Holt County recorder of deeds, native of the
Platte Purchase, was born October 18, 1845 in Buchanan County near
St. Joseph.
His father, G.W. TAYLOR, was a native of Middle Tennessee
and married Nancy GAHAGAN, born in Alabama. G.W. TAYLOR was one
of the earliest settlers of the Platte Purchase making his home
near Old Sparta, the first county seat of Buchanan County, in
1838. W. F. Taylor's family, when he was 8 or 9 years old, moved
to Holt County and settled in Union township two miles east of Craig
on the farm now occupied by Daniel Van Wormer. Mr. Taylor was
raised in that neighborhood. At one time his father owned the
place at Mound City now occupied by Jacob GROESBECK, embracing
the land on which Mound City is now built.
Mr. TAYLOR mainly obtained
his education in the common schools, except one year when he attended
the seminary at Fillmore in Andrew County. He taught school 5
years in the area where he was raised. He was elected recorder
of deeds in Nov. 1874 as an independent largely supported by the
farmers of the county. He was married Jan. 4, 1876 to Mary HELTZELL
of Holt County
Source: "An Illustrated Historical Atlas Map, Holt County, MO.
Published by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia, 1877
Provided by Dave Roberts of Lyon County, Kentucky,
a former Holt County resident.
