Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Taylor, John Levi 1920
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Ionia Weekly Standard, 19 Aug 1920

John Levi Taylor, for many years a prominent business man of Ionia, and one of 
the pioneers of the county, died at the home on East Main street, where he had 
lived for nearly fifty years, at 11:50 Tues. night, at the ripe age of 86 
years.  He had been in feeble health for several years, and had failed quite 
perceptibly for past two years.

He was born in Lockport, N.Y., May 25, 1824, and came with his parents, Mr. and 
Mrs. Levi Taylor, to Michigan in 1837.  They left New York March 1, came by 
team through Canada, reaching Ypsilanti some weeks later, where they remained 
until the following January, when they came to Ionia, and settled on the 
homestead farm on Bellevue road, two and a half miles south of city.  They were 
six days on the road from Ypsilanti.

John L. Taylor was married to Ann M. Nicar at Mishawaka, Ind., Nov. 1, 1849.  
They were residents of Ionia until 1852, when they went to Berlin, Wis., where 
Mr. Taylor was in business until 1859, when they returned to Ionia, where their 
home remained to the end of their lives.  Mrs. Taylor died Dec. 22, 1888.  Two 
sons survive, Frank L. of this city, and James N. of Detroit, the father’s home 
having been with the first named since the death of his wife.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Taylor united with the Presbyterian church June 1, 1864, and were active in 
church work, Mr. Taylor having been trustee or elder during all the years of 
his subsequent life.

Mr. Taylor was first a clerk and then a partner in the firm of L.D. & M.C. 
Smith & Co., general merchandise dealers, whose store was on the corner where 
Lampkin’s store is now located.  Later he was associated with Henry Irish, 
under the firm name of Taylor & Irish, in the drug business.  In the later 
60’s, Dr. W.R. Cutler bought Mr. Irish’s interest, and the firm of Taylor & 
Cutler existed until Feb. 1, 1886.

This firm did a considerable wholesale business, especially in kerosene oil, 
this being in the days before the Standard Oil Co. established local stations 
in order to reap all the profits of handling their products.  Subsequently Mr. 
Taylor was for two or three years in the grocery trade, but finally retired 
altogether from mercantile business.  He served, however, for many subsequent 
years as supervisor of Third and Fourth wards.  He had always been active in 
politics, on the Democrat side, and had represented his ward on the board of 
aldermen.  Of late years he had been incapacitated for service.  He belonged to 
a former generation, and the intimate associates of the most active part of his 
life had nearly all passed on before him.

He was energetic in business, faithful in the performance of duty, staunch in 
his friendships.  He was naturally a partisan, worked for his own side, saw 
things from his own point of view.  He had something of the strength of 
personality that belongs to the pioneer character; yet he was considerate and 
kindly in social relations, and possessed a heart tender to friendly appeal of 
need.  In his home, where he was best known, the description that fits him to 
the hearts that mourn is that of “a good man.”

Funeral service, conducted by Rev. Dr. Spencer, at the home of F.L. Taylor, 246 
East Main St., on Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock.  Interment, Oak Hill.


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