Meriwether County GaArchives Biographies.....J.W. Taylor 1833 - Unknown ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carla Miles captbluegrass@mchsi.com July 18, 2003, 10:44 am Author: Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. II, Atlanta, Ga., 1895 Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. II, Atlanta, Ga., Published by The Southern Historical Association in 1895 Pages 522-523 Dr. J. W. Taylor Dr. J. W. Taylor, a successful physician and prominent citizen of Meriwether county, was born in Lexington district, S. C., in 1833. In 1839 his parents, William and Rebecca (Corley) Taylor, left their native state, South Carolina, to settle in Georgia, dwelling for a year in Monroe county, and then moving to Coweta county. Here young J. W. passed his boyhood, obtaining as good an education as common schools afforded. In 1854 he began the study of medicine with his brother, Dr. J.P. Taylor, of Haralson, and in 1858 he entered the Atlanta Medical college at Atlanta; the coming on of the war hindered the completion of his medical studies at that time. In 1861, on the organization of Company B, First Georgia cavalry, he was appointed first lieutenant, but they were not mustered in until March 4, 1862, and he had associated himself with a squad of young men who agreed to remain together throughout the war. That he might fulfill this pledge he repeatedly refused promotion; even his unanimous elections as major of his regiment he would not accept. The medical and surgical knowledge he had gained he made of constant use, not only to his own company, but to any of his regiment who needed it. Many incidents are related illustrating not only his skill but also his shrewdness. As, for instance, when on one occasion a soldier came to him with the pretense of being ill, the doctor, detecting the trick, compelled him to swallow a very large dose of castor oil, which cured him of ever again undertaking such a fraud. At another time, at Stegall’s ferry, Ky., in the midst of a rain of shell, he dismounted from his horse and with the assistance of two ladies calmly amputated and dressed a soldier’s arm, having for implements only a common bistoury and a carpenter’s tenon-saw; and the soldier completely recovered. Dr. Taylor served throughout the war, taking part in many of the hardest battles, Murfreesboro, Loudon, Ky., Big Hill, Ky., and the second battle of Murfreesboro being some of them. He had the honor of planting the flag at Franklin, Ky., was with Gen. Johnston in front of Sherman all the way to Atlanta, taking part also in that memorable conflict, and when Johnston was relieved by Hood he, at the head of his company, opened the way for Hood’s charge on the Union army. He returned to Georgia at the close of the war and began practice at Luthersville. After a year or two he again went to Atlanta and completed his medical studies, receiving his degree in 1867. Among his classmates were several of the most prominent men of his profession: Dr. A.G. Thomas, G.G. Crawford, Haden, Houston and many others. In 1876 Dr. Taylor was elected to represent Meriwether county in the state legislature among many noted men of that time: Gov. Northen, J.D. Stewart, A.D. Candler, H. H. Carlton, Judge H. G. Turner, Judge Allen Fort, A. L. Miller, Judge Pratt Adams, the youngest there, and others. Dr. Taylor was appointed by Gov. Northen as trustee for the school for the deaf at Cave Springs, Ga. He is one of the leading men of the county, where he is liked and respected by all. He is especially well known throughout the state, and in fact all through the south by the members of the masonic order, among whom he holds very high rank. For nine years he has held the office of grand high priest, at the beginning of his term there being but twenty-four contributing chapters, while now there are between ninety and a hundred. He is past deputy grand master of the state, is chairman of the financial committee, and general grand king of the general grand lodge chapter of the United States, being now the ranking officer of the grand chapter living in the state. In 1854 Dr. Taylor was married to Miss Amelia Jane Wilson, daughter of James and Leah D. (Johnson) Wilson. She was born in 1836, and of Scotch ancestry, her grandfather being one of the clergymen who, for conscience’ sake, seceded from the Presbyterian church of Scotland at the time of the dissensions in that body. Mrs. Taylor died in October, 1892. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is also Dr. Taylor. They had but one child, a son, John W., who is also a practicing physician in Luthersville. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb