Taylor, John W. Col. 1817 – 1902

TAYLOR, GODDARD

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:46

Source: Decorah Republican Aug. 14, 1902 Page 6 Col 2

Death of Col. John W. Taylor.
There came to this office, Tuesday, intelligence of the death of our esteemed friend Col. Taylor. It is an event not surprising, for on the 22d of last February he entered into his eighty-fifth year and for many previous years he had borne the infirmities of old age along with the weakness of poor health. We have no details of his last illness, and such facts as we may give as to his life are drawn from memories that may not be exact in all particulars.
John W. Taylor was born into a home of refinement and culture, and was given fine educational advantages in his youth, possibly he was trained to a profession. The gentle manners, the courtesy and dignity that marked his intercourse with his fellows gave evidence of this. His father, for whom he was named was college-bred, educated to the law, and before reaching the age of thirty he was elected, as a democrat representative in Congress from the northeastern district of New York.-- Such was his popularity that he was nine times re-elected, and his ability was indicated by his election twice to the Speakership, both times following Henry Clay of Kentucky. We{sic} was in service when the Missouri Compromise was passed by which Missouri came into the Union. He opposed the measure and is credited with making the first speech in Congress that plainly opposed the extension of slavery. He was one of the founders of the National Republican party, also of its successor the Whig party.
Exactly when Col. Taylor came to Iowa we do not know, but in the early fifties he was head of the firm of Taylor, Richards & Burden, then doing an real estate business through this part of Iowa. The panic of 1857 found them expanded and left them “land poor,” Col. Taylor drew out of the firm, and took as his share lands in Winneshiek county whereon a few years later he came to make his home.
When the War of the Rebellion stirred the land to its depths Mr. Taylor at once offered his services. He found a place suited to his tastes and abilities on the staff of the brave but unfortunate Major General Rosencrans, in the Army of the Cumberland,. He was assigned to duty us Quartermaster-in-chief, but the early retirement of his superior necessarily completed the field work of the deceased.
Soon after his return to Iowa Col. Taylor began preparing his lands in Canoe township, six miles north of Decorah, for what it finally became. It was not suited for profitable wheat raising: but, while not omitting the utilities of a virgin soil he sought to make a country seat where a gentleman fond of rural life could reside amid country privileges. There he rejoiced to receive, and entertain friends; and the summer time was to him a continuous delight as long as strength and health permitted him the privilege of labor among his fruits, flowers, shrubs, ferns and grasses. One large area that a pure money-lover would have turned into wheat raising he kept in native grass for the sake of of perpuating{sic} wild flowers and natural grasses. Visitors were given bountifully of his cultivated products, but to these others, humbler members of the floral kingdom, he seemed to bear a tender, jealous regard that forbade other touch than his own.
After the death of his wife in l89l —or even before that event occurred— this summer life on the farm was given up and he went east to live with his son James at whose home in Mont Clair, N .J . He passed into rest on Friday last, August 8th. In all the intervening years, however, he kept up his interest in Decorah and all its people whom he knew, through weekly visits from this paper: and in every one of the annual letters that came from him —even when the tremulous writing betrayed it a task he might easily ask others to do -contained some remark that showed an abiding interest in the scenes and things in which he once participated
Politically Col. Taylor belonged to the republican party, a firm believer in its policies, but never a politician or an aspirant for places or honors he could have capably filled or gracefully dignified. His religious faith was that of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which he was long a communicant.
So passed away another pioneer—a true man — a Christian gentle-man one whom to know was to esteem and cherish. Mrs. Taylor and three children are buried at Rockford. Ill. The surviving members of his family are John W. Taylor, Jr, and Mrs. Ella T Goddard of St Paul, and the son at whose home he died.

Source: Decorah Republican Aug. 28, 1902 Page 6 Col 1

Buried at Rockford,
The remains of Col. John W. Taylor were brought to Rockford, Ill., and interred in a cemetery beside those of his wife and three children, who died there in their early years. The following clipping from the Rockford Register covers a period of which we were unable to write in our obituary. It says.
Col. Taylor came to Rockford from Albany with his wife in 1840 and remained here until 1856, when he removed to Dubuque. He owned the "Cottage,” known in its days as the finest residence in Rockford. The chil¬ren were all born in the Forest City. In 1845 he assisted, in the formation of the first Episcopal church in Rockford, and Rev. Alfred Lauderback of New York state was called to the pulpit. The services were first held in the county court house, and the salary was half paid by three men, Mr. Perkins, a Mr. Joslyn and Col. Taylor, and the remainder was guaranteed by them.
Col. Taylor was quite influential in the settlement of the boundary dispute with Wisconsin.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Rockford, IL. He was born Feb. 22, 1817 and died Aug. 8, 1902.