Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 384 - 385 

B.F. TAYLOR, photographer, with studio at No. 151 North Main street, Wichita, is a fine representative of a good old Puritan family, who early left their old English home across the water, and became pioneers of New England, there being five brothers of them who came to this country with the great Puritan emigration to New England between the years 1630 and 1640. Two brothers settled in Massachusetts, one in Connecticut, one in Rhode Island, and the fifth one is not accounted for. The great-grandfather of the subject of our sketch, Noah Taylor, was born, reared, and married in Connecticut, and there followed the occupation of a farmer. At about the beginning of this century he removed with his family to the wilds of Cayuga County, N.Y., and there settled down to the labors of a pioneer. His son Noah, grandfather of our subject, was born in Connecticut in 1794, and went with his father to the State of New York when but a lad of six years. When he grew to manhood he learned the trade of carpenter, and also engaged in the lumber business, owning and successfully managing four sawmills in the town of Venice, Cayuga Co., N.Y. He married a Miss Anna Knapp, of New York State, and they were the parents of four children, namely: Sarah; Thomas Arad, who died in infancy; Hiram B., and a son who died in infancy. In political opinions Mr. Taylor was a Whig; he was an exemplary man and was highly respected by all who knew him. He was of a firm, even temperament, and his habits were good and well under his control. He was a kind and loving husband, and a tender, affectionate father, having the love and confidence of his children. 

            Hiram B., the father of our subject, was born in 1827. He followed the occupation of his father and at one time did an extensive business. He married Miss Eliza T. Green, daughter of Barnum Green, formerly of Vermont. To them were born eight children - B. Frank, Ida, Mary E., Lee N. (deceased), Lamott, Hiram B., Jr., William P. and Luella A., all of whom were born in the town of Venice, N.Y. Mr. Taylor resided in that place until 1871, when he sold out and moved to Iowa, Allamakee County. He bought a large stock farm, on which he lived for three years; he then sold this and moved into Postville, the same county. There he had a carpenter's shop and resumed his early calling, and is still a resident of that town, where most of his children were brought up. In his political opinions Mr. Taylor is strongly Republican; in his religious views he is broad and liberal minded. He inherited the genial and affectionate nature that was so characteristic of his father. He is honest, upright and industrious, has accumulated considerable property, and has been enabled to bring up his family in comfort, and, with the aid of his good wife, instilled into their minds the virtues which have been his and her guiding principles, and which will serve to make them useful and honorable citizens, worthy of such parents. Mr. Taylor is intensely patriotic, and during the late Rebellion was a strong Union man, and would willingly have given his services to his country, but was with difficulty restrained by the pleadings of his wife and dependent children. He has a strong sense of honor and carefully cherishes his own reputation and that of his family. 

            B. Frank, the subject of this sketch, was born in Venice, N.Y., in 1854, and went to Iowa when seventeen years of age. He received a common-school education, and in early life learned his father's trade. When twenty-one years of age he bought a farm in Western Iowa, and remained there three years, and was conducting it quite successfully. In 1877 Mr. Taylor learned the art of photography in Postville, Iowa, and subsequently bought out an establishment and began the practice of his profession. By patient and careful attention to his work he acquired great skill, secured good patronage, and was numbered among the leading artists of that part of the State. While a resident of Iowa, our subject was united to Miss Carrie F. Beedy, daughter of N. J. and Mary (Barnes) Beedy, worthy and intelligent people of New England birth. This union has been blessed by the birth of one child, Mary Floy. 

            In 1884 Mr. Taylor was attracted to the State of Kansas by its many advantages, both as a place of residence and of business, and bought land in the southern part of this county and built a home in Clearwater. In 1886 he came to Wichita and made considerable investments in real estate, and built a substantial dwelling here. He soon after coming here opened a studio, and has since been busily engaged in his art. He thoroughly understands his profession, and his work is pronounced by connoisseurs to be of a high order and to possess genuine artistic merits. Our subject is an active and capable business man, possessing a clear judgment, and is amply endowed with those qualities which make an honorable citizen, and secure for him the highest respect and regard of his fellowmen.

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