My Genealogy Hound

WILLARD A. TAYLOR, a farmer and insurance agent residing on the homestead farm in Granby, where his birth occurred June 19, 1848, is one of the substantial citizens of the place and a representative of one of the first settlers of this section of the county. He traces his ancestry back through several generations to Ebenezer Taylor, one of the three original settlers of Granby. Ebenezer’s grandson, Levi, who was great-grandfather of the present Willard A., served in the Revolutionary War at the age of sixteen. It is related of the youthful soldier that his mother’s parting injunction was, “Levi, never let me hear of your being a coward.”

George W. Taylor, the father of Willard A., spent his entire life on the ancestral acres. He was born July 17, 1814, and departed this life August 3, 1887. His wife, Elvira L. Knight, was born in Brimfield, Mass., January 5, 1817, and died December 10, 1883. He succeeded to the family estate and followed the occupation of his father, which was that of general husbandry. Two children were born to him and his wife, namely: Willard A., the subject of this sketch; and Abbie W., the wife of Arthur W. Fiske, a well-known farmer of Granby. Both children received a good education, Mrs. Fiske having completed her school life at Mount Holyoke Seminary.

Willard A. Taylor, born and bred to farming, is continually improving the estate, which is one of the oldest and best cared for in the county. It has been in the Taylor family for more than one hundred and fifty years, as shown by the deed, bounding the homestead on common land, bearing the date of 1744. He, as well as his present wife, has also been a teacher in the public schools.

Mr. Taylor has been twice married. His first marriage was with Ruth S. Lyman, a native of Huntington and the daughter of the late Jairus Lyman, and was performed December 6, 1877. Their married life was of brief duration, as her death occurred August 19, 1884, no issue being left. On the second occasion, October 21, 1886, Mr. Taylor was united to Miss Clara L. Goldthwait, who was born in Glastonbury, Conn., May 4, 1856, being a daughter of Ebenezer Goldthwait, a prosperous farmer. Of this union there has been one child born, named George Goldthwait Taylor. Mr. Taylor has always been actively identified with the best interests of the town. He has taken special interest in the schools, and has been for many years, and is still, a member of the School Committee. He is also a Trustee of the free public library, in the establishment of which he took an active part. He is prominent in political affairs, being an earnest Republican, and being now one of the Republican Town Committee. To the advancement of the moral and religious welfare of the town, he contributes his full share of effort. Both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are valued members of the Congregational church, he being superintendent of the Sunday-school connected with that organization.