Richard W. Taylor

RICHARD W. TAYLOR, a highly esteemed citizen and prosperous farmer of Ross township, owns a well cultivated farm of 160 acres in section 33, township 32, range 23. He was born February 4, 1839, in County Fermanagh, Ireland, and is a son of Richard and Alice (Reynolds) Taylor.

The parents of Mr. Taylor were also born in Ireland, where they grew to maturity and married. They came to America in 1851, and after living in New York City for one year moved to Carroll County, Ohio, where they were engaged in farming throughout their lives. The mother died in 1863, and the father in 1884. They had eight children, namely: Elizabeth, deceased; William, of Clinton County, Missouri; Alice, who died in infancy; Joseph, deceased; Mary (Chase), of Columbus, Kansas; Richard W.; Alicia (Patton), a resident of Kansas; and Thomas, of Carroll County, Ohio. The father was always a consistent supporter of the Democratic party. The family was brought up in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Carroll County, Ohio, and attended the local schools. In 1868 he left home and went to Clinton County, Missouri, where he remained until January, 1870, when he came to Ross township, Cherokee County. Together with John Reynolds, he bought and improved 320 acres of land which they disposed of. In 1875, he bought 80 acres of his present farm, which was partly improved. He subsequently bought the other 80 acres, making 160 in all. The greater part of this Mr. Taylor has placed under cultivation, successfully growing wheat, oats, corn, hay and flax. He has also raised many hogs, sheep, horses and mules, and herds of very valuable Shorthorn cattle. He has been mainly engaged in farming all his life, although he taught school for a time in Carroll County, Ohio, and in 1865 served eight months in Company A, 186th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf.

On September 17, 1873, Mr. Taylor was married to Eliza J. Edgmond, of Wayne, County, Iowa, who is a daughter of Marion and Elizabeth (Logan) Edgmond, of Wayne County, Kentucky. The family removed from Kentucky first to Wayne County, Iowa, and in 1866 to Ross township, Cherokee County, Kansas, and settled on section 33, township 32, range 23, where the mother died in 1867, and the father, in 1873. Of their five children. the two survivors are Mrs. Taylor and John K., of Ross township. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have two children,—William E., a farmer of Ross township, who married Effie Davidson, and has one child,—Marion; and Bessie, who resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor belong to the Methodist Church, while the children are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Politically, Mr. Taylor assumes an independent attitude, none of the great parties coming exactly to his high standard; hence he votes for the man whom he deems best fitted for the office. For several years he has been a member of the School Board of Ross township, and takes an active part in local matters of public interest. He came to Cherokee County with little capital, and has acquired his fine farm through his own energy and industry. He is recognized as one of the leading men of the township.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, instructor from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 3/11/97.