Robert S. Taylor, of Fort Wayne, was born at Chillicothe, Ross county,
Ohio, May 22, 1838, and is one of eight children born to Rev. Isaac N. and
Margeretta (Stewart) Taylor. Rev. Isaac Taylor was a pioneer Presbyterian
minister of Ohio, and came to Jay county Indiana, in 1844. He was the
founder of Liber College, near Portland, Indiana. Robert S. Taylor was
educated in the common schools of Jay county, and was a student at Liber
College, from which he was graduated on June 30, 1858. He began the study of
law in the office of Jacob M. Haynes in Portland, but, in 1859, removed to
Fort Wayne, where, in 1860, he was admitted to the bar. He continued,
however, to teach for a short time. Late in 1860 he became a clerk in the
office of Attorney L. M. Ninde, and in 1861 he became the latter-s partner.
In 1866 Robert S. Robertson became a member of the firm. In 1867 Mr. Taylor
was appointed first prosecutor of the Criminal court. The same year he was
appointed Judge of the Common Pleas court, and the law firm was dissolved.
Political and official duties have been mingled with his law practice for
the last forty years. In 1870 he represented Allen county in the General
Assembly. In 1874, and again in 1880, he made the race for Congress, but was
defeated. In 1881 President Garfield appointed him on the Mississippi River
Commission, on which he served until 1913. He has taken an active part in
every presidential campaign since 1860, except one. Many of his addresses
have been published. He is a member of the Allen County, Indiana State, and
American Bar Associations. On June 30, 1858, Judge Taylor was married to
Fanny Wright, of Randolph county, Indiana, and to this union one son has
been born, Frank B., a geologist of national reputation. The family home is
at No. 2905 Fairfield avenue, Fort Wayne.
Source -
Courts and Lawyers of Indiana, Volume 3; Leander John Monks; pg1256.