The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-01-12
THE LATE JOHN WILLIAM TAYLOE
Distinguished Citizen of the Old
School Belonged TO Historic Colo
nial Family Sympathetic Sketch.

A gentleman Who came from the black
belt 10 Birmingham IN the time when the
dairy cattle, after licking salt from the
steps Of the grocery stores on Twentieth
street, would lie on the side walk all
night, spoke OF various friends Of his who
followed him later Among these was
Mai John illiam Tsyloe, who lived
here until his death ten days ago. Said
this gentleman IF Msjor TaylOe had
died where he lived IN the canebrake
twenty live years ago, his burial would
have been attended by great concourse
Of people black and white.
"He was a gentleman of one the fam.
lilies Of Virginia. When Gen. Washington
laid of Washington city ia the woods
the next thing 20 do was TO select inhab.
itants TO make his town. He wished TO
have rich Yirginians and Mary FLANDERS to
build residences there and live there in
the winter while Congress sat Among
others, he sent for Col. John TaylOe OF
the famous Mount Airy estate on the
Rappahannock, not far from Fredericks.
burg, the grandfather OF Major Tsyloe.
Col. Tayloe, to oblige Gen. Washington,
built the large brick residence, near the
White House, called the Uctagon, and
moved his family there, carried hiscoach.
aud four and his retinue Of servants
The OctAgOn' was the home ui President
Madison after the British burned the
White House in the war of 1912, and il
now a government office OF some kind.
major TsylOe went TO school in
Washington and while there lived with
his grand 10 that house and has
often told Of Mrs. Dolly Madison and the
ways of the great old people at their din.
ners lie came to MarengO county when
he was twenty-five years old TO settle
on a plantation his father gave him. He
did not prefer to be "a cotton planter. He
was educated at the Virginia Military
institute, the southern West Point, and
had the military instinct. lie desired to
enter the navy, but was dissuaded He
was hardly of man age when he married
Miss Lucie Beverly Randolph, Of Greens.
boro, and went TO live on a splendid es.
tate, with large aud beautiful resi-
denCe, called Walnut Grove. The society
OF the eanehrake was the best, but Mr.
and Mrs Tayloe soon took the lead in
hospitality. lhey gave many dinners
and suppers and delighted in company.
Their house was often full. and their
style of living refined and happy.
Major Tayloe wore without abuse
this grand old name of gentleman. lie
could not, to save his life, be less than a
gentleman.
"He never spoke rudely, be never abused
his neighbors, he put on no airs OF wealth
or station, he paid his debts, and fought
ioF his country cavalry company Of
hia neighbOrs and friends was formed
and he was made captain; none other
could possibly have been elected if he
would accept Some money was needed,
$500, on the spur Of the moment.
"He put his name to a check for the
whole sum, his name only. He never re-
covered dollar of it. The act was just
like him. He never even asked any one
to help him bear the risk or share the
loss. He never let word oil regret pass
his lips. ten. n. E. Rodes, Gen. Lee,
brave men, loved Major Tsyloe like
brother. He was 80 much a soldier that
men followed him with enthusiasm He
rode like a knight He captured bat
terry In Virginia, horses and all. He
started In on full run to get In out OF
the enemy's reach. Up the road he saw
two gate posts, the gate swung wide
open. Quick as thought, 1t occurred to
him that the gun in the lead might be
purposely run against one OF the gate
posts by the Y 4nkee on the lead horse,
so as to stop the whole train. Plunging
the spurs into bis horse, he got ahead
drew his pistol and sitting on bis horse
right at the post called out; Hit this
post and you're dead yankee,
Every gun dashed through without
halt. He was cool in battle without
sign OF lear, but iull Of energy and dash.
IL is hard to realize that man so per.
feet in strength, so animated with the
duties OF life, 80 appreciative OF the wide
world about him should turn, alas, to
ashes. = To me he was life long friend,
true always. From a Birmingham Pa
per.