Colonel James Taylor
Daily Commonwealth, Friday, 30 March 1883, page 2
Newport's Most Distinguished Citizen is Dead
At his residence in Newport, last evening at 6 o'clock Colonel
James Taylor died in the 81st year of his age. His death was caused by pneumonia
from which he had been suffering for about a week. He preserved his
consciousness to the last and passed away peacefully, surrounded by the
following members of his family: Mr. Barry Taylor and wife, Mr. John
Taylor and wife, Mrs. Colonel Thomas L Jones and his granddaughters, the Misses
Abert.
Colonel James Taylor, son of General James Taylor, was born August 9, 1802 in Bellevue, the residence of his father near Newport, Ky. His mother was Keturah Leitch. Young Taylor spent the years 1813 and 1814 in the Pestalozzian School of the celebrated Dr. Joseph Buchanan, near Lexington and in 1818 entered the freshman class at the Transylvania University, then under the presidency of Dr. Holly and graduated in 1822. For some time, he subsequently occupied his leisure hours at home in literary pursuits.
Throughout his life he had taken great pleasure in the drama and recited Shakespeare and Byron with unsurpassed power, for the entertainment of his friends. In 1823 he entered the law school of Transylvania University where Hon. William T Barry and Judge Jesse Bledsoe were professors and graduated in the spring of the following year. In the spring of 1825 he was admitted to the bar, but never entered on the practice of his profession.
He immediately took an active part with his father, who had been for many years, extensively engaged in the location of land warrants in the state of Ohio, and was then prosecuting numerous claims in that state. He was thus engaged for many years, bringing his legal knowledge and rare business tact and skill into requisition before the State and Federal courts in Ohio; and not only acquired a handsome estate but also the reputation of being one of the first business men of Kentucky.
Colonel Taylor was a speaker of uncommon ability and would have made his mark at the bar or politics had fortune been less favorable. On the stage he would have been equal to Forrest, or any of the great actors who have attained the highest histrionic fame; and in any vocation he would have been successful.
Colonel Taylor was married May 20, 1824 at Frankfort to Miss Susan Lucy Barry, eldest daughter of Hon. William T Barry, then Secretary of State of Kentucky. Mrs. Taylor only died a few months ago. The event proved a severe blow to Colonel Taylor. He himself having a presentment that his own end was not far off made his will and settled his estate in equal portions among his several children. Colonel Taylor's father died in 1848. Of his eleven children, Colonel Taylor was the last survivor.
There will be a meeting of the Kenton and Campbell County Bars at the Newport Court house Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. His funeral will take place Sunday afternoon.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 April 1883, page 15
Action of the Baron the Death of Colonel James Taylor
A meeting of the Bar of Kenton and Campbell Counties was held
yesterday morning at the Court house to take action on the death of the lamented
Colonel James Taylor.
The meeting was called to order by Judge F A Boyd and on motion, Judge McKee of Covington was made chairman, and John C Schrott was chosen secretary. The committee reported the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:
The death of our friend Colonel James Taylor, creates a void in our community which there is no one to fill. He belonged to a class few of whom remain. A man of more than ordinary scholarship and culture, there was a brightness and regency in his intellect that made his companionship inexpressive, charming and attractive. He was a generous and ----- friend and a true man. A graduate in our profession in the days when the diploma of Transylvania was the badge of professional proficiency and distinction to the great West. His duties however, led him into other fields of labor, yet be maintained until the faith position in that branch of his profession to which his business necessarily called his attention of inherited eminence.
Resolved that we mourn the death of Colonel James Taylor as the departure of a good neighbor, a useful citizen, a faithful friend and a true man.
Resolved, That we will attend hi funeral in body and that we will ear the badge of mourning for thirty days and we tender our heartfelt sympathy to his family in their sad bereavement.
Resolved, That the Judges of our Courts be requested to spread this action on the records of their respective Courts.
Resolved, That George Washington, John H Nelson, E W Hawkins, C G Wallace and Charles Eginton be a committee to communicate these resolutions to the family of the deceased.
O W Root was appointed to have the resolution spread upon the minutes of the Court. As address written by Judge Hallam, giving reminiscences of the deceased and conveying a general estimate of his character as a man and a lawyer, was read by Mr. George Washington. This was followed by remarks made by the Hon Charles Eginton, who spoke of Colonel Taylor's devotion to literature and his love of all the arts, as well as his great attention as a student, amid the pressure of the business of caring for his great estate.
Addresses were made by General Finnell, D S Bounshert, F A Boyd, O W Root and others. it was the largest meeting of the two Bars of Campbell and Kenton Counties ever held.