GEORGE TAYLOR was a son of Robert Taylor, who was born in 1764 and emigrated from County Cavan, Ireland, in 1810. Three weeks before leaving the old country he was married to Mary Pattison, a daughter of William Pattison, a merchant of Belfast. The young couple came to America to seek their fortunes, and locating upon a farm near Hillsborough, this county, Mr. Taylor began working it on shares, finally purchasing it in 1816. The children born to this pioneer couple were: Mrs. Jacob Shepler (deceased), William (deceased), George, Mrs. William Robinson, Mrs. Jacob Qualk, and Robert (deceased). Though receiving a somewhat limited education in Ireland, Mr. Taylor was a very successful business man, and was especially admired for his benevolence. He was an Old-line Whig, but never accepted office, and was a devout member of the Church of England. After passing a useful life of nearly a century, he died in 1859. His widow, a member of the Methodist Church, followed her husband to the grave in 1862. George Taylor, the subject of this memoir, was born January 27, 1816, upon the home farm where he now resides. He received a limited education, but was an eager reader until his eyesight failed. He remained on the farm until twenty-two years of age, when he took charge of a store at Hillsborough which he managed for three or four years, then sold to William Bell, and engaged in farming and buying stock. He has been very successful in this business, which he has continued to follow. In 1844 he married Charlotte Miller, daughter of Charles Miller, and their children are: Mary Elizabeth, born December 6, 1845 (deceased); Robert, born September 1, 1848; Mrs. Samuel Barber, born January 14, 1851; George William, born May 7, 1853 (deceased); Charles Taylor, born December 6, 1854; Clarence Raymond, born July 26, 1857 (deceased); George William, born May 13, 1861; Frankie Addison, born January 19, 1864, and Emma Jane, born August 4, 1866. Mr. Taylor was a decided Republican, and, in his younger days, one of the most active men in the county. When but twenty years of age, he was elected constable, and held that office several years. When about thirty-five years of age he was elected justice of the peace, which position he filled twenty years, and in 1859 was elected one of the county commissioners for a term of four years. He was a member of the Methodist Church, with which his wife was also united until her death, September 8, 1887. He died September 2, 1892.

Text taken from page 476 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Linda Carroll of So. Chicago Heights, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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