TAYLOR, John
Source: St. Joseph Missouri Gazette-Herald Wed 22 Oct 1884 p 4
Often has the Garette (sic – Gazette) during its experience as a
newspaper in the city of St. Joseph, been called upon to chronicle the decease
of the oldest and most respected citizens of the county. This is a sad and painful duty, but it must,
nevertheless, be performed. Night before
last exactly at 7 o’clock Judge John Taylor, after a severe illness of several
months, breathed his last at his family residence at the corner of 15th
and __ Streets in this city, surrounded by his family and family relatives. The
sad event was not unexpected for it was known for several days previous that it
is impossible for him to ever recover, but it was only necessary to keep up the
last sad vigil around his death bed until the sad __ of final dissolution and
family bereavement came slowly but surely. For the sad moment the family and
friends had been duly prepared by the timely __ding of his ever watchful and
attentive medical attendant, Dr. French and the awful shock of giving up the
father, husband and the dissolving of family was somewhat relieved, but the
sorrow and affliction was none the less. The thought naturally came into the hands
of the remaining children and the devoted mother, “Father and husband is no
more and who, who can supply the place made vacant by his loss?”
Time is a great physician and will heal all
wounds of heart and body and soul in the end, no matter how severe. The Judge
was born in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Ky on the 8th day of January
1816 and removed with his father’s family to Putnam County, Indiana in 1829
when he was 13 years old. While he was a resident of Putnam County, Indiana he
was elected sheriff of that county before he was 21 years old and served his
full term; after which he held the office of justice of the peace until he
removed from there to Buchanan County in 1840, locating at DeKalb in
Bloomington Township, since which time he has been almost continuously in
official position as justice of the peace, constable, and two terms as one of
the judges of the county court of Buchanan County, showing the great respect
and honor with which he was regarded by his friends and neighbors for the
period of 44 years as a resident of this county. Who can show or point with more pride to a
more honorable and upright career for so great a length of time? His honesty, integrity, faithfulness and fair
dealing with all with whom he came in contact, in business relations, has
always been a household maxim among his neighbors and friends. There was no one
to question this, for there was no cause for it. In his decisions as a justice
he always sought to do justice to his fellow men regardless of the
technicalities of the law. He was truly an arbiter of justice and equity
between his neighbors and friends in all cases that came before him for a
hearing.
He was married to Miss Hulda Burnett January 23d, 1848. If he had any fault as all men have, let them
be covered up and forgotten by the charity of his good deeds and the nobleness
of his great good heart. When war was declared between the US and Mexico and
volunteers were called for, he was one of the first to tender his services and
enlisted in the regiment under command of Gen. Harvey and rendered valuable
service, being one of the 12 picked men to carry a flag of truce to the City of
Mexico, which was the entering wedge to negotiations for peace. In this mission
he acted as Lt. under the leadership of Capt. Pen, and as subsequent events
showed, was entirely successful. In his quiet, unassuming and gentle demeanor,
there were very few that could fully realize the fire and vim of his patriotism
and devotion to duty. As a husband and father there was none more devoted and
affectionate. As a tried and true friend there was none to excel him in all the
relations that that term implies.
After the usual religious and devotional services at the residence
yesterday, the remains were taken to DeKalb in the lower part of his county
where they will be deposited at 10 o’clock today in the family burying ground.
He leaves a wife and four children living, two sons and two daughters and four
sisters. He has seven children buried where he will be laid away today.