WILLIAM P. TAYLOR.

Real estate business is a most important factor in the material prosperity of a community. A casual observer can form no conception of the important position held by the active, enterprising agent, devoted to the work of buying and selling real estate, establishing values and otherwise stimulating property holders to the greatest improvements it lies in their power to make. Mr. Taylor is one of this class. The judicious principles which he upholds in his transactions, the care with which he investigates

points connected therewith, are securing for him a large and well deserved patronage, and the firm of W. P. Taylor & Son is now a prominent one in this line in Yates Center.

William P. Taylor was born in Fayette County, Ohio, near Washington Courthouse, March 9, 1839. His father, William R. Taylor, was born near Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1798, and throughout his active business life carried on farming. He passed away in 1875, at the age of seventy-six years. In his political views he was a war Democrat and always supported the principles of the Democracy, but two of his sons, who served in the Union army became Republicans. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Hoppas and was of German birth, a daughter of John Hoppas, who was also a native of the fatherland as was his wife. Mrs. Taylor died some time prior to her husband's death, passing away in 1851. Her children were Nancy, deceased wife of Jacob Drook; Robert, who has also departed this life; Mary J., deceased wife of William Ebright; John H., of Williamsfield, Illinois; Samuel S., of Neosho, Missouri; Rosetta, wife of Eli Reece, of Clifton, Illinois; Isaac B., who died in Indiana; Willam P. and Jacob A., both of Woodson County.

In his youth and early manhood Mr. Taylor was identified with agricultural pursuits. He was only about two years of age when his parents removed from Fayette County, Ohio, to Grant County, Indiana, and there he was reared, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors of the felds, for the family resided upon a farm. While working for an uncle in Jay County, Indiana, he offered his services to the country as a defender of the Union, enlisting as a member of the Twenty-fourth Indiana battery, which was attached to the Twenty-third corps of the army of the Ohio. With his command he participated in the battles of Marborn, Kentucky, Lowden, Tennessee, the seige of Knoxville and the seige of Atlanta and the Atlanta campaign. After the fall of the city his battery went with Generals Schofield and Thomas in pursuit of Hood and thus he participated in the engagements at Franklin and Nashville. He then went to Louisville, Kentucky, where the battery was divided among four forts and there held until August 5, 1865, when the war having ended Mr. Taylor was mustered out. On many a hotly contested field he has displayed his loyalty and his bravery, and to his home he returned with a most creditable military record.

Once more in the north he began farming in Lake County, Indiana, and the following year was there married. He continued agricultural pursuits there until 1869, when on the 11th. of October, he started for Woodson County, Kansas, driving across the country and reaching his destination on the 14th. of November. He located first in Belmont township, where he followed farming and stock raising until the spring of 1875. He then went to Defiance, and a year later removed to Yates Center and erected the fifth building here—the Commercial Hotel, which he conducted successfully for seven years. For two years he engaged in merchandising with his son,

Jacob E., after which he served as justice of the peace for four years, and since that time he has been connected with the real estate business as the senior member of the firm of W. P. Taylor & Son. Prosperity has attended his efforts, and the important transactions which he has conducted have brought to him a good return and at the same time have been of value in improving and upbuilding the city. They also conduct a loan business.

In the year 1866, in Lake County, Indiana, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Sievert, a daughter of Adolph Sievert, and they now have four children: Jacob E., who is associated with his father in business, and who married Laura, daughter of Editor Buck, deceased; Gussie; William A., who is in the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company and wedded Mabel Harding, and Gertrude, who completes the family. There is one grandchild, Perine Taylor, born to Jacob Taylor and his wife. Mr. Taylor of this review cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has since supported the men and measures of the Republican party. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, has taken the degree of Master Mason and is connected with the Triple Tie. Through almost a third of a century he has resided in Woodson County and has watched with a deep and abiding interest its progress and improvement, sharing in the work of advancement as opportunity has offered, and finding in its business opening the field of labor which he sought, thereby providing for his family a comfortable competence.

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