Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-16
A REMARKABLE HOBBY
Wealthy Man Who Likes to
Build Monuments.
PLAIN ONE FOR HIMSELF
REVOLUTIONARY HEROES.
He Intends to Crafty His Peculiar
Taste as Long as He
Lives.
PLAIN ONE FOR HIMSELF

L Libraries may be all right for Carnegie,
| but my money goes into monuments, re-
Gently remarked John G. Taylor, retired
business man and Quaker of West Chester,
Pa.
In these few words Mr.. Taylor indicated
the hobby of his lifetime; a hobby which
has developed into a mania probably the
most remarkable brain kink possessed by
any man in the United States, and one of
the most costly.
Up to date Mr.. Taylor's collection of
monuments has cost over 100000, and plans
already perfected carry the amount of his
expenditures in sight to over 100000. And
he does not propose to stop until he has
exhausted his fortune, reserving only
sufficient amount to see that his beloved
monuments are kept in good condition after
he has been called to his fathers.
The scene of his operations Is in the old
Lafayette burying ground, adjoining Birm-
ingham Meeting House, of revolutionary
fame, about five miles from West Chester.
Mr.. Taylor began his monument building
years ago. His wife lay buried in the an
cient cemetery, and after the erection of
handsome tribute to her, memory, he
started to beautify the place generally,
planning figures to mark historical events
in some of which his ancestors participated,
together with others concentrating mat
ters and figures of biblical lore.
But his plans were not to be executed
without a determined struggle. Trustees of
the cemetery looked askance at the dazzling
marbles and the costly figures in the here
tofore plain old burying ground and finally
he was stopped in his work by order of the
board.
Controls the Cemetery.
Mr.. Taylor, however. had no intention OF
abandoning his cherished idea. He saw
that as matters stood, he could go no
further, so he bided his time, worked quiet
/ ly and said little
In 1891, to the surprise of the board of
trustees. he secured enough stock to give
him control of the cemetery company, and
at the election succeeded in ouSting the
"anti-tombstoners' and electing a board
whose ideas were in harmony with his
own.
The election contest was waged with ex-
IRENE bitterness. and every man and wo-
man who owned a lot in the cemetery was
importuned to turn out.
1t was a complete victory for the monu-
ment builder and he was chosen president
or the new board. The 'anti-tom listeners
were routed and shortly after Mr. TAYLOR
TOOK up his monument plans in earnest and
ne mas since made the old burying ground
Famous throughout the country Mr. Tay-4
lor says he will provide for the protection
OF his monuments for 100 years after he is
DEAD, and those who know the character
of the man have no doubt that he will make
MS word good His whole heart and soul
appears to be wrapped up in the ancient
burying ground and he will devote his en-
tire fortune to it.
The conventional towering piIIars SIR
mounted by statues or the low stones on
which are reclining lambs are not salts
factory to Mr.. Taylor, and his collection of
monuments indicates that he has his own
ideas as to designs and the independence OF
mind to refuse to have them interfered with
py any rule of cutters of gravestones He
appears to be especially fond of statuary,
as there are several places in his monu-
ments. All of these figures are carved I'm
marble by celebrated sculptor at Carrara
Italy, and then shipped to this country
His Family Lot
AT the head of his private lot, wherein lie
the remains of his father, mother, wife and
other relatives, he has erected an impos-
ing shaft on the top of which, in a graceful
kneeling pose, is a life-size statue of his
wife in white marble, while at the foot
stand white marble statues of the Savior
the Virgin Mary and ST. Joseph
All of these statues have biblical inscrip-
tons; they are incased in glass to protect
them from the elements, and are among the
most beautiful specimens of statuary art in
the country.
Mr.. Tayor's family lot is close to the
main entrance to the cemetery. Near the
gateway is a massive granite monument
about twelve feet in height, surmounted by
large ball, erected to the memory of the
monument builders great-grandfather, Col
Isaac Taylor, who was a member of Gen.
Anthony Wayne's staff. "A
ALI Ready for Himself.
In the family burial lot there is but one
space left for the dead, and this has been
reserved by Mr. Taylor for himself. He
has had his grave dug, walled and cement
ed, and when his time comes all that will
be necessary will be the raising OF a heavy
granite slab and the coffin lowered to the
place prepared for it.
fa,rr I- 1ictn ctn 1c hn INN Ciraer
shaft erected to the memory of General
Lafayette. 1t is built of granite on pyra-
mid base, and stands forty-ive feet high.
1t is Mr.. Taylor's purpose eventually to
cap it with bronze statue of the diStln-
guished Frenchman. AT the foot OF the
shaft there are places at the four corners
of the capstone for the busts of four French
officers who participated in the battle of
Brandywine Their names and the dates
of their birth are chiseled thus in the gran
lite:
General Lafayette. born September g.
1857; died May 2, 1884.
Cassimer Count Pulaski, born l747; died
1871, at sea.
General Count Jean Rochambeau. born
1725: died 1907, in France.
General Marquis st. Simons, born lI6O;
died 1925 in France.
There are other inscriptions upon the tab
let's, including General Lafayette's toast at
a banquet in West Chester, July 26 1925.
Mad Anthony's Memory.
It Is likely that the next monument to
be erected by Mr.. Taylor will be one to
the memory of Mad Anthony Wayne.
There is already built mammoth pedestal
for the statues Of Count Pulaski and Daniel
Wells and Henry McComas. The latter
two were killed at the battle of North
Point. Considerable material is now on
the site for the completion of the canopy,
and when 1t is in readiness, the three stat
ues will be brought from Italy and placed
In their positions on this base.
A complete list Of the memorials SO far
erected by the monument man are as fol-
lows: To
Colonel Isaac Taylor (great-grandfather).
Henry G. McComas, Daniel Wells and
Count Pulaski
General Lafayette.
Mrs. Taylor (wife).
The Virgin Mary.
Jesus.
Lazarus.
/ Sarah G. Taylor SISTER.
Hannah G.. Taylor (mother).
Thomas d. Taylor 0ather).
Hannah d. Taylor (aunD.
Isaac Taylor (uncle).
Mr.. Taylor's child.
How His Days Go.
When the weather is good he is accus-