TAYLOR FAMILY. Some time prior to the Revolutionary war, Henry Taylor, the first ancestor of the family under consideration, took up 1,000 acres of land in South Strabane township, part of which is now in the possession of Matthew Taylor's heirs. He was married to Jane White, whose home was at the stone house still standing near the County Home, Washington county, Penn.; she had ten brothers and one sister. In those days all the grain was gathered by the hand sickle, Mr. White's ten sons reaping grain in the same field with their father, who prided himself in his farming, and was always out to see that it was properly done. Henry Taylor had children as follows: Sons--Matthew, Joseph, John, Henry, James, George--and daughters--Jane (married to Richard Dagg), Mary (wife of A. Patton), Eliza (wife of Dr. Layton) and Ann (married to A. McCalmont). The father of this family was the first judge of Washington county. In 1800 Judge Taylor built the first brick house ever erected in Washington county, Penn., the walls of which are eighteen inches thick from foundation to top; it is still standing, apparently as good as ever, and is now owned by the Willets. Joseph Taylor, son of Henry the pioneer, was born on the old homestead in South Strabane township, where he passed his entire life. He married Annie Stewart, a native of eastern Pennsylvania, who came over the mountains on horseback from the "Forks of Elk," Maryland. She died in March, 1834, leaving two sons: Henry and David S., and her husband followed her to the grave in May or June, 1845, at the age of sixty-eight years. David Stewart Taylor, Sr., was born August 10, 1803, on the Taylor homestead in South Strabane Township, and received a fairly liberal education at the subscription schools of the vicinity, although much of his early boyhood time was passed on the farm. When yet a lad, he followed teaming over the mountains, driving six horses and hauling loads of as much as six thousand pounds, consisting of flour and farm produce, which were exchanged for various articles of merchandise. This business he followed thirteen years, during which time but two days were lost, when all travel was stopped on account of the deep snow. On march 14, 1833, he was married to Sarah Oliver, who was born August 20, 1812, in Westmoreland county, Penn., a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Pinkerton) Oliver, of Sewickley township, in that county, of Scotch-Irish descent. Andrew Oliver (grandfather of Mrs. D. S. Taylor, Sr.) was married to Margaret Madole. He took up 500 acres under the "tomahawk claim" in Hempfield township, Westmoreland Co., Penn. Samuel Oliver, father of Mrs. David S. Taylor, Sr., was a son of Andrew Oliver, who was born in the "old country," where he married. From there they emigrated to the shores of Columbia, settling finally in Westmoreland county, Penn., where he took a "tomahawk claim," and here they died. Their children were Joseph, Samuel, James, Sarah (married to Thomas McCune, in Pittsburgh), Elizabeth (married to James Peoples, near Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland county), and Jane (wife of William Hunter, in Westmoreland county). Samuel Oliver was born on his father's farm in Westmoreland county, where his entire life was passed. He was three times married, first time to Nancy Henderson, by whom he had two daughters: Mary and Margaret; his second wife was Mary Pinkerton, who bore him two children: Jane and Sarah (wife of David S. Taylor, Sr.); his third wife was Salome Markle, by whom there was one daughter, Elizabeth. Of these five children all are now deceased except Jane and Sarah. The father, who had been a lifelong agriculturist, died in Westmoreland county, September 10, 1855, aged eventy-seven years; the mother of Jane and Sarah had passed away several years previously. At the time of his marriage David S. Taylor, Sr., in company with his brother Henry, was conducting a flourmill at Madison, Westmoreland county, and also managing a hotel. In 1834 he came to what is now South Strabane township, this county, remaining there until 1849, when he moved to Adams county, Ohio. The ague being prevalent there, he soon returned to Washington county, locating about one mile north of Raccoon Station on Big Raccoon creek, Smith township, and purchased a farm. The following children were born to him: Mary Ann, born December 29, 1833 (married to J. F. Cooke, and living in Florence, this county); Joseph, born December 25, 1835 (in 1859 he went to Michigan Bluff, Cal., in order to dig for gold, taking the overland route, and he is now a butcher in San Jose); Samuel Oliver, Born April 4, 1838 (a lawyer in Wheeling, W. Va.); Henry G., born November 9, 1840 (a farmer in Smith township); William P., born January 7, 1843 (a physician in Noblestown, Allegheny Co., Penn.); Jane O., born February 22, 1845 (living on the old homestead); David S., born October 7, 1847; James Buchanan, born March 30, 1851 (a carpenter of Smith township), and Matthew, born January 5, 1854 (died March 28, 1857). The father died March 11, 1888. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown, having joined it, along with his wife, in 1855, and in his political affiliations he was a leading member of the Democratic party. In business he was very successful, accumulating by earnest and patient toil a considerable amount of property. In height Mr. Taylor stood five feet eleven inches, his weight being 180 pounds, and all his life he enjoyed splendid health until sixteen years prior to his decease, when he received a slight stroke of paralysis, from which he suffered more or less up to the day of his death. His widow, still hale and remarkably active for her years, more like a woman of sixty than one who has seen over four score and one summers and winters, is at the home of her sons David S. and J. B., and an unmarried daughter, calmly awaiting the summons that will call her hence. HENRY G. TAYLOR was born on a farm situated about one and one-half miles north of Washington, Penn., after some years moving with his parents to Smith township. In February, 1870, he was united in marriage with Susan Scott, who was born in 1840, daughter of Benjamin Scott, of Hanover township, this county, a representative of a pioneer family. They resided in Hanover township a short time after their marriage, and April 1, 1871, came to their present home in Smith township, this county, near the Jefferson township line. He has followed farming, stock raising and dairying. On June 18, 1883, the farm was visited by a cyclone, which devastated the neighborhood. His barn was thrown down, the house unroofed, and the outbuildings completely destroyed. But he set to work with undaunted energy, and soon from out the ruins arose a handsome new residence, the other damage being repaired as rapidly as possible. In political opinion Henry G. Taylor is a counselor and adviser of the Democratic party in his locality, and he frequently held offices of honor and trust to the utmost satisfaction of all concerned. He and his estimable wife are supporters and attendants of the Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown. Their family consists of one daughter--Sarah Oliver--a bright girl of twelve summers, who adorns and cheers their home, and who possesses some skill as a musician. WILLIAM PINKERTON TAYLOR, M. D., was born January 7, 1843, on the old family homestead in South Strabane township, where the greater part of his boyhood was passed. He worked on the farm in summer time, and attended the schools of the neighborhood during winter, his first teacher being J. L. Judson. One year he spent on a farm in Ohio. In 1863 he commenced the study of medicine under Dr. T. W. Bradley, of Burgettstown, and then entered Sterling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated in the spring of 1866, and April 2, same year, he located at Noblestown, Penn., in the general practice of his chosen profession. On March 14, 1877, Dr. Taylor was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Proudfit, daughter of J. L. Proudfit of Burgettstown, Penn., and two sons have been born to them, viz.: David S., a bookkeeper and stenographer, and John P., telegraph operator and agent at Canonsburg, Penn. On January 8, 1892, the Doctor had the misfortune to lose his house and barn by fire, but he at once rebuilt. He is a Freemason in high standing; a member of Richard Vaux Lodge, No. 454, Burgettstown; Washington Chapter, No. 150, and Jacques de Molay Commandery, No. 3, Washington, Penn. DAVID S. TAYLOR was born October 7, 1847, in North Strabane township, this county, and in childhood came with his parents to Smith township, locating upon the farm which he and his brother James B. now own. He assumed control of the home place when his father retired from active life, after the elder brothers had left home, and has become a very successful farmer. Mr. Taylor is a wide-awake and energetic man, and an active member of the Democratic party. He has filled various township offices with eminent success, and in the spring of 1892 was elected a justice of the peace for a term of five years. The home farm, which is situated about two miles northeast of Burgettstown, comprises 257 acres, nearly all in a high state of cultivation, and the present large and elegant residence was built in 1889. Mr. Taylor has never enlisted in the noble army of Benedicts.

Text taken from page 648 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Linda Carroll of So. Chicago Heights, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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