William F. 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. Page 280

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

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WILLIAM F. TAYLOR, an honored and highly esteemed citizen of Wessington 
Springs, South Dakota, has rounded the psalmist's span of three score 
years and ten, and although the snows of many winters have whitened his 
hair he has the vigor of a much younger man and in spirit and interests 
seems yet in his prime. Old age is not necessarily a synonym of 
weakness and inactivity. 

Mr. Taylor was born on the 9th of April, 1829, in Pennsylvania, of 
which state his parents were also natives, but his paternal grandfather 
was from Holland, his maternal from Ireland. The father was a forgeman, 
working in the iron works of his native state. Our subject received a 
common-school education and a good practical knowledge of farming. At 
the age of twenty-one he began life for himself as an employee in the 
iron works, with which he was connected for several years. In 1852 he 
married Miss Sarah J. Bryan, who was also born in Pennsylvania and was 
reared in a village. Her father was a teamster. Of the six children 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor only two sons are now living. The wife and 
mother also died in 1893. 

In August, 1861, Mr. Taylor responded to his country's call for aid in 
putting down the rebellion, and enlisted for three years in Company A, 
Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was immediately sent 
to South Carolina. They remained on Hilton Head Island for about eight 
months and then went to Virginia, where under the command of General 
Grant they participated in the battle of Culpeper Court House, and all 
of the engagements up to the time of the surrender of General Lee. In 
the spring of 1865 they were sent to New York to guard prisoners and 
bring back recruits, and were mustered out on Hart Island, in June, 
1865. 

After receiving an honorable discharge at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. 
Taylor returned to his home in that state, and for some time worked on 
railroad section. During this time he jumped from his hand car just as 
it was struck by a train and broke his right leg. In the spring of 1866 
he and his family moved to La Salle county, Illinois, where he engaged 
in farming until coming to this state. In 1874, while there, he had the 
misfortune to have his left leg broken in the same place that his right 
one had been broken. 

In March, 1882, Mr. Taylor came to what is now Jerauld county, South 
Dakota, and located northeast of Wessington Springs, where he erected a 
sod house and broke five acres. After proving up his claim, he sold the 
place, but continued to engage in farming in this state for several 
years. When he located here only three buildings marked the site of the 
present flourishing town of Wessington Springs, one of these being a 
hotel, where R. S. Vessey's store now stands. This was burned in 1887 
or 1888. In those early days all supplies had to be hauled from 
Plankinton, between which place and Wessington Springs there were only 
three houses. Mr. Taylor was out in a terrible blizzard in 1888, and 
was lost for some time in the Fire Steel creek bottom. Finally 
unhitching his team, he started back and found his house by accident. 
He has experienced many other hardships and trials in this state, but 
does not regret coming here, for he has made many friends and has been 
fairly successful in business. In 1893 he embarked in the confectionery 
business in Wessington Springs, at which place he still makes his home. 
In politics he is an ardent Republican, but never has been a politician 
in the sense of office seeking. For several years, clerk of the courts 
of Jerauld county. Socially he is an honored member of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, has served as commander of his post, and is at present 
senior vice commander. Religiously he is a consistent member of the 
Congregational church. His life has been honorable, his actions 
sincere, and he justly deserves the high regard in which he is held by 
all who know him.