Clay County, SD Biographies.....Taylor, Franklin August 3, 1837 - 
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Source: MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties, South Dakota. (1897)
Author: Geo. Ogle & Co.

HON. FRANKLIN TAYLOR, an honored and early settler and a representative of the
better class of agriculturists of Clay county, in Fairview township, of which he has
an elegant farm of 320 acres, is a native of North Carolina, and was born in Surry
county, August 3, 1827. His father and mother, Benjamin and Margaret Taylor, were
both born in Currituck county of the same state. After their marriage they settled
in what is now Davie county and there both passed to the world beyond, Mr. Taylor in
1837, and his good wife in 1848.

Our subject was reared in Davie county, N. C., on a farm, and continued to make his
home there until June, 1853, at which time he went to Mercer county, Mo., remained
there during the following winter, and then in the spring of 1854 went to Decatur
county, Iowa. In this latter place he operated a farm until the spring of 1858, then
went to North Bend, Dixon Co., Neb., and in July, 1859, crossed the river into what
is now Clay county, S. Dak. He took up a claim in Fairview township about
three-quarters of a mile from where he now lives, and on this property he settled
and remained until 1870, at which time he removed to his present location in section
21. As stated above his estate consists of 320 acres, and since coming to Dakota
farming and agricultural pursuits have always received the most of his attention.

Mr. Taylor was married in Fairview township, May 25, 1870, to Mrs. Martha G. Warner,
the widow of Charles S. Warner. Mrs. Taylor was born in Davie county, N. C., January
22, 1834, and is a daughter of Lamb and Margaret (Cornell) Taylor, the former a
native of Currituck county, N. C., and the latter from Maryland. They came to Clay
county during the early sixties and settled in this township, where they both
subsequently died. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of one daughter, Margaret
E.	who is now the wife of William A. Ufford.

Mr. Taylor served in the territorial legislature for five sessions, and during the
early days of the territory was appointed register of deeds of Clay county by the
governor. He was also appointed by the county commissioners, before the county had
been divided in school districts, county superintendent, and under his direction at
that time the settled portions of the county were laid out into school districts and
supplied with teachers. He has always given much attention to educational matters,
and during latter years took an active part in promoting and pushing to completion
the University of South Dakota. He and Capt. Nelson Miner selected the spot where
that old historic “first school house in Dakota” was erected. Mr. Taylor also served
three years in the office of county commissioner, and when Dakota was a territory
was appointed by Judge Williston as clerk of the first judicial district court. He
is a Democrat in politics and has always affiliated with that party since attaining
his majority. As an old settler he has seen the wonderful development of the
country, from a vast wilderness to its present prosperous condition, and himself
took an active part in its upbuilding and advancement. As he is well-known
throughout the community and highly respected and esteemed, it is with pleasure that
we are able to present to the readers of this volume a brief sketch of his life.


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