- M. Taylor, president of the Business Men’s Association of Newton, along with W. O. McElroy (q. v.), “one of the library trustees and promoters,” and Mayor Frank A. Long, was successful in securing $10,000 for a library building in Newton from Andrew Carnegie, “the Scotch millionaire,” in 1902. The Newton Herald considered this “[p]erhaps the greatest event in the entire history of Newton.”[1] Taylor was then off to New York expecting to interview Mr. Bertram, Carnegie’s private secretary, “in regard to the library before returning.”[2] Taylor subsequently was a member of the Newton Public Library board of trustees from 1905 to 1908.[3] Frederick Morris Taylor was born in Clarendon, Vermont, November 29, 1863[4], the son of Edwin Alonzo and Minerva C. (Cushman) Taylor.[5] The family left the Green Mountain State when Freddie was 3 years old.[6] In 1875, he was living with the family in Bangor, New York.[7] Young Fred received his education in the country schools and the high school of Malone, New York.[8] According to the 1880 U. S. Federal Census, he was living with a brother, William D. Taylor.[9] At the age of 17 he started out for himself, and for the next two years was a clerk in a general store.[10] He then entered a merchant tailoring establishment and learned the cutter’s trade, and was in that institution about 18 months.[11] He was then in the employ of Lawrence, Webster & Co., pants manufacturers, of Malone, where he remained about eight years.[12] Taylor then came to Des Moines, Iowa, where he engaged in the same line for Israel Bros.[13] On April 25, 1894, he started in business for himself in Des Moines, establishing what became the Taylor-Newell Co.[14] On June 15, 1896, the company removed their plant to Newton.[15] In 1900, Taylor was living in Newton with his wife, Gertrude H. (Paddock) Taylor (1863-1932), and daughters, Sarah P. Taylor (1886-1985) and Helen M. Taylor (1890-1979), all natives of New York.[16] In 1910, a roomer, Theresa Smith, 21, also was residing in the Taylor household.[17] Mr. & Mrs. Taylor were residing in Elmhurst, Illinois, in 1920, along with Flora Eldridge, Taylor’s sister-in-law.[18] He died September 24, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois.[19] Burial was in Morningside Cemetery in Malone, New York.[20] Taylor was a member of Newton Lodge No. 59, Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons; Gebal Chapter No. 12, Royal Arch Masons; and Oriental Commandery No. 22, Knights Templar.[20]
-Larry Ray Hurto
[1] The Newton Herald, January 31, 1902.
[2] The Newton Journal, February 5, 1902.
[3] 1896-1957 Library Trustees, Newton Public Library History. https://cdm16179.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16179coll1/search/searchterm/library%20trustees/field/subjec/mode/exact/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc.
[4] Fred M. Taylor in the Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947. Vermont, U.S., Vital Records, 1720-1908 for Frederick Morris Taylor gives Taylor’s birthdate as December 5, 1863. All other sources give the November birthdate.
[5] Frederick M. Taylor in the U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current.
[6] Standard Historical Atlas of Jasper County, Iowa (Davenport, IA: The Huebinger Survey and Map Publishing Co., 1901), p. 43.
[7] New York, U.S., State Census, 1875 for Freddie M Taylor.
[8] Standard Historical Atlas of Jasper County, Iowa, p. 43.
[9] 1880 United States Federal Census.
[10] Standard Historical Atlas of Jasper County, Iowa, p. 43.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Ibid.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Ibid.
[15] “This firm started with small capital, and first engaged in single order work, then knee pants, and now manufacture men’s, youths’ and knee pants, and are considered one of the leading firms in this line of work, having trebled their business since coming to Newton.” Ibid.
[16] 1900 United States Federal Census. A son, Harry A. Taylor (b. & d. 1891), is buried in Malone, New York. Harry A. Taylor in the U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current. The Taylors were united in marriage at Malone, January 21, 1885. Standard Historical Atlas of Jasper County, Iowa, p. 43. Gen. James B. Weaver, ed., Past and Present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I (Indianapolis, IN: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1912), p. 275, gives the status of the Taylor-Newell Company in 1900: “The Taylor-Newell Company, manufacturers of pants, operate with a capital stock of $20,000, employs 65 people in the factory and five traveling men, turn out $100,000 worth of goods and sell in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Illinois. The pay roll is $15,000 per year. The stockholders are F. M. Taylor, Will G. Newell, Charles Seeberger, C. F. Morgan, Ralph Parmenter, Ralph Robinson, A. C. Gates, E. J. Schuneman, A. J. Anderson. The former is president of the company.” According to Standard Historical Atlas of Jasper County, Iowa, in 1900, “they sold [pants] of all kinds over 78,000 pairs, the entire sale being made by four men” (p. 43).
[17] 1910 United States Federal Census.
[18] 1920 United States Federal Census.
[19] Fred M. Taylor in the Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947. At the time, Taylor’s occupation was listed as salesman.
[20] Frederick M. Taylor in the U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current.
[21] Standard Historical Atlas of Jasper County, Iowa, p. 43.