Leon-Marion-Alachua County FlArchives Biographies.....Taylor, Robert Fenwick 1847 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 27, 2010, 2:12 pm Source: See below Author: See below Robert Fenwick Taylor Numbering among his ancestors a distinguished Baptist divine, for whose head Cornwallis offered a reward, because of his effective oratory on behalf of the American cause, a planter who fought in the ranks under Marion in the War of the Revolution, and Georgia pioneers who came with Oglethorpe, no man can read his title clearer to American citizenship or furnish better title to eligibility to membership in the patriotic organizations than Robert Fenwick Taylor. Descended from families all noted for their culture, it seems altogether fitting that Judge Taylor should occupy a pre-eminent position in his profession; that he should have rendered conspicuous service to his State as a member of the Constitutional convention of 1885, and served with distinguished ability as a Justice of the Supreme Court, of which body he has been a member since 1890, and over which he has presided as Chief Justice for the last eight years. Judge Taylor's home is at Tallahassee. He was bom in Beaufort District, South Carolina, March 10, 1849, his father being John Morgandollar Taylor, a planter, and his mother, Maria (Baker) Taylor. His maternal great grandfather was the distinguished orator and Baptist divine, Rev. Richard Furman, founder of the Furman University at Greenville, S. C., and for whose head, because of his effective crusade in behalf of the American cause, during the War of the Revolution, Lord Cornwallis offered a reward of fifty pounds, remarking that he feared that young man's tongue more than he did all of Marion's bayonets. He had to flee for his life, and went to Virginia, where Patrick Henry regularly attended his preaching, and often made the remark concerning him that he was the most eloquent living orator. Judge Taylor's father's grandfather came from Yorkshire, England, and settled in South Carolina early in the eighteenth century. He had an extensive plantation, and was a large producer of cotton and rice. His father's father was also engaged in planting on an extensive scale and fought throughout the War of the Revolution, serving under Marion. His father's mother was a Miss Morgandollar, whose parents were of the distinguished band of Salsburgers, who fled from religious persecution in Salsburg and came to America with Gen. Oglethorpe, settling near Savannah, Ga., and helping to found a State. On both sides they were all highly cultured people. Judge Taylor's father removed from South Carolina to Florida in 1852, settling near Ocala, in Marion county, in January of that year. Judge Taylor received his early education at the East Florida Seminary at Ocala, and through private tutors at home, later attending the Maryland Military Institute, near Baltimore, Md. He was too young to enlist in the Confederate Army, but as a boy of fourteen was in the thick of the last battle of Gainesville, Fla., which was one of the hottest fights in Florida during the war between the states. Judge Taylor studied law at Gainesville, Fla., in the office of Judge James B. Dawkins, one of Florida's most noted jurists and statesmen, who was a delegate to the convention which adopted resolutions under which Florida seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy. Judge Dawkins also rendered distinguished services as a member of the Confederate Congress, and was one of the circuit judges of the State. After his admission to the bar in 1870, Judge Taylor formed a law partnership with the man under whom he had studied for his profession, the firm being known as Dawkins and Taylor, and practicing law in all courts in Florida. They had a large practice and were successful in every sense of the word. Judge Taylor was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1885, and in addition to his other distinguished services in that body was chairman of the committee on style and arrangement of the new constitution which was submitted to and adopted by the people of the State. Judge Taylor's ability and eminence in his profession were formally recognized in the latter part of 1890 in his appointment, by Gov. Francis P. Fleming, to the honorable position of Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Justice H. L. Mitchell. At the regular election succeeding Gov. Fleming's appointment was approved by the people in the formal election of Judge Taylor, and at each succeeding election he has been re-elected. During eight years of his service, Judge Taylor presided over the court as Chief Justice. How he has filled the position of Justice of the highest court in the State the official reports show better than words can tell. Judge Taylor was married February 2, 1872, to Amelia Evans Haile, a daughter of Thomas E. Haile and Esther Serena Haile, who were originally from Camden, Kershaw county, S. C., but who removed to Alachua county, Fla., in 1852. Mrs. Taylor was called to her reward in 1901, and left only one child, a daughter, Serena Haile (Taylor) Ellis, the wife of Attorney-General William H. Ellis, of Florida. Judge Taylor is a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian Church. In the pursuit of his professional duties he, of course, keeps abreast of the times in legal lore, but he possesses a wonderful fund of general information, and has read all the standard histories, the great essayists of Europe and America, the standard poets and the meritorious works of historical fiction. He believes that there should be given "greater attention to the proper training of the youth of the country, and the inculcation in them of rigid principles of old-fashioned honesty and integrity, whether dealing with individuals or corporations, and a proper respect for age, law and order, and the rooting out from their minds the idea that the acquisition of money is the only thing worth a life's striving." He gives this salutory advice to those who are ambitious for success in the law: "To the young man who selects the law as his profession, I would say that no matter what may be his natural gifts, he is doomed to utter failure unless he unreservedly and unremittently submits himself to the eternal work demanded by the most jealous of all mistresses—the law." Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. II. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. MCCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. 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