Robert P. Taylor Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 835-836

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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ROBERT P. TAYLOR, proprietor of one of the finest farms to be found in 
Spink county, is one of the early settlers of Olean township and has 
been a central figure in the growth and advancement of that region. He 
is now retired from the active duties of a farm, but the work is 
carried on under his direct supervision by his sons, and the entire 
property shows excellent management and thrift. Our subject is now the 
possessor of four hundred and eighty acres of land, and his substantial 
dwelling, barn and outbuildings, together with other surroundings which 
make it a fit habitation, are located on the northeast quarter of 
section 35. 

Mr. Taylor was born in the state of New York in 1851. His father was a 
native of England and emigrated to America when our subject was yet a 
small boy. The father and his family were farmers by occupation in 
their native land, except one uncle of our subject, who was an 
architect by trade. Our subject was reared on a farm in his native 
state until at the age of twelve years he went to Wisconsin with his 
parents, where the father engaged in farming, and still resides, the 
proprietor of a large farm, with dairy business. At the age of twenty 
one our subject began farming for himself in Wisconsin, engaging 
principally in grain raising, and had a farm of eighty acres. Here he 
remained until he went to Dakota, in 1882, and located his homestead on 
section 26 in Olean township. He erected a 12 x 16 shanty, where he 
resided and kept boarders until the fall of 1883. When he located on 
his land there were but two shanties between his farm and Raymond. He 
started his career in the western home with a team, two cows and a few 
farming implements, and is now one of the substantial land owners of 
that locality. He enlarged his shanty in the fall of 1883 and built a 
barn 14x 24 feet, with twelve-foot posts, paying forty dollars per 
thousand feet for some of the lumber. His present residence is a story 
and a half building, 16 x 36 feet, and is a model of convenience and 
comfort. The granary, horse stable and cow stable are each 12 x 24 
feet, and a shed, 14 x 72 feet, on the side of the stables affords 
shelter for the stock. The northeast quarter of section 35 was 
purchased in 1889, and he now has a fine grain and stock farm. He 
cultivates three hundred and thirty acres and has one hundred and fifty 
acres fenced and divided into two large pastures. During the blizzard 
of 1 888 our subject started for his children at the school house, but 
finding it impossible to reach there, he finally stopped at a 
neighbor's house, where he was forced to remain during the night. He 
suffered nearly a complete loss of crops by hail in 1895, and has gone 
through many drouth years, but never had a total loss from drouth. 
Wheat yielded thirty bushels per acre in 1892, barley averaged sixty-
six bushels, and oats sixty-five bushels per acre. 

Mr. Taylor was married, at the age of twenty-one years, to Miss Mary H. 
Scruton, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, and the daughter of 
a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of seven children, four 
sons and three daughters. All reside at home and assist with the farm 
work. The eldest, William Alva, is a graduate of the State School at 
River Falls, Wisconsin. The second son, Thomas Wesley, after completing 
his education, learned the trade of a butcher. Mr. Taylor has spent 
over two thousand dollars in educating his children, and has given them 
rare advantages. He is one of the foremost men in his county and 
supports every good cause, contributing liberally to churches and 
charitable purposes. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, 
and was the first chairman of the Olean township board, which office he 
now holds. He takes an active part in matters of local import and is 
thoroughly awake to the needs. of the hour. In political faith he is a 
Republican and stands firmly for the principles of his party.