John S. Taylor

BENNETT, TAYLOR

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 9/2/2004 at 14:35:29

John S. Taylor, eighty years of age, is still active in the management of his real-estate interests in Des Moines, possessing the vigor, energy and ambition of a man of much younger years. His efforts in the real-estate field have been an element in the city's development and improvement as well as a source of individual success. He laid out Taylor Park, an attractive residence district, and there he now resides, his home being at Forty-second street and John Lynde road. He was born in Addison county, Vermont, February 20, 1835, a son of N. S. Taylor, who was also a native of Vermont, where he was reared. When about twenty-eight or thirty years of age N. S. Taylor removed to Cleveland, Ohio, by wagon and in that state engaged in farming, remaining there for about twenty years, or until 1856, when he came to Iowa and settled in Madison county. He conducted a hotel in Winterset for a time but afterward removed to Adair, Iowa, where he conducted a stage station until elected county judge. He afterward served as county auditor for several terms and made a most creditable record in public office. His political allegiance was given to the whig party in his early life. When the question of slavery became a paramount issue before the people he was an abolitionist and afterward a freesoiler and when the republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery into the north he joined its ranks. For many years he remained a most active and prominent political worker and he served as justice of the peace until ninety years of age. His death occurred in Casey, Iowa, when he had reached the age of ninety-four. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Naomi Streeter, was a native of New York, where she was reared. She with her husband came to Iowa in 1856 from Ohio, making the trip by wagon, and she died at Fontanelle, Iowa, at the age of eighty-five years. By her marriage she had become the mother of six children.

John S. Taylor, the third in order of birth, was but a child when the family removed to Ohio. Upon the home farm he was reared and when about eleven years of age he entered Berea College, near Cleveland, where he continued his studies until he reached the age of twenty years, his parents having removed to that locality in order to educate their children. In 1855 he made his way westward to Chicago and drove a team from there to Burlington, where he got an order to go to Keokuk and get a load of groceries for J. G. Vawter, of Winterset. There were no bridges at that time and teaming was much more difficult than in this age of well built bridges and improved roads. Mr. Taylor afterward engaged in clerking in the store of Mr. Vawter, of Winterset, for a time and subsequently was sent by him to Nebraska to look after his interests in that state, where for several years he occupied a most responsible position. He was only a boy in years and moreover he had to conduct the business during the troublous times following the financial panic of 1857. Soon afterward he began operating in stock and ran a freight train to Colorado, outfitting in the spring at Omaha. He continued freighting during the period of gold excitement through the summer seasons and during the winter months he taught school in Winterset and Madison county for several years. In 1865 he made his last freighting trip, for soon afterward he purchased a farm in Madison township, Madison county, and engaged in the cultivation of the soil and in the stock business. He engaged extensively in feeding horses, cattle and hogs and he raised many Herefords, having a large herd for those days. He became a very prominent stock raiser, dealer and shipper, conducting business at Winterset for many years. He remained upon the farm for seven years and then took up his abode in the city of Winterset, from which point he managed his farm and live-stock business. He also embarked in the mercantile business with a partner, the firm of Pitzer & Taylor continuing for several years. He was likewise proprietor of a livery stable in Winterset, employing a number of capable and responsible men to assist him in the various branches of his business. He continued his merchandising, his farm and his live-stock business in and near Winterset for many years and met with a most creditable and gratifying measure of prosperity in his undertakings.

In 1884 Mr. Taylor removed to Des Moines but still retained his farms and continued to cultivate them and to feed and sell stock. After taking up his abode in the capital city he began dealing in real estate and he was also proprietor of a grocery store there for two years and of another at Earlham, Madison county. Several years ago, however, he disposed of his mercantile interests. During the early period of his residence in Des Moines he purchased acreage property and he owned the ground where Grant Park is now located. He sold in lots one h owner of Union Park and the grounds of the Gun Club and the ball park. He had a large tract of land known as Taylor Park, which he divided and sold in town lots, transforming it into a fine residence district. He also handled considerable property in the downtown district, buying and selling. He still retains the ownership of acreage property at Twenty-ninth and Tiffin streets and owns considerable other city realty. He has been very successful and is still an active and prominent real-estate dealer, devoting his time now to the collection of his rents and to the supervision of his interests. Although he is now past eighty years of age, he is still hale and hearty and is as active as most men at sixty-five.

On the 20th of January, 1861, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Etna Bennett, who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, January 3, 1841, a daughter of Jacob Bennett, a pioneer of Madison township, Madison county, Iowa, mention of whom is found elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Taylor was reared in Madison township and also survives. They never had any children of their own but have educated seven girls and five boys, providing liberal intellectual training for them. It must be a matter of immense satisfaction to them that they have so liberally provided for young people in a manner that will enable them to make the most of life.

In politics Mr. Taylor is a stanch republican and although he has often been solicited to accept the candidacy for office he has always declined. He was made a Mason at De Soto, Iowa, in 1868. and later took a demit to Evening Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Winterset. He also joined the Royal Arch chapter, the Knight Templar commandery and the consistory of Des Moines. He is likewise a charter member of the Mystic Shrine and of the Eastern Star of Des Moines, and Mrs. Taylor was the first elected matron of the Eastern Star chapter, being called to that office in 1889. Mr. Taylor is likewise a charter member of the Masonic Vet- erans Association of Iowa. Before the Civil war Mr. Taylor took an active part in the movement whereby many negroes were conveyed northward secretly and at night from one point to another until they were able to win freedom in Canada. This system was known as the underground railway and Mr. Taylor did much to aid various slaves to escape. His influence has always been on the side of progress and improvement, of reform and of right; and his has been an upright, honorable life, which has gained for him the enduring regard of many friends. Wherever he is known he is held in high esteem and most of all where he is best known. Today at the venerable age of eighty years he is still numbered among Des Moines' representative business men and citizens and his life record should put to shame many a man who, grown weary of the struggles and hardships of life, would relegate to others the burdens that he should bear.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”