Biography of John M. Taylor

Born August 14, 1860, at Murphy, North Carolina, he is the second son of James Taylor and Addie Manchester. James Taylor was the representative of the eastern band of North Carolina Cherokees, and removed with his family to this country in 1880. He assisted the Cherokee Nation to defeat the suit brought by the eastern band of North Carolina before the Supreme Court of the United States. John’s mother was a daughter of Wm. H. Manchester, an Englishman who settled in North Carolina at an early day. John was sent to school at the public institutions of the nation until his fifteenth year, after which he spent three years at Louden College, East Tennessee. Afterward he joined a party of civil engineers under Colonel M. H. Templeton on a government surveying expedition in North Carolina. For three years he continued in this employment, until 1880, when he went to Chouteau, Cherokee Nation, where he worked on a cattle ranch, remaining there one year and a half. After that he worked on a farm for two years, and in 1884 began interesting himself in Cherokee politics, taking up the National party. In 1885 he became a practicing lawyer, and still continues the practice of the profession. When the United States courts were opened in the Indian Territory, Mr. Taylor was admitted to practice, and was the first Indian by blood appointed United States Commissioner, which office was conferred upon him by Judge Isaac C. Parker, and which he is holding at the present time. In November 1890, Mr. Taylor was appointed postmaster at Claremore, Indian Territory. He is also mayor of the town and United States deputy marshal, as well as assistant prosecuting attorney and deputy-sheriff of Coowescoowee district. Mr. Taylor is a gentlemanly-looking man, bright, witty and intelligent. His father is still living in Murphy, North Carolina, where he owns 22,000 acres of land, and is one of the most influential and popular men of his country.