My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lauderdale County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1886.  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.

* * * *

Jarvis Pike Taylor, a successful and energetic farmer of Lauderdale County was born in Gibson County July 15, 1834. His father was William Taylor, a native of North Carolina; he moved to Tennessee when a young man, and spent a few years in Middle Tennessee, then moved to Gibson County, where he married Nancy A. Acuff, a native of Bedford County. They had three sons, our subject being the second born, and the only one now living. By a previous marriage the father had two sons and three daughters, two still living. He was a farmer, and died in Madison County, February 18, 1875, and the mother died at the homestead in Gibson County, February 6, 1857. Our subject was raised on a farm; when twenty-one years of age he commenced business as an overseer, and has since managed large plantations for others. He enlisted in the Confederate Army, in the Sixth Tennessee Infantry, but was soon assigned to the quartermaster’s department, where he served thirteen months. Mr. Taylor was married in Gibson County, Tenn., November 28, 1857, to Margaret J. Wheeler, daughter of Elisha Wheeler, a farmer. Five sons and two daughters were born to this marriage—four now living: Nancy E., James Pike, John M. and George W. Mrs. Taylor was born in Rutherford County, January 21, 1839. Our subject was an old line Whig, but votes with the Democratic party now, and is a Mason and a member of the K. of H. He is now managing the Henning plantation, twelve miles north of Ripley and five miles from the Mississippi River. During the war his brother John M. Taylor, was arrested as a citizen and placed in prison, and died from the effects of the hardships and exposure November 30, 1864. William C. enlisted in the Confederate Army, and belonged to the Sixth Tennessee Infantry, and went all through the war, being in the battles of Chickamaugua, Missionary Ridge, and all of the Georgia campaign, and with Hood’s command during the battles of Franklin and Nashville. Mr. Taylor is a man of progressive ideas and sound judgment, and, with the proprietor of the plantation, is the first to adopt all kinds of improved agricultural machinery.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 116 biographies included in the book,  The History of Lauderdale County, Tennessee published in 1886 by Goodspeed.  The History of Lauderdale County was included within The History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties, Tennessee

View additional Lauderdale County, Tennessee family biographies here: Lauderdale County, Tennessee

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