My Genealogy Hound

B. D. Taylor is well known as a teacher of Perry County, and one of its most scholarly men. In every sense of the word he is self-made. Born in Montgomery County, Miss., October 7, 1859, he is one of twelve children in the family of B. B. and Elizabeth (Corley) Taylor, all of whom are living: J. P. (is the present representative of Montgomery County, in the legislature of Mississippi), W. A. (is a prosperous farmer in that State) and B. D. (is the seventh child), T. N. (also a well-known farmer in Mississippi), James (a physician), O. P. (who is the only one of the boys married, and is a farmer in Mississippi), Mary (is the wife of R. E. Neal, and resides in Mississippi), Sarah (wife of William Long, also of the same State, in which her husband is a prominent jeweler at Grenada), Angeline (also married and living at Kosciusko, Miss.), Lula (who resides with one of the brothers) and Annie (who resides with her sister in Grenada, Miss). The father was a native of Kentucky, and was born February 11, 1817, and his wife was born in Missouri in 1826. The elder Taylor moved with his father to Alabama and resided there five years, and from there went to Mississippi in 1836, where he has resided ever since. His father was J. P. Taylor, a noted Baptist preacher who came originally from North Carolina, and whose brother fought and died in the War of 1812. J. P. Taylor was a widely known man during his life, and a large land and slave owner. His death occurred in 1844, leaving his estate to be divided among his children. His son, B. B. Taylor, served through the Civil War in Gen. Thomas’ army, and was twice married, his first wife dying July 3, 1876. He married his second wife in 1882, and the union has been a happy one in every respect. B. D. Taylor, his son, remained on his father’s farm in his youth, and attended school at Winona, Miss., for a short time. He afterward went to various other schools and academies, and when he had received a thorough education, taught school himself for a short period. In 1882, wishing to see some of the country further west, he started out with the intention of going as far west as Texas, but upon reaching Arkansas he concluded to remain in that State, and has been here ever since. He was employed here for some time in a business capacity, but in 1885 he went to Little Rock and entered the Commercial College at that place. On his return to Perry County he attended school at Aplin, and also taught for several terms. In 1886 he went to school at Morrillton and studied under Prof. Cox, and then launched out into the world of learning himself. He has taught six times at Esau, three times at Houston, once at Dixie, once at Council Bluffs and once at New Tennessee. In politics Mr. Taylor is a Democrat, and September 4,1888, he was elected assessor, a position he filled with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the county. The example he has set is one that should be followed by every young man who intends to make a successful career. He has been educated by his own exertions, spending his entire earnings in acquiring an education, and has labored at $15 per month, and put that sum in schools. He now owns a fine farm of fifty-two acres with twenty acres under cultivation, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the entire community. He is an ardent advocate of public schools, and has never asked tuition from those who were unable to pay.