CAPT. GEORGE W. TAYLOR. It is the men of broad and comprehensive views who give life to communities and build cities, men who in the darkness of adverse circumstances, as well as in more favorable periods, look beyond the clouds, and have the pluck, energy and foresight to push forward their enterprises, extend speculation and fairly wrest success from calamity. Just such a man is Capt. George W. Taylor. He was born n Greene County, Missouri, January 4, 1840, and his father, Martin Taylor, one of the early pioneers of Greene County, settled three miles south of Springfield in 1834, and came from Robertson County, Tennessee. The latter’s father, David Taylor, was a pioneer of Tennessee, came from North Carolina at an early date, settled in Robertson County, and there passed the rest of his days. The family was prominently known in Tennessee, and are well known yet. The early members were leading business and professional men, and took an active part in political matters. They were of Irish origin. The father of our subject was born in 1809, and was killed by accident in Greene County in 1841. He was an old-line Whig in politics and a prominent man in public affairs. He married Miss Catherine Jones, a native of Georgia, and the daughter of William Jones. She was born in 1811, and died January 13, 1893. Five children were born to this union: David A., married, and resides in this county where he is engaged in farming. He was a soldier in the war, enlisting in the Seventy-second Regiment, Missouri Infantry; Mary M., wife of J. R. Humble, who resides in Greene County; Josiah A., resides in Texas. He was also a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting in Company M, Sixteenth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry; George A.; subject, and Martin ., married, died in 1891, leaving a family. The mother ofthese children was a lifelong member of the Christian Church, a most excellent woman, and well liked by all. She and her husband went through all the trials and privations so familiar to early settlers. After the death of her husband Mrs. Taylor married Wesley Guynn, by whom she had two children: Nancy J., who is the wife of J. W. Hooper, of Greene County, and Mary Z., who is the wife of Walter A. Webb, also of Greene County. Mr. Guynn is now deceased.
The incidents in the early life of Capt. George W. Taylor were not materially different from those of other boys living on farms in a new country. He was taught to work and make himself useful around the pioneer home, and received his education in the district school. When nineteen years of age he started for California overland, and while there worked on a farm. In 1861 he returned to Missouri by way of the Isthmus and New York City, and went to Springfield, where he immediately enlisted in Company G, Sixth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, and three months later the company was disbanded at Belleville, Arkansas Returning home he remained there a short time and again determined to take up arms, being for some time in the Seventy-second Missouri State Militia. In 1863 he organized a company in the United States service, Company M, Sixteenth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, and was elected its captain, serving in that capacity up to July, 1865. He commanded his company in the battle of Booneville, Indepenpence and numerous other engagements. His fighting was mostly in Missouri and Arkansas, under Col. John McMahan. The Captain was never wounded while in service and from November, 1863, he was all the time on duty. He was a brave and skillful officer and his company made a record for hard fighting. After the war Capt. Taylor came to Christian County, and bought a farm four miles north of Ozark, where he now has 800 acres of good land located on the Finley and James Rivers. He is one of the most prominent men in his county and one of the most extensive farmers of his section. At present he is chiefly engaged in stock buying and shipping, but he does not lose sight of his farming interests. His home is one of the most desirable in the county and is presided over by his estimable wife, who was formerly Miss Sarah J. Conrad, daughter of H. Conrad, of east Tennessee, where he died at an early day. The Captain and wife celebrated their nuptials in 1864, and five children have blessed this union: John S., a single man, is assistant cashier of the Christian County Bank at Ozark. In politics he is a Republican; Mary J., at home; Lillian A.; William M., who is attending school in St. Louis, and Effie J.
The Captain held the office of county treasurer from 1888 to 1890, and discharged the duties incumbent upon that position to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In politics he has always been associated with the Republican party and has ever been interested in its welfare. He has held the office of school trustee in his part of the county and has helped to advance educational work in that section. A member of the Masonic fraternity, Finley Lodge, No. 352, at Ozark, he is a master Mason. He is also a member of the G. A. R. at Springfield, Missouri He and family attend the Missionary Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Taylor is a worthy member. The Captain often has from 100 to 200 head of fine cattle, and handles many thousand dollars’ worth of stock per year. He is a stock-holder in the Christian County Bank, the Taney County Bank, and one other bank. He owns considerable real estate and is a substantial and representative man of that part of the State.
The Captain’s son, John S. Taylor, who is now assistant cashier of the Christian County Bank, was born November 15, 1865, on his father’s farm, in this county. His youthful days were spent in active farm work, and up to the age of sixteen years he attended the district school. At that age he entered college, where he remained two years, and then took a commercial course in Bryant & Stratton’s Business College St. Louis, from which he graduated in 1884. He then returned to the farm, on which he worked until 1888, and then accepted the position as assistant cashier of the bank. He is now a stockholder in the same. Since 1888 he has held his present position, and is a young man of more than ordinary business ability. The other stock-holders in this bank are: John C.________ , George W. Taylor, A. T. Voachum, J. H. Fillbright, Stanford Chapman, James S. Adams, W. A. Johnson, and C. B. Swift. John S. Taylor is a stanch Republican in his political views. As assistant cashier young Taylor is a tried and trusted officer and richly deserves the success to which he has attained.