BIO: Jonathan TAYLOR, Beaver County, PA
  
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson
  
  Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html
  
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm
  Index for this bio book.
  _________________________________________________________________ 
  
  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
  of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
  Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 419-420.
  _________________________________________________________________ 
  
  JONATHAN TAYLOR, a representative of the thrifty agricultural class of
  citizens of Beaver county, resides upon his fine farm in Chippewa township,
  where his family has lived for many years. He is a son of Jonathan and
  Elizabeth Taylor, and was born May 30, 1855.
  
  His grandfather was Joseph Taylor, who was born in Oldham, England, where he
  followed farming, holding several life leases, and owning considerable
  property. He came to this country and purchased the farm which forms a
  portion of that owned by the subject of this record. This he improved greatly
  and built new barns on it, one of them being 40x60 feet, in dimensions. He
  raised stock and shipped to Fallston and Brighton, attaining good results in
  that line. He and his wife, Jane, reared six children, as follows: Jonathan,
  Andrew, John, Sarah, Mary, and Ann.
  
  Jonathan Taylor was born in Oldham, England, and after attending the public
  schools there for some years, worked in a coal mine until he came to America
  with his wife. He settled near Pittsburg and took up coal mining, which he
  followed for a period of two years. His father then came to this country with
  the rest of the Taylor family, purchasing the old Britain farm of one hundred
  and fifty acres in Chippewa township, and he assisted him in cultivating the
  farm. Upon his father's death, he received a one-third interest in the
  property, and later bought the entire place. He established an enviable
  reputation throughout the country as a stock raiser and prize winner; his
  animals, while being very heavy, also presented a fine appearance. This was
  attained mainly by the excellent care which they received, and, not as many
  thought who unsuccessfully tried it, by overfeeding. Many adopted his system,
  but never quite reached the same standard. One of his chief and most
  commendable characteristics was his systematic manner of doing everything,
  and his never-failing promptness, it being a proud boast of his that no man
  was ever disappointed in an engagement made with him. He and his wife,
  Elizabeth, were the parents of seven children: Susanna (Rhodes), a native of
  England; Mary (Hooker); Joseph; J. H.; Jane (Smith); Elizabeth (Haley); and
  Jonathan, the subject of this biographical record. Politically, Mr. Taylor
  was a Republican and served as road commissioner of the
  
  420  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
  
  township. Religiously, he was a devout Episcopalian. He died in 1886, at the
  age of seventy-four years.
  
  Jonathan Taylor was born on the old homestead in Chippewa township, Beaver
  county, Pa., and obtained an elementary education in the district schools,
  after which he took up farming with his father. Upon the death of the latter,
  Jonathan inherited the farm with his brothers and sisters, but after the
  property had been leased for a year, he purchased it and began to improve the
  place. Like his father, he is a thrifty, energetic, and systematic man, and
  everything to which he sets his hand is done in the best fashion possible. He
  erected a new wagon house, and greatly enriched the soil and improved it in
  other ways; he has always carried on general farming and fruit raising,
  having a splendid orchard of goodly size. He is a man who is everywhere held
  in the highest esteem, and is one of the number who have done much to elevate
  the standard of the farming element of Pennsylvania.
  
  The subject of this sketch was united in hymeneal bonds with Mary Reed, who
  was born and educated in Chippewa township, and they are the happy parents of
  four children, namely: Bertha M. (McGaffic); Carl Reed, who was born in 1883;
  Nellie B., born in 1888;. and Lester D., born in 1895. In political views, he
  was formerly a Republican, but is now a stanch supporter of the People's party.
  
  Mrs. Taylor is included in the membership of the United Presbyterian church.