My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM C. TAYLOR, Conveyancer and Notary Public of Holden, was born in what is now Pleasant County, W. Va., March 18, 1822, and is a son of Joseph and Phoebe (Cochran) Taylor, both of whom were natives of Virginia. He remained at home, engaged in farm work, until seventeen years of age, when he went to Marietta, Ohio, and there was employed as a clerk in the Common Pleas Court. He remained in official position for about twelve years, part of which time he served as deputy and the remainder by election as clerk.

While residing in Marietta, Ohio, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Y. McCracken, daughter of Dr. John McCracken, of Pittsburg, Pa. When she became acquainted with Mr. Taylor, she was a student at the seminary in Marietta, from which institution she was graduated. By this marriage there were two children. The eldest, born in Marietta, died in infancy; the other, John M., was born in West Virginia, to which state our subject had moved on account of poor health, which required him to give up his occupation, it being too confining, and engaged in farming. He was under the treatment of Dr. Robert Hunter, now of Chicago, then of New York. He in a measure regained his health and returned to Marietta, where he lived a number of. years, and then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there engaged in the flour business for one year. While in Marietta he studied law and was admitted to the Bar, but on account of being hard of hearing he continued to practice but a short time. In 1867 he came to Holden, Mo., where he has since continued to reside.

Mrs. Taylor died in Virginia soon after their removal to that state, leaving a child of seven months. The boy came to Holden with his father and received his education in the public schools of this city, but also attended school a short time at Columbia, Mo. He is now engaged in the hardware business in Boulder, Colo. He is married and has two children.

In 1869 our subject was again married. Miss Sarah Saxton becoming his bride. She was born and reared in Brighton, Canada. There are no children by this marriage.

Mr. Taylor started in life for himself without any means whatever, and while not being as fortunate as many others he has yet been enabled to lay by a little in store for old age. He has always lived well and has a good library of books of solid merit. He has been quite a reader and is well informed on all topics of the times. In early life he was a Whig and cast his first presidential ballot for Henry Clay. At the death of the Whig party he became a Democrat, and has since affiliated with that party. For twelve years continuously he served as a member of the School Board of Holden, and has also been a member of the Town Council. As a citizen he is held in high esteem by all who know him.