Samuel Edwin Taylor was born November 26, 1908 in Parke County, Indiana to John T. and Lillie A. Pearman Taylor. He married Ilo Elizabeth Thorne on August 1, 1934 in Hillsdale, Vermillion County, Indiana. He was a farmer while living in Vermillion County. After graduating from college, he and his wife moved to the Gary area where he taught History at Calumet High School. He later worked at Inland Steel. He was a father of four sons - one set of identical twins: James Waldon, Gerald Lee, Harold Dee and William Ray. He was of the Presbyterian faith while raising their sons, and switched to the Baptist faith later in life. He had a history of stroke, and died as a result of stroke. He died January 24, 1981 in Gary, Indiana. He is buried in Calumet Park Cemetery.