S. Taylor. Among those who have contributed largely to the success and advancement of Redlands, none should receive more credit for untiring energy in the past than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch.
He was a native of Canada, born at London, Ontario, October 8, 1854, his parents being John and Jane (Barter) Taylor, both of whom were born in England, the father being a contractor and builder. Our subject was reared and educated at his native place, and on arriving at a suitable age, commenced, as his first employment, clerking in a dry-goods store. After that he was connected with the bakery business for two years.
In 1880 he left Canada, locating at Los Angeles. After two years there, he came to Redlands, and engaged in the business of manufacturing cement piping. He has supplied nearly all of the large sizes of pipe used by Judson & Brown in their enterprise hereabouts, nearly forty miles in all. The pipe of his manufacture is the best to be found in the market, and is so rated. He also supplies pipe for San Bernardino, Riverside, Colton, etc. He built the large two-story brick business structure known as the Taylor block, completing it in July, 1888, and in the same year erected three brick residences, building on a two-and-a-half acre tract in Redlands. When he came here he bought ten acres in Redlands, which he afterward sold, and which is now subdivided into lots. He has a fine piece of property in Lugging Park, embracing two and a half acres planted to oranges and grapes, and otherwise improved with a two-story house. He also has seven and three-quarters acres of land on the hill in Redlands, all of which is planted in oranges. Among his other property is seven acres of slightly improved land, on the Barton tract, and eight lots in Allen’s addition to San Bernardino, which has an artesian well. Besides the real estate interests noted, Mr. Taylor owns the well-known Hidden Treasure gold mine, on Old Baldy, which he operates in connection with the Criterion.
Mr. Taylor was married in Redlands, in January, 1886, to Mrs. Mary Jane Scammel, of Brantford, Ontario. They have three children, viz.: Minnie, Ethel and Sidney James.
Mr. Taylor is a man of great push and energy, and one of those public-spirited citizens so necessary to the progress of any community.