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Below is a family biography included in The History of Miller County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William Taylor, another prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Saline Township, was born in what is now called Miller County, Mo., February 8, 1832, and is the second in a family of eight children born to Richard W. and Lydia (Beard) Taylor, both natives of Tennessee. The father was a farmer by occupation, immigrating to Missouri in 1830, and settled in what is now Saline Township. He entered land, improved two farms, sold them, and in 1837 moved to Harrison Township, Moniteau County, where he remained on a farm for a number of years. He moved to Miller County two years prior to his death, which occurred in 1886, at the age of eighty-eight years. The mother is still living, and resides in Olean. Of their family these children are living, viz.: James, who is married and lives in Moniteau County; Louisa, now Mrs. Sellers, and resides in Texas; David is married and resides in Moniteau County; Mary, now Mrs. E. S. Hite, and resides in Saline Township; T. H., is married and is now a resident of Moniteau County; Frances, now Mrs. Hite, and resides in Olean, and E. D., who is married, and now resides in Moniteau County. William Taylor was reared on the farm, and secured his education in the subscription schools of Moniteau County. He commenced for himself at nearly the age of twenty-three years, and in 1854 was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hunsaker, a native of Illinois, and the daughter of Charles and Rebecca (McClure) Hunsaker, natives of Kentucky. They were pioneers in Southern Illinois, but later immigrated to Missouri, and settled in Cole (now Moniteau) County. Here the father passed his last days. The mother died in 1887. William Taylor, after his marriage, settled where he now resides and purchased 120 acres of land; also entered a number of acres. He first settled in a log cabin with puncheon floor, but the second year of his residence he erected a hewn log cabin, and had a house raising, and in the afternoon went deer hunting, and killed two deer that evening. When he first settled on his farm it was covered with underbrush, which had to be cleared. He owned at one time 560 acres of land, but sold some, and now has but 275 acres, all under fence, and 150 acres under cultivation. Mr. Taylor is not very active in politics, but votes with the Republican party. During the war he was a member of the Enrolled Militia, being first lieutenant of Company F. To Mr. Taylor and wife were born three children: Monroe is married and resides at Grand Island, Neb. He has been freight agent at that place for the last ten years. Naomi, now Mrs. C. P. Miller, resides in Moniteau County; Austin is married and resides in Grand Island, Neb., and is conductor on the railroad. Mr. Taylor, aside from his farming interest, has dealt quite extensively in stock, and may justly be considered one of the most successful and enterprising citizens of the county.

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This family biography is one of 120 biographies included in The History of Miller County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Miller County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Miller County, Missouri family biographies here: Miller County, Missouri Biographies

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