ROBERT GILLIS TAYLOR. Among the prominent agriculturists of East Bethlehem township, the above named gentleman occupies a leading place. He traces his lineage back through the years to one Beriah Taylor, who was born in England, and emigrating to America, settled in New Jersey. He was there married to Keziah Gaskill, who bore him eleven children, of whom Beriah is named; the parents died at a good old age. Beriah Taylor, son of Beriah and Kezsiah Taylor, was born June 18, 785, and served in the war of 1812. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and was married to Elizabeth Short, who was born February 8, 1786 in Virginia. She was a daughter of John Short, a native of Scotland, who, having been forbidden to leave his native land, concealed himself in the hull of an American-bound vessel until well out at sea. He settled in Virginia, and there was united in marriage with Alsie Craven, a native of Germany, who was then residing in Loudoun county, Va. John and Alsie Short reared a family of ten children, and died at an advanced age. To the marriage of Beriah and Elizabeth (Short) Taylor twelve children were born. The father died at the age of eighty-eight years. Caleb Taylor, son of Beriah and Elizabeth Taylor, was born April 15, 1811, and learned the wagon-maker's trade. He was married to Mary Gillis, daughter of Robert, and granddaughter of John Gillis, who was a native of Ireland. The grandfather was married in Old Erin to Mary Martin, and she born him two sons, viz.: Robert and Samuel. These children came to America, locating in Huntingdon county, Penn., where Robert Gillis was married, in October 1814, to Agnes Porter, who was born June 20, 1787, and was a daughter of James and Sarah Porter. Robert and Agnes Gillis settled in Washington county, Penn., where their daughter Mary (who became the wife of Caleb Taylor) was born. Caleb and Mary Taylor were the parents of thirteen children, four of whom are yet living. The parents passed their lives in Washington county, where their father died August 3, 1870, followed by the mother July 20, 1880. Robert Gillis Taylor was born December 13, 1834 in Washington county, Penn., and attended the country schools of the locality of his birth. On September 30, 1861, he answered the call of his troubled country, and served thirteen months under Col. Joshua B. Howell, of Uniontown, Penn., as second lieutenant, in Company E, Eighty-Fifth P. V. I., but being attacked with partial paralysis he was obligated to resign his commission. After regaining his health, Mr. Taylor was for two years receiving clerk for the A. V. R. R. at Pittsburgh, Penn., then became first clerk on one of the packets belonging to the Pittsburgh, Brownsville & Geneva Packet Company. In 1886 Gov. Pattison appointed him to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Moses McKeag, late commissioner of the Cumberland Road. Mr. Taylor is now engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm, which is located four miles from West Brownsville, in East Bethlehem township. He is a loyal member of the Democratic party, a! nd in 1887 was elected county commissioner of Washington county, having received 5,705 votes, which was next to the highest number on his ticket. Our subject was twice married; first, November 7, 1867, to Mary Ann, daughter of Nathan and Jane Tannehill, and three sons were born of this union: John William, August 28, 1869; Nathan T., April 4, 1872, died February 23, 1876, and James Robert, November 29, 1875. The mother of these children dying August 21, 1878, Mr. Taylor married, on October 27, 1878, Ellen W., daughter of Zephaniah and Ann W. Crawford. The sons of Mr. Taylor are attending school, John William studying for the ministry.

Text taken from page 826 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Bobbi Steele of Indianapolis, IN as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]