Lapeer-Barry County MI Archives Biographies.....Taylor, Thomas Chalmers 1843 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 22, 2007, 2:12 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

HON. THOMAS CHALMERS TAYLOR. This gentleman is a lawyer by profession and is
also engaged in farming, having a farm of two hundred and forty acres, on
sections 28 and 31, in Almont, where he resides. He is a native of this place,
having been born in Almont Township, at the edge of the village, on the same
place where he now resides, his birthday having been April 19, 1843. He is a son
of James and Janet (Lochhead) Taylor, both natives of Scotland. The father came
from Kinross and the mother from Kilmarnock, Scotland. The father came to
America in 1826 and located first in Connecticut, employing himself there in the
manufacture of carpets. He was there married, his wife having come to America
with her parents. Not a great period after their marriage had elapsed before
they came to Michigan, their advent being in 1834.

  Our subject was one of fourteen children born to his parents, eleven of whom
grew to maturity and ten of whom are still living, six in Michigan and three in
the Dakotas. When the father came to Michigan he purchased one hundred and sixty
acres, on section 28, in Almont Township. He was an enterprising and prudent
business man and held various township offices, having been Supervisor a number
of years. He was a candidate for the State Legislature in 1856, on the
Democratic ticket, but his party being in the minority, he was defeated. He was
drowned in Lake Erie, April 12, 1858.

  He of whom we write was reared on the home farm. He received the rudiments of
his education in the district schools and then went to Romeo Academy. The winter
that he was eighteen he began teaching and was thus engaged at various times. He
entered the University of Michigan in 1865 and was graduated from the literary
department in 1869, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He taught at
Leslie as Principal of the graded schools and then took charge of the schools at
Hastings, Barry County, this State. While he was thus engaged he had been
reading law and in the fall of 1871 was admitted to the bar and began the
practice of law at Hastings, following his profession there for one year and
thence removing to Almont.

  In the spring of 1872 Mr. Taylor was married to Hannah C. Fowler, of Aurelius,
Ingham County, Mich., and they are the parents of seven children: May F., James
S., Emma R., Thomas C., Robert L., Joseph H. and Louisa F. The eldest daughter
graduated from the schools in this place and is now a student at Alma College.
The ancestors of Mrs. Taylor were numbered among the Puritans and early settled
at Andover, Mass. Her Great-grandfather Fowler was killed in the battle of
Bunker Hill and his wife was so overcome with grief at his sudden death that she
soon died, leaving a family of small children, the youngest of whom, Josiah
Fowler, grandfather of Mrs. Taylor, was about two years of age. He was separated
from his family at that time, and on account of his infancy they became lost to
him and he to them. Only in recent years, through the family name of "Josiah,"
did the descendants learn anything definite of the lost members of that branch
of the Fowler family.


  In politics Mr. Taylor votes the Republican ticket, having always been identified 
  with that party. Since 1873 he has resided at Almont, and carries on farming on 
  the old homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he resides. He has 
  another eighty acres on section 31, Almont Township. He served as village attorney 
  of Almont and Township Treasurer for a number of years, and has been Secretary of 
  the School Board since 1876, with the exception of a portion of a year. He was 
  elected a member of the State Legislature in 1889, serving one term and declining 
  a re-nomination. During his time of service he was chairman of the University 
  Committee and a member of the Judiciary Committee, and was ever faithful to the 
  interests of his constituency.

Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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