The Monmouth inquirer., 1924-04-10
Acting Governor
Leon R. Taylor's Death.

lor, former acting governor of New
Jersey, who died Tuesday in Dem
yer, was held in the First Bap-
tist church, Asbury Park, Wednesday
at two o'clock Rev. ID. A. Mac Murray,
pastor, officiating Asbury Park
lodge Of Elks also conducted SER
vi ces. Interment was made In Mt.
Prospect cemetery.
The body Of Mr.. Taylor arrived
from Denver at noon Satur-
day.
The death in Denver, Colorado, Of
Leon r. Taylor Of Avon, former as
semblyman and acring governor Of
New JERSEY. Mr.. Taylor, a well known
lawyer in Asbury Park city had been
i'll for nearly 10 years and succumbed
to tuberculosis at 9.23 Tuesday nigh t
of last night.
Mr.. Taylor died at the Cakes Sa a
itarium where he had been spending
much of his time fighting against
the disease for many years. He
travelled thru Ariz ma and other
places in the West in an effort to
locate at place where the Amos
phere was beneficial to his health
From railroad man to Governor
describes the career of Leon Rurher-
ford Taylor, acting Governor of New
Jersey from Oct. %, 1918 to Jan. 20.
1914. !,
Born in Asbury Park Dec. 90, 1881,
early in life he migrated to Avon
where his father, the Rev. Thomas
r. Taylor served as pastor of the
Avon Baptist church for many years.
He was educated in the public
Cohnrl ~ 81
swung baggage in The little Avon depot
to earn money to complete his
education.
In the Peddie Institute at Nights
town, a preparatory school, and in
Dennison university, Ohio, he won
his tuition with athletic scholarships
and saved enough money out of his
wages as q railroad man in the sum-
mer months to pay his living ex-
penses in the winter. However, in
1905, he was forced to leave college
because of lack Of money
He entered the law Office of the
late Samuel A. Patterson in Asbury
Park studied law and passed his bar
examinations in 1908.
Prompted by desire to serve the
people Of Monmouth, Mr.. Taylor in
1910 became actively engaged IN pol
itics. Always a strong figure in the
Democratic party. following in the
footsteps OF his father, he became
assem- blYman from Monmouth. He
took his seat in the lower house at
Trenton in January 1911 and inn
mediately became leading figure in
the activities of his party which was
then in the majority in the house.
He was reelected to the assembly in
1912. However, the complexion of the
lower house had changed, the Re-
publicans being in control.
For third term he was elected to
the assembly from Monmouth and
that year he was selected, by his
party again in overwheamifR con-
troll of the hoase, to be speaker of
the assembly.
The late President Woodrow Will
son was Governor of New Jersey in
1912. The Democratic National con-
vention selecied him as their candi-
date for President and James F.
Fielder. President of the senate, be-
came acting Governor.
But the state Democratic convention
called Acting Governor Fielder to be
their candidate tor governor and, altho
q ruling of the attorney general said it
was not necessary, he resigned and
Leon Taylor, as speaker Of the lower
house, was elevated to that post.
When the war broke out, the former
acting governor sought to enter the
army, but because Of his poor health
was rejected. He had served as second
lieutenant in old Co. FL and was con-
sidered an efficient officer. However,
determined to see service overseas, he
entered the Red CIR oss service He SER
we'd 10 months in England as director
of supplies and rs a receiving officer
for the wounded and sick officers He
attained the rank of captain in the Red
Cross.
Upon the close of the war he returned
to his home with his parents In Avon
and resumed the practice of law in AS
bury Park. He was active In this
field until about three years ago when
because of ill health he was forced to
relinquish bis practice and retire,
going west in an effort to regain This
health.
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