An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 364
	
	HON. JOHN A. TAYLOR, one of the pioneers of the Pacific coast, was born in
Allegany county, New York, September 12, 1825, a son of Job and Rebecca (Fish)
Taylor, natives of Massachusetts. The parents moved in an early day to New York,
where the mother died when our subject was young. When the latter was thirteen
years of age, in 1837, the father removed to Wisconsin, where he was engaged as
a millwright, carpenter and joiner, and remained in that State until his death,
in 1842, at the age of sixty-three years.
	John A., the youngest in a family of eight children, received only limited
educational advantages, and at the age of twenty-one years he began life on his
own account. In 1852, with his wife and three small children, he started with an
ox team on that long and perilous journey across the plains for Oregon, arriving
in Portland just six months to a day from the time of starting. He had no
difficulty with the Indians, and was detained only a short time by sickness.
After arriving in that city, Mr. Taylor leased and conducted a sawmill two
years, and then built a ferry boat on Tualitin river, afterward known as
Taylor's Ferry, which he operated seven years. During that time his business had
grown to such an extent that he built a toll bridge, and conducted the same for
ten years, selling at a large price. Mr. Taylor was then engaged in the hotel
business in Amity, Yam Hill county, until 1876; was then employed as clerk in
the implement business of Hawley, Dodd & Co., two and a half years; was with
Paine Bros. three years, and with Jones & Co. one and a half years. In 1882 he
was a candidate for Justice of the Peace on the Republican ticket, was selected
by a large majority, and held that position ten years, also serving as Police
Judge of Walla Walla for a time. He represented Washington county, Oregon, in
the Legislature in 1868, and represented Walla Walla county, Washington, in
1879. He owns eight residences in this city, and also a street-sprinkling plant.
	Judge Taylor was married March 22, 1846, to Miss Sarah Mc Kinsey, a native
of Kentucky, whose parents were born in Virginia. To this union have been born
seven children, viz.: Lusetta, wife of Samuel Kelly, of Walla Walla; Frank K., a
resident of Pomeroy, Washington; Anna, deceased, was the wife of Joseph Painter;
Jennie, now Mrs. D.J. Wann, Asotin; Ella, wife of W.J. Lawrence, of
Massachusetts: John, of Tacoma. Judge Taylor is an ardent Republican, and has
long been a member of the Masonic order, Walla Walla Lodge, No. 7.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.