TAYLOR, John - Putnam

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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.
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