he engaged in business. He afterward engaged in business at Huntsville, Ala., Memphis, Tenn., and Fort Smith, Ark. He came to Joplin in 1871, and at once engaged in mining operations, with an eminent degree of success. In 1875 he became interested in the Joplin Mining and Smelting Company, and later in the North Joplin Mining and Smelting Company and in the East Joplin Mining and Smelting Company. These three companies are among the wealthiest in southwest Missouri. He also owns one of the finest farms in Jasper county. Mr. Taylor was married in Sherman, Texas, in the winter of 1864, to Miss Wilmina Noel, who died two years later at Nashville, Tenn. He was again married in Joplin, Feb. 14, 1878, to Miss Belle Veiheler. From this union there are two children: Marie Isabella, born Jan. 25, 1879, and Fletch Henry, born July 19, 1882.