Preston County, West Virginia Biography of MARCELLUS N. TAYLOR. This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: ********************************************** ***The submitter does not have a connection*** ********to the subject of this sketch.******** ********************************************** This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 562 Preston MARCELLUS N. TAYLOR. The geographical limits in which Marcellus N. Taylor has spent his life are those of Portland District in Preston County. Here he has found his duties, has discharged his responsibilities, and has earned an honored place in the citizenship. He was born about six miles west of the little city of Terra Alta May 10, 1870. His grandfather, William Taylor, mar- ried Sarah Whetsell, of the same Whetsells that occupied and made famous the Whetsell settlement of Preston County. One of their large family of children was William W. Taylor, who was born in Portland District May 14, 1834, and died there in 1906. His active years were devoted to the practical side of farming and an intelligent use of his opportunities as a citizen and voter. He married Julia Garner, who was born in the Albright locality of Preston County in 1847, daughter of William K. Garner, a farmer. William W. Taylor and wife had three children: Martha, wife of Buckner Bucklew; Mary J., wife of Grant Whitehair, of Preston County; and Marcellus N. Marcellus N. Taylor grew up at the old homestead and remained there until long past his majority. He had a rural school education, and farming was the vocation to which he was trained and the only one he followed until he came to Terra Alta. Here for several years he was an active factor in the woolen mills, both in its practical operation and as a stockholder and treasurer of the company. He was asso- ciated with that industry until about a year before the plant burned. For five years following he was in the retail meat business, and about that time came his first election to the post of justice of the peace of the district. For a time he shared the duties of the office with work at the carpenter's trade, but for the past two years has resumed his business as a meat dealer. Mr. Taylor was elected justice of the peace of Portland District in 1914 to succeed S. N. Taylor. Two years later he was re-elected, and he is now serving in his third term. He had handled with firmness and good judg- ment a large volume of business in his court, most of it arising from the enforcement of the prohibition law. For several terms Mr. Taylor was a member of the Terra Alta Town Council, finally declining another term of that duty. While on the council the problem of paving the town was acted upon and also a water system installed by the company to which a franchise was granted. Mr. Taylor served as overseer of the poor tor Portland District ten years, and gave careful attention to those needing public care and authorized financial allowances to such persons. Mr. Taylor may be said to have been born a republican, and he cast his first presidential vote for Harrison in 1892, and has never missed voting at a presidential election. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. In Preston County March 8, 1894, he married Miss Lizzie Whitehair, daughter of Edmond and Alcinda (Freeland) Whitehair. Her father is in the marble business at Philippi, West Virginia, as manager of the Tygarts Valley Marble Company. He responded to the last call for troops to defend the Union in the Civil war, going in when very young. He and his first wife had three children: Walter, who was killed in an explosion a number of years ago at North Branch while in the railroad service; Mrs. Taylor; and Sammie. By his second wife, Susan Sanders, Edmond Whitehair has a daughter, Mrs. Missouri Smith. Mrs. Taylor was educated in the public schools and was married at the age of twenty-one. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have three children, William Clarence, Charles Ray and Franklin Darrell. Charles is a clerk in the Terra Alta hardware store. William Clarence, who lives at Oakland, Maryland, married Ruth De Berry, and their children are Mildred, Wayne, Clyde, Lawrence, Howard and Lillian.