Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-03-24
TAYLOR DIES AT
GISHOLT HOME
GRANGER GOVERNOR PASSES
AWAY AT RIPE AGE OF
SO YEARS.
CAME TO WISCONSIN IN 1s4s AND
SETTLED ON FARM IN COT
COTTAGE GROVE.
Madison. March II

Madison, March Is.
William r. Taylor, who was elected
governor of Wisconsin during the
granger movement in 1873, died at
the Gisholt home for the aged in the
town of Burke at ) O'Clock yesterday
afternoon. He had been gradually
failing since the first of the year and
the end came peacefully. He was 2s
years old July 10 last.
Born in Connecticut.
Mr.. Taylor was born in Connecticut
July 10, 1920, His mother, native
OF Scotlar !, died three weeks after
his birth. When about six years old
his father, a sea captain, was lost at
sea with his vessel Mr.. Taylor's boy
hood days We're spent n Jefferson
county, n. Y, under severe guardian
ship in place of parental care and af-
lection and amid the additional hard
ships and deprivations of pioneer life.
He received light instruction at a
country school until nearly 16 years
of age, when his enterprising spirit
prompted him tc seek a better fortune
by first securing an education. In his
struggle he acquired a good academic
education, supporting himself by inter
walls of manual labor, Chiefly during
harvest seasons or in chopping cord
wood. He received a certificate of
admission to the third term of the
sophomore year in union college,
Schenectady, n. Y, but was unable to
enter upon the course owing to his
Strengthened circumstances. On the
day that the class of which he was a
member left for Schenectady to COM
plete its collegiate course, he went in
to the sugar bush and with his own
hands and team to haul wood and
sap. made LOO pounds of sugar and
two barrels of nolasses with which to
pay tuition and board bills already
contracted.
Studied Medicine.
In 1910 Mr.. Taylor moved to Elyhia,
Ohio, where he joined a class of As
Young men preparing for teaching.
About this time the school authorities
at La Porte, Ohio, were offering an
extra price for any teacher who would
assume control of and manage their
public school. This school had be-
come a terror because of the reputa-
ton of its pupils for disorder and VIC
lence. During the previous year three
good teachers had failed in the UNI
dertaking. Mr. Taylor took charge
and during the winter period of his
mana cement it became the premium
school of the county. He next con-
Quoted a grist mill, saw mill and cupo-
la furnace. Failing in health from
overwork. he devoted his spare time
to reading medicine and in the winter
of 1856 attended a five months
course of lectures and clinical instruc-
ton at the medical college in Cleve-
land. During his residence in Ohio
he was elected captain of military
company and afterward became a col
onel.
Settled in Cottage Grove.
Mr.. Taylor was a pioneer of Wis
consin. In the fall of 1S4S he came to
this state with a four-horse team and
a load of goods for trade in the piner-
les. He settled on a farm in Cottage
Grove and lived there until 1905 when
he went to the Gisholt home to spend
his declining years He WAS married
to Miss Catherine Hurd, also native
OF Connecticut, in 1912. Three daugh-
tiers were born unto them, one dying
Young. One graduated from the uni
versity with high honors and then
married r. NJ. Bashford. She died in
1886. The third daughter became the
wife of Ira w. Kanouse and died four
or five years ago. Mr.. Taylor was
married a second time, his first wife
having died. He has son, William
R. Taylor of Madison, who was with
him during the week. Mrs. Taylor is
matron of the home for the feeble
minded at Chippewa Falls.
Held Many Public Offices.
Mr.. Taylor had a varied and event
full public career. He was chairman
of his town, superintendent of schools,
twice chairman of the county board,
county superintendent Of the poor for
II years, until he resigned, trustee
and many years vice president of the
executive committee of the hospital
for the insane at Mendoza He also
was a member OF both branches OF
the legislature and steps viii doubt
less be taken at once to include MI
Taylor in the list OF former legislar
tors for whom memorial services are
to he held He served seven years
as president of the Dane County
Agricultural society, was chief
marshal of the State Agricul-
tural society for seven or eight years
and presideN+ of tie society for two
years. During the war of the rebel
lion he was the first in Dane county
70 give a bounty to volunteers, which
led to other bounties and secured
many en,istments.
Mr.. Taylor was placed in nomina-
ton for the Office Of governor through
a fusion Of the democrats and gran
gera without solicitation on his part.
He was nominated by reclamation as
the head OF the reform ticket ard
s,a-4sS re rAcatvpd S1695 votes