My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Moniteau 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.

* * * *

J. D. Taylor, a native of Miller County, Mo., was born in 1838, being the fifth of eight children born to the union of J. D. Taylor and Judith Adcock, natives respectively of Tennessee and Virginia. They were married in the “Blue Grass State,” and in 1833 came to Missouri and settled in Callaway County, moving three years later to Miller County, where the father was engaged in blacksmithing and farming. In 1874 his wife died, and he then moved to California, Mo., and remained until his death, in August, 1882, at the age of eighty-eight years. He was a Democrat, and an active politician. J. D. Taylor, our subject, remained on the farm until seventeen years of age, receiving his education in the subscription schools of Miller County. At the above mentioned age he crossed the plains, in company with several others, and was engaged in mining at Iron City, Cal., for over two years. He started to come home by water, but the vessel on which he took passage was shipwrecked near San Diego, but nearly all the passengers and sailors succeeded in reaching land. From that city he went to San Jose, thence to Los Angeles, where he bought pack-horses, and returned home via the southern route. He located in Miller County, and at the breaking out of the late war enlisted in May, 1861, in Capt. James Johnson’s Company of First Missouri Cavalry, Parsons’ Brigade. After remaining with him a short time he recruited a company of Colonel McCulloch’s Regiment, and was chosen its captain. After participating in a number of engagements in Arkansas and Missouri, he recruited several companies, and later was promoted to Gen. Raines’ staff, and with him surrendered at Marshall, Texas, in May, 1865. In 1868 he was married in Lincoln County, Ark., where he had been residing for a few years, to Sarah J. Lee, a native of Arkansas, and a daughter of William and Mary (Jardelas) Lee, who were also born in Arkansas. The father was a planter, and died in 1858. The mother is still living. Mr. Taylor purchased a farm near his father-in-law, and eventually became the owner of 2,200 acres of land. In 1871 his wife died, having borne one child: William P. The following year Mr. Taylor wedded Mary C. Cross, a daughter of Pleman and Espiza (Jardelas) Cross, natives of Georgia and Arkansas, respectively. Her father was sheriff of Arkansas County for many years, and died in 1857, followed by his wife in 1865. In 1880 Mr. Taylor moved to Moniteau County, Mo., and after residing in California for four years, purchased 200 acres of well-improved land near the city, and has been engaged in farming and stock-raising since that time. In all he owns 1,300 acres of land. He raises Durham and Jersey cattle, and a fine breed of hogs. He is a Democrat in politics, and while in Arkansas was county sheriff two terms. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and their union has been blessed in the birth of one child: Edward C.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 187 biographies included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Moniteau County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.