Taylor Family Genealogy
Descendants of Theophilus Taylor
Generation No. 1
1. THEOPHILUS2 TAYLOR (UNKNOWN1) was born 1759 in Virginia, and died October 05, 1845 in Franklin County, Georgia Buried in Carnes Cemetary Tocca, Georgia. He married (1) VIRGINA CLINKSCALES. She died 1843 in Buried in Carnes Cemetary Tocca, Georgia.
Notes for THEOPHILUS TAYLOR:
There is an early story stating that the first we hear regarding the Taylor Family is that "Theopheus Taylor and a Mr Keller came across from England". This would have been the father of Theophilus (or Theophus, alternate spelling) if the story is correct.
by Jane Taylor
Theophilus Taylor was born in 1759 in Virginia. At an early age he moved with his family to North Carolina. In January, 1779, he was living in Montgomery County, North Carolinam where he was drafted for three months service in the Revolution. During this tour he served under Captain Pawns and Colonel Childs. He was first marched from Montgomery County to Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) to assist General Blufort's wounded men. Then his company marched to Massy Ferry on the Pee Dee River where they remained some time guarding the Ferry. From there they marched to Rockingham Mills where he remained until Colonel Thomas Wade took command of the company and marched them down to Betty's Bridge on Drowning Creek where they had a severe engagement with Hector McNeill who was commander of the Tories and British. After the fight was over they marched back to Kimbry near Massy Ferry, where Theophilus was stationed until his time was out and was discharged.
Theophilus then moved to Anson County, North Carolina where he was again drafted for an eighteen month tour under Captain Theophilus Webb and Colonel Lacey. He was ordered to Charleston, South Carolina and marched within forty miles of the city. He was stationed at what was called Four Holes, where he remained until his time was out and received a printed discharge from General Poak.
Following his second dischargem Theophilus returned to Anson County, North Carolina where he lived about five years. Approximately 1786 he moved to Cheraw District (Chesterfield County, South Carolina) and lived there eighteen years where he raised his family.
The family moved to Franklin County, Georgia around 1805, where they purchased land from Jeremiah and Leah Taylor on the North Fork of the Broad River (adjoining Tate and Dunagan), April 18, 1806. Theophilus and his wife lived on this property (now Stephens County, Georgia) the remaining years of their lives. Theophilus served as First Lieutenant in the local militia district from 1825-1929.
On June 5, 1845, Theophilus Taylor deeded the land on which he lived to (blind) Stephen Taylor of Habersham County, Georgia, and Henry F. L. Taylor of DeKalb County, Alabama for natural love and affection of his grandsons. Theophilus died October 5, 1845 and his wife died about 1843. They are buried in Carnes Creek Cemetery near Toccoa, Georgia. His estate was administered and settled on August 7, 1855 by Jeptha W. and Jeremiah E. Taylor of Forsyth County, Georgia.
by Jerry A. Taylor and Steven C. Taylor
More About THEOPHILUS TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Carnes Creek Cemetery, Toccoa, Ga
Children of THEOPHILUS TAYLOR and VIRGINA CLINKSCALES are:
i. HETTY3 TAYLOR, m. UNKNOWN HOLCOMB.
More About HETTY TAYLOR:
Fact 1: first name in some records as Betty
ii. SALLIE TAYLOR, m. UNKNOWN HOLCOMB.
iii. DELPHA TAYLOR, m. UNKNOWN JOHNSON.
2. iv. JEREMIAH TAYLOR, b. 1773.
3. v. WILLIAM TAYLOR, b. 1789, Cherou, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; d. 1867, Habersham County, Georgia.
Children of THEOPHILUS TAYLOR are:
4. vi. JEREMIAH3 TAYLOR, b. WFT Est. 1773-1781; d. WFT Est. 1797-1869.
vii. WILLIAM TAYLOR, b. 1789, Cherou, Chesterfield Co, SC1; d. WFT Est. 1820-18791; m. FRANCES GAZZAWAY, WFT Est. 1820-18541; b. 1790, South Carolina; d. 1859, Habersham County, Georgia.
More About FRANCES GAZZAWAY:
Fact 1: buried Carnes Creek Cemetery, Toccoa, Ga
viii. SALLY TAYLOR, b. 17911; d. WFT Est. 1819-18851; m. HOLCOMB, WFT Est. 1819-18531; b. WFT Est. 1774-17941; d. WFT Est. 1819-18801.
ix. HETTY TAYLOR, b. 17971; d. WFT Est. 1825-18911; m. HOLCOMB, WFT Est. 1825-18591; b. WFT Est. 1780-18001; d. WFT Est. 1825-18861.
x. DELPHA TAYLOR, b. 17991; d. WFT Est. 1827-18931; m. JOHNSON, WFT Est. 1827-18611; b. WFT Est. 1782-18021; d. WFT Est. 1827-18881.
Generation No. 2
2. JEREMIAH3 TAYLOR (THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born 1773. He married UNKNOWN.
Child of JEREMIAH TAYLOR and UNKNOWN is:
5. i. JEREMIAH4 TAYLOR, JR., b. August 30, 1792, South Carolina; d. November 07, 1871, Gallant, Etowah County, Alabama.
3. WILLIAM3 TAYLOR (THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born 1789 in Cherou, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, and died 1867 in Habersham County, Georgia. He married FRANCES GAZZAWAY. She was born 1790 in South Carolina, and died 1859 in Habersham County, Georgia.
Notes for WILLIAM TAYLOR:
William Taylor, son of Revolutioner Theophilus Taylor, was born about 1789 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. About 1805, he moved with his family to Franklin County, Georgia (now Stephens County) where they settled on the North Fork of the Broad River.
William married a "Miss Gazzaway" (Frances) who was born about 1795 in South Carolina. William raised his family on the Broad River in a "wedged" log house with a high broad fireplace and rock chimney. Habersham County deeds indicate that he sold his Rocky Creek property in 1825, located on the side of the Tugalo River and bounded by John Brown on the East, William Eddins on the North, and by Gabriel Smith on the South and purchased land on the North Fork of the Broad River in Habersham County near his father. Also during this period he drew land in the 1820 Lottery in Irwin County and served on a Franklin County jury with Theophilus Taylor Jr, and Jeremiah Taylor.
William having a son blind from infancy and losing his own sight in his old age, provided for Stephen's security by deeding him 100 acres on the North Fork of the Broad River adjoining the homeplace of Theophilus Taylor.
William died in 1867. Frances died prior to the 1860 Census. They are buried in the Carnes Creek Cemetery in Stephens County Georgia.
By Jerry A Taylor and Steven C Taylor.
More About FRANCES GAZZAWAY:
Fact 1: buried Carnes Creek Cemetery, Toccoa, Ga
Children of WILLIAM TAYLOR and FRANCES GAZZAWAY are:
i. THOMAS W.4 TAYLOR, b. 1810; d. April 25, 1874; m. NANCY COLLIER, February 13, 1856.
Notes for THOMAS W. TAYLOR:
Thomas W Taylor and his wife, Nancy, lived in Habersham County, Georgia. In March 1838, he enlisted in a Company commanded by Captain Charles Wright Bond in the "War In The Removal of the Cherokee Indians From Georgia To Arkansas In The Year 1838" and served about three months. Applying for a widow's pension, Nancy Taylor described Thomas as "six feet high, his weight about 175 or 180, fair skin, blue gray eyed, and yellow hair."
by Jerry A Taylor and Steven C Taylor
6. ii. CALEB TAYLOR, b. January 09, 1811, Franklin County, Georgia (Now Stephens County); d. September 06, 1887, Habersham County, Georgia.
7. iii. JOHN TAYLOR, b. 1813, Habersham County, Georgia; d. February 19, 1893, Towns County, Georgia.
8. iv. SPENCER RANDOLPH TAYLOR, b. 1814; d. August 15, 1873, Dover, Pope County, Arkansas.
9. v. MILLIE TAYLOR, b. 1816, Georgia.
10. vi. MATILDA TAYLOR, b. 1817; d. 1900.
vii. UNKNOWN TAYLOR, b. 1819.
viii. SUSAN MAMIE TAYLOR, b. 1822, Habersham Co, Georgia.
More About SUSAN MAMIE TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Carnes Creek Cemetery, Toccoa, Ga
Fact 2: her tombstone is in the Taylor family plot
ix. ELIZABETH TAYLOR, b. 1823, Habersham Co, Georgia.
Notes for ELIZABETH TAYLOR:
Elizabeth and some children are shown living in the William Taylor household in the 1860 Census.
by Jerry A Taylor and Steven C Taylor
11. x. ANDREW JACKSON TAYLOR, b. 1825, Habersham County, Georgia; d. 1898, Towns County, Georgia.
12. xi. JEREMIAH MARTIN TAYLOR, b. December 19, 1827, Habersham County, Georgia; d. August 07, 1904, Towns County, Georgia.
13. xii. MARY POLLY TAYLOR, b. 1829.
14. xiii. WOFFORD GILBERT TAYLOR, b. June 11, 1830, Franklin (HART) County, GA; d. February 12, 1910, Bartow County.
15. xiv. WILLIAM TAYLOR, b. 1834.
xv. STEPHENS TAYLOR, b. 1840, Habersham Co, Georgia; d. 1897, Habersham Co, Georgia; m. (1) KITTIE ANN EDMONDS, February 10, 1860; m. (2) NANCY MINERVA FRIAR, August 31, 1871.
Notes for STEPHENS TAYLOR:
Although Steve was blind from infancy, he was very intelligent. He could figure in his head how much lumber would be needed in a house after the plans were read to him. He could also determine the day of the week someone was born, and many other things. He was a good singer and could play the organ. Steve Taylor lived near Toccoa, Stephens County, Georgia. Steve's father, William, having a son blind from infancy and losing his sight in his old age, provided for Stephen's security by deeding him 100 acres on the North Fork of the Broad River adjoining the homeplace of Theophilus Taylor.
Stephen is buried in the Taylor section at Carnes Creek Cemetery beside his first wife and near his parents.
by Jerry A Taylor and Steven C Taylor
More About STEPHENS TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Carnes Creek Cemetery, Toccoa, Ga
4. JEREMIAH3 TAYLOR (THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born WFT Est. 1773-17811, and died WFT Est. 1797-18691.
Child of JEREMIAH TAYLOR is:
i. JEREMIAH4 TAYLOR, b. August 30, 1792, SC1; d. November 07, 1871, Gallant, Etowah Co, AL1; m. CHARLOTTE HOLCOMBE, WFT Est. 1827-18591; b. 1799, GA; d. October 29, 1886, Gallant, Etowah Co, AL.
More About CHARLOTTE HOLCOMBE:
Fact 1: buried in Brasher Family Cemetery
Generation No. 3
5. JEREMIAH4 TAYLOR, JR. (JEREMIAH3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born August 30, 1792 in South Carolina, and died November 07, 1871 in Gallant, Etowah County, Alabama. He married CHARLOTTE HOLCOMBE. She was born 1799 in GA, and died October 29, 1886 in Gallant, Etowah Co, AL.
More About JEREMIAH TAYLOR, JR.:
Fact 1: buried Brasher Family Cemetery
Fact 2: Etowah County, Alabama
More About CHARLOTTE HOLCOMBE:
Fact 1: buried in Brasher Family Cemetery
Children of JEREMIAH TAYLOR and CHARLOTTE HOLCOMBE are:
i. ELIZABETH5 TAYLOR, b. March 1832, GA.
16. ii. SARAH P. TAYLOR, b. 1836, Georgia; d. February 04, 1908, Gallant, Etowah County, Alabama.
6. CALEB4 TAYLOR (WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born January 09, 1811 in Franklin County, Georgia (Now Stephens County), and died September 06, 1887 in Habersham County, Georgia. He married MARY JANE BELL, daughter of THOMAS BELL and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN. She died October 29, 1884 in Habersham County, Georgia.
More About CALEB TAYLOR:
Fact 1: lived in Stephens County, Georgia
Children of CALEB TAYLOR and MARY BELL are:
17. i. BASHEBA CAROLINE5 TAYLOR, b. September 1842; d. December 12, 1852, Dayton, Arkansas.
ii. FRANCIS W. TAYLOR, b. 1845; d. 1861.
More About FRANCIS W. TAYLOR:
Fact 1: nicknamed Frank
iii. JEREMIAH CAMPBELL TAYLOR, b. 1846.
iv. BRUNETTA TAYLOR, b. 1849.
18. v. WALTON CRAWFORD TAYLOR, b. January 27, 1853, Habersham County, Georgia; d. December 11, 1918, Stephens County, Georgia.
19. vi. ALAMEDA CATHERINE TAYLOR, b. December 30, 1854.
vii. CLARKIE ANN SAPHRONIA NAOMI TAYLOR, b. February 18, 1857; d. March 08, 1897; m. BUTLER HUFF.
20. viii. MARY ANN NAOMI TAYLOR, b. August 14, 1859; d. August 01, 1945.
ix. MANDA TAYLOR, b. January 20, 1861; d. October 1870.
x. EMMA ANNA SAVANNAH TAYLOR, b. October 17, 1865; d. March 21, 1939; m. UNKNOWN SYMMES.
7. JOHN4 TAYLOR (WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born 1813 in Habersham County, Georgia, and died February 19, 1893 in Towns County, Georgia. He married MARTHA PATSY WHEELER October 07, 1843 in Franklin County, Georgia (Now Stephens County). She was born August 31, 1824 in Franklin County, Georgia, and died December 25, 1904.
Notes for JOHN TAYLOR:
He was born 1813 in Habersham County, Georgia, and died feb 19, 1893 in Towns County, Georgia. Buried in Mt Zion Cemetery. Son of William and Frances Gazzaway Taylor and raised on the North Fork of the Broad River.
Applying for an Indian War Veteran's Pension on October 17, 1892, John Taylor stated that he was "6 ft high, hair brown, eyes black and by occupation a farmer," made an affadavit before the Ordinary that he served "as a Private in Captain Charles Wright Bond's Company, Militia, Cherokee Wars in the year 1838. That he enlisted at Carnesville, Franklin County, Georgia in March 1838 and was Honorably Discharged at New Echota, Georgia on July 2, 1838. The U.S. Treasury Department confirmed that he was paid from March 23 to July 1, 1838- three months, 10days and 14 days travel pay, 140 miles to the place of rendezvous and 140 miles from the place of Discharge, home
John Taylor died Feb 19, 1893, before the pension was allowed; however, under the Act of 1855, he had received 120 acres from the State by Bounty Land Warrant Number 78447.
Following John's death, Martha applied for a Widow's Pension November 7, 1893. She stated in an affadavit that she was born in Franklin County on 31st day of August 1824. Jeremiah Tayalor and Eliza Ann Wheeler of Mountain Scene. Georgia attested that John Taylor and Martha Wheeler were married at the house of Susan Wheeler in the County of Franklin, State of Georgia, on or about the 7th day of October 1843. That one Asa Payne, a Justice of the Peace, administered the rites of marriage and pronounced them lawfully man and wife.
Satisfying the requirements, Martha was pensioned at the rate of $8.00 per month and received the pension until her death December 25, 1904. She and John are buried in the Mt Zion Cemetery.
Before John and Martha Taylor moved to Union (Towns) county in the 1840's, they lived in Macon County, North Carolina for a short time. In Towns County, John Taylor made his home one mile south of Mt Zion Church on Lot 26 in the 19th District and First Section. Ben Taylor, in "The Taylors Settling in Towns County," wrote "John Taylor lived out his long and useful life of about 80 years there. And as to his occupation, he was a farmer, a blacksmith, and could play the violin at will. He was a member of the Baptist Church and lived a good quiet life. Reared a large and respectful family, and was liked and respected by all who knew him."
By Jerry A Taylor
More About JOHN TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Mt Zion Cemetery
Children of JOHN TAYLOR and MARTHA WHEELER are:
21. i. JAMES5 TAYLOR, b. August 11, 1844, Union (Towns) County, Georgia; d. November 18, 1917.
ii. JOHN TAYLOR, JR., b. May 03, 1848.
22. iii. BRUNETTA TAYLOR, b. December 27, 1849, Union (Towns) County, Georgia.
23. iv. MARY ETTA TAYLOR, b. February 24, 1852, Union (Towns) County, Georgia; d. February 09, 1936, Towns County, Georgia.
24. v. JULIA ANN TAYLOR, b. March 04, 1854.
25. vi. BUCHANAN TAYLOR, b. September 30, 1856, Towns County, Georgia.
26. vii. ANDREW J. TAYLOR, b. January 18, 1859, Towns County, Georgia; d. June 30, 1925, Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado.
27. viii. JOSEPHINE TAYLOR, b. April 28, 1861, Towns County, Georgia; d. September 13, 1941, Towns County, Georgia.
28. ix. SARAH JANE TAYLOR, b. May 23, 1863, Towns County, Georgia; d. March 17, 1942.
29. x. ALICE MARTHA TAYLOR, b. May 03, 1866, Towns County, Georgia.
30. xi. NEWTON TAYLOR, b. September 16, 1868, Towns County, Georgia; d. September 25, 1936, Towns County, Georgia.
8. SPENCER RANDOLPH4 TAYLOR (WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born 1814, and died August 15, 1873 in Dover, Pope County, Arkansas. He married CYNTHIA HOLCOMBE November 13, 1836. She died September 19, 1891 in Dover, Pope County, Arkansas.
Children of SPENCER TAYLOR and CYNTHIA HOLCOMBE are:
i. FARIBY J.5 TAYLOR, b. 1838.
ii. MALINDA TAYLOR, b. 1839.
iii. FRANCES M. TAYLOR, b. 1841.
iv. WILLIAM L. TAYLOR, b. 1843.
31. v. JOHN MORGAN TAYLOR, b. January 04, 1846; d. April 27, 1929, Denton Tx.
vi. FAZET M. TAYLOR, b. 1847.
vii. MARY ANN TAYLOR, b. 1849.
9. MILLIE4 TAYLOR (WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born 1816 in Georgia. She married THEOPHILUS ALFRED HOLCOMB December 15, 1840 in Habersham County, Georgia, son of JOHN HOLCOMB and UNKNOWN.
Children of MILLIE TAYLOR and THEOPHILUS HOLCOMB are:
i. WILLIAM W.5 HOLCOMB, b. 1842.
ii. MARY HOLCOMB, b. 1845.
32. iii. MCDANIEL HOLCOMB, b. February 1847, Georgia; d. 1925, Cherokee, Alabama.
iv. JAMES JOSEPH HOLCOMB, b. 1849.
v. THOMAS F. HOLCOMB, b. 1850, Georgia.
vi. SARAH F. HOLCOMB, b. 1852, Georgia.
vii. SHEHARD SHERWOOD HOLCOMB, b. 1857.
viii. CICERO C. HOLCOMB, b. 1859.
10. MATILDA4 TAYLOR (WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born 1817, and died 1900. She married BILLY BELL, son of THOMAS BELL and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN.
Children of MATILDA TAYLOR and BILLY BELL are:
i. HARRIETT5 BELL.
ii. JABEL BELL.
iii. EMILY BELL, m. SAM DAVIS.
iv. GILBERT BELL, b. 1859; d. 1945, Stephens Co, Georgia; m. JOSEPHINE WHITTEN.
11. ANDREW JACKSON4 TAYLOR (WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born 1825 in Habersham County, Georgia, and died 1898 in Towns County, Georgia. He married (1) NANCY ELIZABETH GILBERT December 31, 1848 in Towns County, Georgia, daughter of JOHN GILBERT and ELIZABETH RAY. She died in Towns County, Georgia. He married (2) M. M. AUSTIN November 11, 1883 in Clay County, North Carolina.
Notes for ANDREW JACKSON TAYLOR:
Andrew Jackson "Jackie" Taylor, son of William and Frances Gazzaway Taylor was born in 1825 in Habersham (now Stephens) County, Georgia and raised on the North Fork of the Broad River. In the 1840's he and two brothers, John and Jeremiah, migrated to what is now Towns County where he settled near the foot of Unicoi Mountain. He married Nancy Gilbert, daughter of John and Elizabeth Ray Gilbert, on December 31, 1848. She was a sister to his brother Jeremiah's wife, Mary .
A. J. Taylor enlisted in Company A, 6th Georgia Calvary, CSA during the Civil War. In his application for a Confederate Pension, he stated that at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, September 12, 1863, he was shot in the left arm and the side of the body.
In "The Taylors Settling in Towns County." Ben Taylor wrote "Jackie proceeded to clear up and improve his land, and set out a lot of fruit trees. He built a corn mill and ran it with the power of water furnished by the head of Hiawassee River and ground meal for himself and all the surrounding settlement for as long as he lived which was to a ripe old age. By trade he was a farmer, a miller, and a blacksmith. He had a shop and a small store and sold goods for many years. His wife dying and leaving him alone he married the second time but no children born to the second marriage. He was a member of the Baptist Church, lived a good and quiet life, and raised a nice and respectable family."
Jackie Taylor died in 1898. He and Nancy are buried in the Mt Zion Cemetery.
By Jerry A Taylor
More About ANDREW JACKSON TAYLOR:
Fact 1: nicknamed Jackie
Fact 2: buried Mt Zion Church cemetery
More About NANCY ELIZABETH GILBERT:
Fact 1: buried Mt Zion Cemetery
Children of ANDREW TAYLOR and NANCY GILBERT are:
33. i. NANCY ELIZABETH5 TAYLOR, b. December 10, 1850, Union (Towns) County, Georgia; d. August 05, 1910.
ii. MARY A. TAYLOR, b. 1852, Towns County, Georgia; m. UNKNOWN ROGERS.
More About MARY A. TAYLOR:
Fact 1: nicknamed Dart
34. iii. WILLIAM ALBERT TAYLOR, b. November 14, 1853, Union (Towns) County, Georgia; d. July 07, 1917, Gillsville, Georgia.
iv. GEORGE W. TAYLOR, b. 1858, Towns County, Georgia; m. (1) UNKNOWN BURCH; m. (2) UNKNOWN DOVER.
35. v. ROBERT W. TAYLOR, b. November 20, 1862, Towns County, Georgia; d. May 05, 1936, Towns County, Georgia.
36. vi. FRANCIS BARTOW TAYLOR, b. September 13, 1866, Towns County, Georgia; d. November 02, 1938, Towns County, Georgia.
12. JEREMIAH MARTIN4 TAYLOR (WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born December 19, 1827 in Habersham County, Georgia, and died August 07, 1904 in Towns County, Georgia. He married (1) MARY GILBERT October 25, 1846 in Union County, Georgia, daughter of JOHN GILBERT and ELIZABETH RAY. She died August 22, 1871 in Towns County, Georgia Buried in Mt. Zion Church Cemetary. He married (2) DELILAH CROW LLOYD August 29, 1872, daughter of SILAS CROW and RUTH EBETT. She died July 10, 1936 in Towns County, Georgia Buried in Mt. Zion Church Cemetary.
Notes for JEREMIAH MARTIN TAYLOR:
Jeremiah Martin "Jerry" Taylor, son of William and Frances Gazzaway Taylor and grandson of Revolutioner Theophilus Taylor, was born December 19, 1827 in Habersham (now Stephens) County, Georgia and was raised on the North Fork of the Broad River. In the mid 1840's, following the removal of the Cherokees, he and two brothers, John and Andrew Jackson, all in their 20's, left home and migrated to what is now Towns County where they settled in the Owl Creek Community. Jeremiah went to General James R Wyly, a family friend from Habersham County, for advice and counsil. General Wyly, an influential man with large property and slave holdings, permitted him to live on his land until he was financially able to buy his own land.
On the first Tuesday in December 1848, 13 interest in Lot 293 of the 18th District was "knocked off to Jeremiah Taylor before the courthouse door in Blairsville at the price of $15.00, he being the highest bidder." On March 12, 1851, he purchased the remaining 23 interest for $150, making a total of 160 acres. The lot had originally been drawn in the Cherokee Land Lottery by Arthur C Perry's orphans of Twiggs County, Georgia. Matthew Wright, Attorney, handled the sale. Since there was no safe way to send money through the mail, Jeremiah Taylor was advised to cut the bills in half and send them in separate mail runs, which he did and secured the land.
The home on Owl Creek in which Jeremiah Taylor raised his family was a dog-trot style log house wedged by dovetail notches. The large living room had puncheon board floors and a 6' broad rock fireplace with soapstone hearth and trim. The breezeway separated the living area from the kitchen, which was in the back, and the entire structure was covered by the sleeping loft.
On October 25, 1846, he married Nancy Gilbert, daughter of John and Elizabeth Ray Gilbert, who had moved from Wilkes County, North Carolina. They had seven children prior to Jeremiah enlisting in the service during the Civil War. Their names were Harvey Pinson, Adaline, William Gilbert, Sarah Ann, Mary Jane (died young), John Willborn, and Josephine (died young).
Roused by the spirit of the times, Jeremiah enlisted February 9, 1863 in Company A, 6th Georgia Cavalry and rode under the command of Colonel John R Hart in A J Iverson's Brigade under Brig. General John Pegram, commander of the Calvary Division, CSA. During his Civil War tour, Jeremiah and his company rode the grounds from Cumberland Gap, Tennessee to Chickamauga, Georgia and were involved in numerous skirmishes. During the Chickamauga Campaign the 6th Georgia Calvary saw action at: Leet's Tan-Yard against Wilder's Lightning Brigade of mounted infantry, Reed's Saw Mill on the memorable field of the Chickamaug; Missionary Ridge against Colonel Minty's mounted infantry- part of Rosencrans Army; Chattanooga and Hiawassee Road against the 59th Ohio infantry; and skirmishes at Pea Vine Creek against the 1st Kentucky Infantry.
During the Chickamauga Campaigns, Jeremiah was "...wounded in the right hand from firing guns. His hand became feverent, infected, and stiffened all his fingers to the point his hand was rendered essentially and substantially useless." The infection also created chronic complications which further hindered him from performing the required tasks of the Calvary. In July 1864, Jeremiah Martin Taylor was honorably discharged for the wound he received and subsequently received a monthly pension of $25/$30 during his and his widow's aging years respectively.
Returning home to Owl Creek, he resumed his life of farming and providing for his family, yet the impressions of the war remained with him to the extent that he named his next child Robert E Lee Taylor. The last child of Jeremiah and Mary Gilbert Taylor was Georgia Lou Taylor, born July 26, 1867.
Only four years after the birth of Georgia Lou, Mary Gilbert Taylor, at age 43, died (August 22, 1871) and was buried in Mt Zion Cemetery.
Following Mary's death, Jeremiah married Delilah, the daughter of Silas Crow and the widow of Bryam Marshall Lloyd, August 29, 1872. They had two children: Benjamin Hill Taylor and Alfred Taylor.
Jeremiah Martin Taylor's principal livelihood and support for his family was farming. In addition to his first land, he accumulated lots 294, 291, and part of 286 in the 18th District of Towns County. Maintaining and cultivating over 300 acres, he used the remaining land as investments for selling the timber and mineral rights. Life on the farm demanded hard labor, family cooperation, and the use of oxen, mules, and horses for working the soil. It was recorded in the 1850's that Jeremiah was given "a certain yoke of oxen of a dim or brindle color with a white face, each ablout 3 years old" for a $28 debt owed by Charles T Smith, which no doubt helped in its own small way the chores of farming the land.
Jeremiah M Taylor was also a stock raiser, a blacksmith and mechanic, a nurseryman-growing fruit trees, and musician-able to play the Vl'lin at will. Being a respected member of the community, he served as a Justice of the Peace of G M District 1243, a Commissioner of the Unicoy Turnpike and as Clerk of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Soapstone Gap until so many people moved out that it was dissolved and merged with Mt Zion in the 1880's.
Leaving his homestead to his wife and dispersing his property to his ten remaining children, Jeremiah M Taylor died August 7, 1904 and was buried in Mt Zion Cemetery beside his first wife, Mary Gilbert Taylor, and after having dwelled in his adopted mountain homeland for 69 years. Delilah Crow Lloyd Taylor died July 10, 1936 and was also buried in Mt Zion Cemetery.
By Jerry A Taylor and Steven C Taylor
More About JEREMIAH MARTIN TAYLOR:
Fact 1: nicknamed Jerry
Fact 2: buried Mt Zion Church cemetery
Children of JEREMIAH TAYLOR and MARY GILBERT are:
37. i. HARVEY PINSON5 TAYLOR, b. March 12, 1848, Towns County, Georgia; d. February 28, 1915, Cobb County, GA.
38. ii. ADALINE TAYLOR, b. March 04, 1850, Union County, Georgia; d. Union (Towns) County, Georgia.
39. iii. WILLIAM GILBERT TAYLOR, b. March 29, 1852, Towns County, Georgia; d. November 11, 1933, Towns County, Georgia.
40. iv. SARAH ANN TAYLOR, b. July 07, 1854, Union (Towns) County, Georgia.
v. MARY JANE TAYLOR, b. November 25, 1857, Towns County, Georgia.
More About MARY JANE TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Mt Zion Cemetery
41. vi. JOHN WILLBORN TAYLOR, b. July 04, 1860, Towns County, Georgia.
vii. JOSEPHINE TAYLOR, b. March 05, 1863, Towns County, Georgia.
More About JOSEPHINE TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Mt Zion Cemetery
42. viii. ROBERT E. LEE TAYLOR, b. November 29, 1865, Towns County, Georgia; d. October 21, 1927, Jefferson County, Alabama.
43. ix. GEORGIA LOU TAYLOR, b. July 26, 1867, Towns County, Georgia; d. June 16, 1952, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Children of JEREMIAH TAYLOR and DELILAH LLOYD are:
44. x. BENJAMIN HILL5 TAYLOR, b. February 20, 1876, Towns County, Georgia; d. December 01, 1961, Towns County, Georgia.
45. xi. ALFRED C. TAYLOR, SR., b. November 18, 1880, Towns County, Georgia.
13. MARY POLLY4 TAYLOR (WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born 1829. She married (1) UNKNOWN HAYGOOD. She married (2) JOSHUA E. PURCELL.
Child of MARY TAYLOR and JOSHUA PURCELL is:
46. i. FLEMING FLETCHER5 PURCELL, b. July 26, 1866, Georgia; d. September 21, 1936, Baxley (Appling County), Georgia.
14. WOFFORD GILBERT4 TAYLOR (WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born June 11, 1830 in Franklin (HART) County, GA, and died February 12, 1910 in Bartow County. He married UNKNOWN UNKNOWN.
Notes for WOFFORD GILBERT TAYLOR:
It is passed down that Wofford Gilbert Taylor lived in or near Polk County, Georgia.
By Jerry A Taylor and Steve A Taylor
More About WOFFORD GILBERT TAYLOR:
Fact 1: Buried in Taylorsville GA
Fact 2: nicknamed Wilford
Children of WOFFORD TAYLOR and UNKNOWN UNKNOWN are:
i. UNKNOWN5 TAYLOR.
ii. UNKNOWN TAYLOR.
iii. UNKNOWN TAYLOR.
iv. H. T. TAYLOR.
v. WOFFORD TAYLOR.
vi. G. N. TAYLOR.
15. WILLIAM4 TAYLOR (WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born 1834. He married UNKNOWN WIFE.
Child of WILLIAM TAYLOR and UNKNOWN WIFE is:
47. i. WILLIAM JESS5 TAYLOR, b. January 31, 1858, Franklin County, Georgia (Now Stephens County); d. March 22, 1926, Stephens County, Georgia.
Generation No. 4
16. SARAH P.5 TAYLOR (JEREMIAH4, JEREMIAH3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born 1836 in Georgia, and died February 04, 1908 in Gallant, Etowah County, Alabama. She married (1) WILLIAM CARROLL LEE January 12, 1864, son of NEEDHAM LEE and SUSAN BAILEY. He died in Buried in Conn Cemetery. She married (2) WILLIAM CARROLL LEE January 12, 18641, son of NEEDHAM LEE and SUSAN BAILEY. He was born June 14, 1796 in Georgia or TN1, and died April 06, 1884 in Gallant, Etowah Co, AL1.
Children of SARAH TAYLOR and WILLIAM LEE are:
i. ROBERT E.6 LEE, b. 1865; d. Bef. 1900.
48. ii. ELIZA JANE LEE, b. October 31, 1867, Alabama; d. July 31, 1903, Gallant, Etowah County, Alabama.
Child of SARAH TAYLOR and WILLIAM LEE is:
49. iii. ELIZA JANE6 LEE, b. October 31, 1867, Alabama; d. July 31, 1903, Gallant, Etowah Co, AL.
17. BASHEBA CAROLINE5 TAYLOR (CALEB4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born September 1842, and died December 12, 1852 in Dayton, Arkansas. She married THOMPSON ADDISON.
Child of BASHEBA TAYLOR and THOMPSON ADDISON is:
50. i. GARRETT CALEB CHRISTOPHER6 ADDISON.
18. WALTON CRAWFORD5 TAYLOR (CALEB4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born January 27, 1853 in Habersham County, Georgia, and died December 11, 1918 in Stephens County, Georgia. He married MARTHA ANN KEELING February 08, 1877 in Habersham County, Georgia, daughter of LITTLETON KEELING and JUDITH AYERS. She died May 02, 1948 in Stephens County, Georgia; Buried at Liberty Hill Baptist Church.
Notes for WALTON CRAWFORD TAYLOR:
Walton Crawford Taylor was born January 27, 1853 near Toccoa in Habersham County, Georgia (now Stephens County). He was educated in the public school of that community. He joined the Baptist Church adn started an active membership that continued throughout his life.
On the 8th day of February, 1877, he married Miss Martha Ann Keeling. Miss Keeling was reared there in the same community as Mr Taylor and enjoyed the same advantages of education that he did. Miss Keeling was also a member of the Baptist Church, having joined at an early age and continuing as an active member throughout her lifetime. The couple was married at the home of the bride's father L M Keeling, with the ceremony performed by the Reverend Elder JOhn Kytle.
To this union was born fourteen children, two of whom died in infancy. One of those two children was a twin to Oscar Lee Taylor.
Mr Taylor was a prominent farmer and business man. He operated twelve farms, and a mercatile store at the family home near the Broad River and he also owned rental property.
Mr Taylor lived his entire life on the same plantation where he was born and where he died on December 11, 1918. He was buried on December 13, 1918 at the Liberty Hill Baptist Church, having been a member of that church most of his life.
by Jane Taylor, Great Granddaughter
More About WALTON CRAWFORD TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Liberty Hill Baptist Church
Children of WALTON TAYLOR and MARTHA KEELING are:
51. i. BURNETTE ROSA6 TAYLOR, b. May 15, 1878; d. July 05, 1971, Stephens County Georgia.
52. ii. WALTON ALEX STEPHENS TAYLOR, b. November 07, 1879; d. June 06, 1952.
53. iii. WILLIAM HARRISON TAYLOR, b. March 05, 1881; d. September 20, 1952.
54. iv. ELLA MAE TAYLOR, b. May 30, 1883; d. September 29, 1953.
55. v. LITTLETON FRANK TAYLOR, b. August 18, 1884; d. July 22, 1945.
56. vi. CALEB MADISON TAYLOR, b. April 01, 1886, Stephens County GA; d. September 29, 1958, Atlanta GA.
57. vii. OSCAR LEE TAYLOR, b. March 13, 1888; d. May 04, 1965, Stephens County GA.
58. viii. THOMAS HILLIARD TAYLOR, SR, b. December 18, 1889, Stephens County GA; d. July 06, 1961, Stephens County GA.
59. ix. VINNIE TAYLOR, b. April 13, 1893; d. March 16, 1985.
x. VADA SAVILLA TAYLOR, b. July 07, 1893; m. (1) TOM ANDERSON; m. (2) JOHN WILLIAM ADAMS, May 14, 1916; d. March 19, 1944.
60. xi. VIOLA ANN TAYLOR, b. September 28, 1895; d. July 15, 1982, Stephens County GA.
xii. VERNICE CLEO TAYLOR, b. July 30, 1898; d. December 26, 1971.
19. ALAMEDA CATHERINE5 TAYLOR (CALEB4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born December 30, 1854. She married ROBERT ALEXANDER NAVES, son of GEORGE NAVES and JANE UNKNOWN. He died May 10, 1909.
Children of ALAMEDA TAYLOR and ROBERT NAVES are:
61. i. ALAMEDA LORENA6 NAVES, b. August 10, 1873; d. November 12, 1967.
ii. HARRISON HOYT NAVES, b. July 10, 1875; d. November 08, 1880.
62. iii. ROBERT WADE NAVES, b. May 07, 1877; d. June 27, 1942.
iv. ALEXANDER CRAWFORD NAVES, b. November 25, 1879; d. October 02, 1955.
v. CLARKIE JANE NAVES, b. July 16, 1883.
vi. CLARA ELVIRA NAVES, b. July 27, 1887; d. 1960; m. WILLIAM THOMAS ACREE; b. January 12, 1853; d. May 16, 1923, Stephens Co, Georgia.
Notes for CLARA ELVIRA NAVES:
Clara Naves married William Thomas Acree and lived in Atlanta. William Thomas Acree was the son of James Knox Acree, born Jan 12, 1853, and died May 16, 1923 in Stephens County, Georgia, Clara was killed in an automobile accident in the 1960's.
vii. GEORGE BRUCE NAVES, b. September 12, 1889.
viii. WILLIAM PIKE NAVES, b. August 10, 1892; d. December 10, 1913.
Notes for WILLIAM PIKE NAVES:
William Pike Naves, a flagman on the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, met his death under the wheels of some of the cars he was switching at the yards on Tuesday morning, December 9, 1913, at about 7:30 am. His body was fearfully mangled and death was instant. He fell from the top of a car between two cars. His body below the waist was ground to a pulp. Naves was 21 years old and unmarried. He was from Toccoa, where his remains were carried for burial.
20. MARY ANN NAOMI5 TAYLOR (CALEB4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born August 14, 1859, and died August 01, 1945. She married SAMUEL HARRISON LODEN January 03, 1877. He died March 19, 1924.
Children of MARY TAYLOR and SAMUEL LODEN are:
63. i. AMANDA NAOMI6 LODEN, b. March 18, 1878; d. August 20, 1964.
64. ii. JOHN HARRISON LODEN, b. January 08, 1880; d. January 20, 1968.
65. iii. ISABELLA GABRILLA LODEN, b. February 06, 1882; d. May 09, 1948.
iv. PAUL LODEN, b. January 13, 1884; d. June 13, 1908.
v. GEORGE LUTHER LODEN, b. July 15, 1886; d. February 18, 1931; m. (1) LUCILLE MARTIN, 1915; m. (2) NANCY DICKSON, October 26, 1917.
vi. MAUD ELIZABETH LODEN, b. October 05, 1888; d. February 10, 1981; m. SAMUEL F WILLIAMS, December 25, 1910.
vii. CHARLES SPURGEON LODEN, b. February 05, 1891; d. December 17, 1948; m. EUL JOHNSON, June 14, 1921.
66. viii. ALMEDIA LOUISE LODEN, b. January 15, 1893; d. November 09, 1981.
ix. MARY MAY LODEN, b. July 14, 1895; d. August 19, 1980; m. RANDOLPH JOE ANDREWS, January 15, 1920.
x. SAMUEL EMERSON LODEN, b. December 31, 1897; d. January 03, 1944.
21. JAMES5 TAYLOR (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born August 11, 1844 in Union (Towns) County, Georgia, and died November 18, 1917. He married SARAH E. SMITH January 11, 1867 in Towns County, Georgia. She died November 09, 1898.
Children of JAMES TAYLOR and SARAH SMITH are:
i. AMANDA J.6 TAYLOR, b. 1868; d. 1900; m. STEVE KEMP.
ii. JOHN LUTHER TAYLOR, b. 1871; m. BETTY MCCLURE.
iii. ETTA EMILY TAYLOR, b. 1872; d. 1943; m. JOHN HENRY BROWN.
iv. LOUANA TAYLOR, b. 1873; d. 1895.
v. SUMNER J. TAYLOR, b. 1875; d. 1961; m. CARRIE REYNOLDS.
vi. RACHEL VIOLA TAYLOR, b. 1877; d. 1968; m. STEVE KEMP.
67. vii. MARY MAGDELINE TAYLOR, b. May 11, 1880; d. February 07, 1974.
viii. ALICE A. TAYLOR, b. 1883.
ix. ADDIE LEE TAYLOR, b. 1885; d. 1964; m. JERRY ROSS.
x. CARRIE ELIZABETH TAYLOR, b. 1887; d. 1948; m. (1) JIM MARLOW; m. (2) UNKNOWN GUYTON.
xi. ISA MAE TAYLOR, b. 1889; d. 1948; m. TOM GENTRY.
xii. GEORGIA ANN TAYLOR, b. 1892; d. 1970; m. CHARLES ANDERSON.
22. BRUNETTA5 TAYLOR (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born December 27, 1849 in Union (Towns) County, Georgia. She married JOHN L. TEAGUE.
More About BRUNETTA TAYLOR:
Fact 1: nicknamed Netty
Fact 2: lived in Lula, Georgia, Banks County
More About JOHN L. TEAGUE:
Fact 1: nicknamed Lodge
Children of BRUNETTA TAYLOR and JOHN TEAGUE are:
i. JOHN6 TEAGUE, b. 1875, North Carolina.
ii. OLIVER TEAGUE, b. 1877, Georgia.
iii. EDDY TEAGUE, b. 1878, Georgia.
iv. PARM TEAGUE, b. 1878, Georgia.
v. IOWA TEAGUE, b. 1879, Georgia.
vi. HATTIE TEAGUE, b. 1887, Towns County, Georgia.
23. MARY ETTA5 TAYLOR (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born February 24, 1852 in Union (Towns) County, Georgia, and died February 09, 1936 in Towns County, Georgia. She married AMANUEL NELSON WOOD February 20, 1871 in Towns County, Georgia. He died October 26, 1924 in Towns County, Georgia.
More About MARY ETTA TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Brasstown Baptist Church Cemetery
Fact 2: lived near Aquone, North Carolina
More About AMANUEL NELSON WOOD:
Fact 1: buried Brasstown Baptist Church Cemetery
Children of MARY TAYLOR and AMANUEL WOOD are:
68. i. THOMAS NEWTON6 WOOD, b. July 13, 1872, Towns County, Georgia; d. 1953, Clark Co, Ga.
69. ii. LAURA WOOD, b. May 06, 1875; d. July 22, 1964.
70. iii. ELLA WOOD, b. June 17, 1877; d. April 20, 1928, Andrews, Cherokee County, North, Carolina.
iv. MAGDALENE WOOD, b. September 07, 1879; d. March 15, 1913; m. TOM ROPER, May 01, 1911.
More About MAGDALENE WOOD:
Fact 1: nicknamed Maggie
v. JULIA WOOD, b. September 07, 1881; d. March 01, 1901; m. JOHN GREGORY, September 02, 1900.
vi. AMANUEL WOOD, b. February 29, 1884; d. November 10, 1886.
71. vii. MARY ETTA WOOD, b. October 18, 1886; d. July 13, 1961.
72. viii. JAMES ARTHUR WOOD, b. February 18, 1889, Natahala NC; d. December 04, 1949, Warne, Clay county NC.
73. ix. FLORENCE WOOD, b. November 13, 1892; d. August 18, 1978, Towns County, Georgia.
24. JULIA ANN5 TAYLOR (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born March 04, 1854. She married WILLIAM SMITH.
Notes for JULIA ANN TAYLOR:
William and Julia Ann Smith moved to Texas. Julia was in California when she was last heard from.
Child of JULIA TAYLOR and WILLIAM SMITH is:
i. THOMAS6 SMITH.
Notes for THOMAS SMITH:
Thomas Smith followed the rodeos and was a champion bucking horse rider.
25. BUCHANAN5 TAYLOR (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born September 30, 1856 in Towns County, Georgia. He married ADDIE STEP.
Notes for BUCHANAN TAYLOR:
Buchanan and Addie went to Texas.
Children of BUCHANAN TAYLOR and ADDIE STEP are:
i. JOHN6 TAYLOR.
ii. NISH TAYLOR.
iii. ANDREW TAYLOR.
26. ANDREW J.5 TAYLOR (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born January 18, 1859 in Towns County, Georgia, and died June 30, 1925 in Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado. He married SARAH LAVETA TURNER November 14, 1894 in Fruita, Mesa County, Colorado, daughter of NATHAN TURNER and CATHERINE PICKLE. She died February 19, 1940 in Colorado.
Notes for ANDREW J. TAYLOR:
I have little information on Grandfather except he was a very nice person, and was well liked. My mother, Josephine Taylor Beck, told me that the Indians knew him as the man who roped cattle left handed.
They lived on or near the Indian Reservation near Cisco, Utah after he and Sarah Turner were married. They moved the cattle over Glade Park to the ranch in the Unaweep Canyon while the Indians were still around. He probably came to Colorado by covered wagons with cattle, from what I remember my mother saying.
The Taylor Ranch, upon which he lived for about 30 years was one of the first to be developed in the Unaweep Canyon, and was a landmark of the canyon, which was shown on maps. It is located 15 miles from Whitewater, and was where they engaged in the cattle business.
He was a charter member of the Grand Junction Elks Lodge. He died of diabetes while at the St Mary's Hospital at the age of 66 years of age.
By Dean Bryan Beck, Grandson
The following is an article from "The Daily Sentinal" which details life in Unaweep Canyon, the location of the Taylor Ranch, in the early days. It is sometimes difficult to appreciate and understand the lives of people without some insight into their environment. I found the article very descriptive as it discusses the delivery of mail and other "trials" in the Unaweep Canyon of Colorado.
Jane Taylor
UNAWEEP CANYON
WHITEWATER TO GATEWAY ROUTE WAS TERROR FOR EARLY DAY MAIL CARRIER
BY ALICE WRIGHT, SENTINEL STAFF WRITER
OCTOBER 27, 1974
Unaweep Canyon's placid ranches strung at neighborly intervals along a paved highway are notable nowadays for the beauty of their setting between towering granite cliffs.
When Edward Martin contracted to carry the mail from Whitewater to Gateway in 1914, each ranch was a landmark measuring his team's labored progress along the canyon's 50-mile length.
For 20 yearsm he and his growing son, Ernest, delivered mail, hauled freight and passengers, acted as errand boy and messenger for friends who lived in those ranch houses.
During many a snowbound winter, the Martins were virtually the only human link between eagerly welcomed and anxiously watched as he "hack" sled or mount faded into a ground blizzard or disappeared behind a snowdrift.
Driving the canyon on a recent summer Sunday, Ernest Martin, now living in Escondido, California, and his sister, Dorothy Martin Tindall, of 274 Road 28 1/2, could still visualiza a distant roof as a promise of shelter against the threat of freezing, or a barn where fresh water and cool shade awaited teams exhausted by pulling a loaded wagon over Nine Mile Hill. For four years, teams were the only means of motive power.
Revenue from the mail contract alone was insufficient to justify the investment in horses and equipment. The profit was in freight, merchandise and supplies for the ranches and the Gateway miners. Occasional passengers added to the income but not much. In the wagon days, the fare was $1.00. It gradually inched upward to $2.00 and finally $3.00.
Envelopes the Martins picked up at the roadside mail boxes were frequently addressed to Montgomery Ward or Sears Roebuck. A couple of trips later, the packed goods would show up at the Post Office- mostly necessities to keep the ranch functioning- tools and hardware, household equipment, and clothing.
The ranches were almost self-sustaining. Grocery lists entrusted to the Martins were mostly sugar, coffee, and matches. They were left at the Whitewater store to be packed and picked up the next day. More frequent were small errands, a spool of thread or a package of needles.
A common errand took the Martins to the cobbler's shop, bringing boots and shoes for resoling. No leather was tough enough to resist the canyon's rocky terrain for long. The fee for this service varied with distance, measured against the standard 35 cents for a full roundtrip to Gateway. It included door-to-door pickup and delivery at either end of the line.
When winter was prolonged, rancher's pantries were apt to run low on provisions, but these coincided with the times that snow was deep, and heavy loads least desirable. The Martin's willingness to accomodate their patrons was understandably weakened. Cupboard had to be literally bare before they'd agree to haul a load of groceries, and it had better be necessities only.
The hack they used was a heavy-duty spring wagon, amply supplied with blankets at all seasons. They were useful against cold, or when showers marred the canyon's generally pleasant weather. In winter, hot rocks helped thaw frostbitten toes.
Blankets and rocks were the only concessions to comfort, for driver and passengers alike. The hack had no cover, nor did Martin's first motor vehicle, a Model T truck acquired in 1918 from a Mr Willey who won the mail contract briefly. He soon found he could not survive on mail alone.
Passengers were responsible for their own lunch- a sandwich carried in a pocket. There was no time to stop for a meal.
Martin took over the mail contract as a sideline, a means of supplementing the income he earned by farming and carpentry. He well knew what he was getting into for he'd already built Gateway's first school.
Headquarters for the business was the Martin ranch, a 40 acre spread west of Whitewater on the old Delta-Grand Junction road. In the earliest days, the hack picked up the mail at the Whitewater Post Office. In 1920, the terminal was moveed to Grand Junction, adding long miles to the trip.
First stop on the route was the Wadlow Ranch, across the railroad and the Gunnison from Whitewater. Even that wasn't always easy to reach. Bottom lands occasionally flooded in spring, and once in June 1921. the water was so deep that Martin left his rig at the ranch, ferrying the mail across the pond.
entering the canyon, the road crossed East Creek on a bridge supported by pilings which are still there. Just beyond, it began the climb up Nine Mile Hill, named for the distance to the crest.
The canyon's floor was open to horse and foot traffic for about a mile, at least to those agile enough to pick a path through the boulders littering the creek bed. Quite a few people did. The attraction was a splendid picnic spot. It was a favorite for the end-of-school outing.
Nine Mile Hill was an endurance test for teams and motors alike. Nearing the summit, the grade was 18 per cent. Passengers were asked to alight and walk over the top. From that point the road was partially hidden by the cliff's curve, somebody had to walk ahead to make certain the traffic had begun the long climb uphill. There was no room for passing on that shelf.
The descent into the canyon was literally a drop into the Lurvey Ranch, 13 miles and two hours travel time from Whitewater with good weather and good luck. The reverse trip was particularly troublesome during the vanadium boom of 1918.
Martin had contracted to haul the vanadium-radium or out of the Uravan country, across Outlaw Mesa and Cactus Park, then through the canyon to the railhead at Whitewater. On the strength of a strong government market, he invested in two heavy wagons and a number of sturdy teams.
Two teams could tow both wagons to the bottom of Nine Mile Hill. Here one was detached to wait until the first could be hauled over the top. For every trip, the horses crossed that wicked grade four times.
The 1918 boom burst depressingly soon. Better ore was discovered in the Belgian Congo and "Dad lost his shirt." The Nine Mile Hill remained a bugbear until the canyon road was completed in the 1930's.
Lurvey's was the first of three relay stations. Fresh teams waited at all three, harnessed so there would be no delay. Teams changed again at the Casement Ranch, on the Divide, and the Silzell Ranch, only 17 miles out of Gateway. Beyond Lurvey's. the first mailbox belonged to the Earl Grant Ranch. Next came the Copper City school house, the last relic of a town which once had a thousand or so residents. Their cabins had sprawled over a broad meadow long since planted to alfalfa. Little evidence remains to mark the locations of a series of mines high on the canyon walls, the source of Copper City's visions of great wealth.
At the Taylor Ranch, now the Weil Ranch, the road passes within feet of a shed built beside a fine spring of cold, clear water. The gate was hospitably open, a comfort to animal and human alike.
Just beyond the Taylor Homestead, the Divide Road takes off up the cliff side. It wasn't there until 1932, built for quick access to a granite quarry on top. Some of the tailings dumped over the side still cling to a shelf just below the rim, the last vestige of another dream born too soon. Without electric power and heavy equipment, stone blocks of transportable size were too small to suit masons in distant cities.
One of the canyon's tragedies occurred at the quarry point. John Holland, a Kannah Creek cattleman, went over the cliff in his car and was killed in the roll to the bottom. It happened in the early 30's, apparently an accident. Even so, his friends could not forget his grief for a lovely young wife who died in childbirth months later.
She had been Lela Woodring, the daughter of the Matt Woodrings who owned the ranch next above the Taylor's.
The Woodring home was another Martin-built structure. Several times Dorothy was a guest there for two or three days, pleased at an opportunity to visit Mrs Woodring whom she knew as a sister of a Whitewater neighbor, Mrs Mahannah.
From Woodrings to the Casement Ranch, also known as the Fall Creek Ranch, is a nine mile stretch without a single occupied house. The road followed the canyon's bottom, an engineering error which Martin kept hoping would be corrected.
When winter's winds piled snow in 20-foot drifts, he couldn't see the fence lines. Telephone wires strung on "quakies" were his only guidelines. Many of the saplings are still there, witnesses to the durability of aspen wood.
The long road has long since been moved to the sunny side of the canyon as Martin advocated.
When the road across the canyon's mid-section was closed by bad weather, Martin stashed his wheeled vehicles at the relay stations on either side, relying on a sled for the pull across the 7,000 foot divide. When melting snow created a quagmire, he rode a horse. Sometimes the going was so slow that he never got closer to home than the Lurvey Ranch. A cousin was hired to bring the mail that far.
It's original name, Fall Creek, was chosen for the proximity of a beautiful water fall on the canyon's north cliff, rarely seen by westbound travelers because of it being hidden behind a curve. Even castbound travelers don't see it much anymore. It once ran all year, now it's dry after midsummer.The Casement Ranch at Fall Creek was a well-kept spread notable for it's red and white painted buildings and the warm welcome awaiting travelers when the Dividing crossing was rough going.
Contributed by Dean Bryan Beck, Grandson
More About ANDREW J. TAYLOR:
Fact 1: nicknamed Andy
Fact 2: buried Grannd Junction Municipal Cemetery,
Fact 3: Orchard Mesa, Colorado
Notes for SARAH LAVETA TURNER:
Sarah Laveta "Sallie" Turner Taylor was one of the true pioneers of the West, having come overland in a covered wagon when she was five years old. Her family drove their cattle ahead of them. A short time after they settled in Fremont County, Colorado, the snow piled to a depth of four feet and most of their livestock died.
She and Andrew Taylor ran cattle in Eastern Utah for several years, and moved their cattle to the Unaweep Canyon where they made their lives for 30 years. When her husband died in 1925, she moved from the ranch to the St Charles Hotel at 317 South 2nd in Grand Junction, Colorado, which she owned and gave the hotel to her daughter, Josephine Taylor Beck, as a life estate when she died.
She was affiliated with the Sunshine Chapter of the O.E.S., Grand Valley Chapter of the Rebekah, Women's Relief Corps, and was a member of the Episcopal faith.
She would be working in her kitchen at the Ranch and she would turn around to find a room full of Indians watching her work, and she didn't hear them come in! She nursed an Indian baby back to health, and the family wanted to give her the baby. If you saved a life, that life was yours. She said, "No", so the father left and came back with a deer as payment. These two stories were told by daughters Lillian and Josephine. She was a wonderful woman.
by Dean Bryan Beck, Grandson
The following article appeared in "Westworld," Sunday, August 29, 1977, Grand Junction, Colorado, which mentioned an incident involving Sarah Turner Taylor (Mrs A J Taylor)
UNAWEEP TOWNS GONE WITHOUT A TRACE
BY J R KIRKPATRICK
There's no evidence that the towns ever existed. They can't be called ghost towns, because there is no remaining trace of either Pearl City or Copper City today. Yet their sites, along Colorado 141 between Whitewater and Gateway, have been verified by a pioneer lady who grew up in Copper City.
The towns, both settled in 1897, were tiny, with populations ranging from 75 to 100 persons. They were close neighbors, located only two miles apart alongside East Creek in Unaweep Canyon. Pearl City died in 1912, while Copper City survived another two years.
More About SARAH LAVETA TURNER:
Fact 1: Buried on February 21, 1940 in Grand Jucntion Cemetery; Orchard Mesa, Colorado
Fact 2: nicknamed Sallie
Children of ANDREW TAYLOR and SARAH TURNER are:
i. ALBERT BRYAN6 TAYLOR, b. July 31, 1896, Mesa County, Colorado; d. April 06, 1900, Mesa County, Colorado.
More About ALBERT BRYAN TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado
ii. ANDREW JESSE TAYLOR, b. April 23, 1899, Whitewater, Mesa County, Colorado; d. November 20, 1942, St Charles Hotel, Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado; m. LOUISE LEWIS, 1923, Phoenix, Arizona.
Notes for ANDREW JESSE TAYLOR:
Jess lived most of his life in the Whitewater and Unaweep areas of Colorado. He was engaged in the cattle business with his brother, Alva Taylor, for several years.
The last six years of his life he was engaged in the vanadium mining work, and he had been working in construction work at Sunnyside, Utah. He had planned to enter airplane mechanics work early in January, 1943.
He was married to Louise Lewis. She divorced him, which was an event he never could get over. He was a big man physically, who really enjoyed working on the ranch. He was well liked.
He died of a heart attack.
Buried on November 25, 1942, buried in Grand Junction Municipal Cemetery, Orchard Mesa, Colorado.
By Dean Bryan Beck. Nephew
More About ANDREW JESSE TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Municipal Cemetery
iii. LILA AVICE TAYLOR, b. July 02, 1901, Mesa County, Colorado; d. June 22, 1904, Mesa County, Colorado.
More About LILA AVICE TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado
74. iv. LILLIAN MERLE TAYLOR, b. July 17, 1903, Whitewater,Mesa County Colorado.
75. v. ALVA WHEELER TAYLOR, b. April 28, 1905, Gunnison River, Mesa County Colorado; d. April 05, 1959, Grand Jucntion Colorado.
76. vi. JOSEPHINE NAOMA TAYLOR, b. November 13, 1907, Whitewater,Mesa County Colorado; d. March 17, 1970, Grand Junction Mesa County Co.
27. JOSEPHINE5 TAYLOR (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born April 28, 1861 in Towns County, Georgia, and died September 13, 1941 in Towns County, Georgia. She married BENJAMIN LARKIN KENDALL March 23, 1884 in Towns County, Georgia. He died January 05, 1933 in Towns County, Georgia.
More About JOSEPHINE TAYLOR:
Fact 1: buried Mt Zion Cemetery
More About BENJAMIN LARKIN KENDALL:
Fact 1: buried Mt Zion Cemetery
Children of JOSEPHINE TAYLOR and BENJAMIN KENDALL are:
i. HOMER6 KENDALL, b. April 20, 1886; d. January 20, 1908, Towns County, Georgia.
More About HOMER KENDALL:
Fact 1: buried Macedonia Cemetery
77. ii. JAMES GROVER KENDALL, b. January 12, 1888, Towns County, Georgia; d. April 05, 1969, Hiawassee Ga.
iii. ADA KENDALL, b. 1889; d. 1976, Hiawassee, Georgia; m. JAMES SAMUEL OWENBY; d. 1942, Hiawassee, Georgia.
More About ADA KENDALL:
Fact 1: buried Macedonia Cemetery
More About JAMES SAMUEL OWENBY:
Fact 1: nicknamd Jim
Fact 2: buried Macedonia Cemetery
iv. OSCAR KENDALL, b. August 19, 1892; d. October 27, 1918, Towns County, Georgia.
More About OSCAR KENDALL:
Fact 1: buried Macedonia Cemetery
Fact 2: died during World War I
78. v. ELLEN KENDALL, b. September 08, 1893; d. December 08, 1978, Hiawassee Ga.
vi. CALLIE KENDALL, b. July 24, 1898, Towns County, Georgia; d. June 07, 1959, Hiawassee, Georgia.
More About CALLIE KENDALL:
Fact 1: buried Macedonia Cemetery
vii. TASSIE KENDALL, b. September 28, 1898; d. November 01, 1904.
79. viii. LASSIE KENDALL, b. September 26, 1901, Towns Countym Ga.
80. ix. PAUL KENDALL, b. October 12, 1902, Towns County, Ga; d. Hiawassee Ga.
x. ELLA KENDALL, m. JIM PRESLEY.
28. SARAH JANE5 TAYLOR (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born May 23, 1863 in Towns County, Georgia, and died March 17, 1942. She married JAMES W. PATTON January 21, 1883 in Towns County, Georgia. He died December 19, 1935.
More About SARAH JANE TAYLOR:
Fact 1: James and Sarah Jane moved to Texas from Ga
Children of SARAH TAYLOR and JAMES PATTON are:
81. i. IDA IVALEE6 PATTON, b. November 23, 1883; d. March 13, 1968.
82. ii. M ARVIL PATTON, b. April 26, 1885; d. December 25, 1961.
iii. ARTHUR EDWARD PATTON, b. August 10, 1886; d. June 22, 1972.
83. iv. ANNA ORA PATTON, b. February 04, 1891; d. May 01, 1952.
84. v. ARRA PATTON, b. November 03, 1894; d. June 14, 1953.
vi. VERA BELLE PATTON, b. August 27, 1896; d. December 19, 1969.
vii. GEORGIA MAE PATTON, b. February 15, 1898.
viii. LAWRENCE EDWARD PATTON, b. April 19, 1902; d. October 02, 1962.
85. ix. EVIE VIOLA PATTON, b. July 20, 1905.
29. ALICE MARTHA5 TAYLOR (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born May 03, 1866 in Towns County, Georgia. She married THOMAS J PATTON January 03, 1886 in Towns County, Georgia.
More About ALICE MARTHA TAYLOR:
Fact 1: Alice and Thomas J Patton moved to Lula, Ga
Fact 2: in Banks County
Children of ALICE TAYLOR and THOMAS PATTON are:
i. VALLIE6 PATTON, d. 1918.
More About VALLIE PATTON:
Fact 1: died in the flu epidemic
86. ii. MARSHALL JEFFERSON PATTON.
iii. ANDREW PATTON, d. 1918.
More About ANDREW PATTON:
Fact 1: died in the flu epidemic
iv. BURLIN PATTON, d. 1918.
More About BURLIN PATTON:
Fact 1: died in the flu epidemic
v. INFANT PATTON, b. March 27, 1888, Towns County, Georgia; d. March 27, 1888, Towns County, Georgia.
More About INFANT PATTON:
Fact 1: buried Mt Zion Cemetery
30. NEWTON5 TAYLOR (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born September 16, 1868 in Towns County, Georgia, and died September 25, 1936 in Towns County, Georgia. He married MARY LOUISA J.KENDAL September 25, 1887 in Towns County, Georgia. She died June 03, 1947.
More About MARY LOUISA J.KENDAL:
Fact 1: nicknamed Lou
Children of NEWTON TAYLOR and MARY J.KENDAL are:
87. i. JAMES ANDREW6 TAYLOR.
88. ii. LILLIE TAYLOR, b. November 29, 1890; d. February 22, 1975, Towns County, Ga.
iii. JOHN TAYLOR, b. October 30, 1892; d. May 14, 1908.
31. JOHN MORGAN5 TAYLOR (SPENCER RANDOLPH4, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born January 04, 1846, and died April 27, 1929 in Denton Tx. He married ELIZABETH JAMES DAVIS October 08, 1874. She died June 01, 1909 in Denton Tx.
Child of JOHN TAYLOR and ELIZABETH DAVIS is:
i. IDA BELLE6 TAYLOR, b. January 11, 1881, Dover, Pope County, Arkansas.
32. MCDANIEL5 HOLCOMB (MILLIE4 TAYLOR, WILLIAM3, THEOPHILUS2, UNKNOWN1) was born February 1847 in Georgia, and died 1925 in Cherokee, Alabama. He married ANNIS PADGETT. She died 1940 in Cherokee, Alabama.
Children of MCDANIEL HOLCOMB and ANNIS PADGETT are:
89. i. MARRIETTA6 HOLCOMB, b. February 03, 1868; d. February 22, 1940, Hebron, Cheroke