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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lafayette County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Joseph Taylor is a native of Louisiana, born in Claiborne Parish, in 1852, the second child of two children born to the union of Henry and Nancy (Adams) Taylor, natives of South Carolina and Virginia, respectively. His parents came to Claiborne Parish in 1848, being among the early settlers of that place. His father, a farmer by occupation, was considered one of the wealthiest men in his section of the country, owning a great deal of land and many slaves, but lost heavily during the war. Soon after the war he sold his land interests, and now resides with his eldest son, J. H. Taylor, of Haynesville, Claiborne Parish. Mrs. Taylor died in 1883. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county, receiving his education in a private school, and at the age of seventeen years he entered the store of J. C. Taylor, of Haynesville, remaining with him for three or four years. He then removed to Hope, Ark., where, in company with Mr. Longeno, he engaged in business, continuing for two years, when he sold his interests at that place and returned to Haynesville, where he and his brother formed a partnership and continued in business together for thirteen years, dissolving partnership in 1889. Immediately after quitting business at Haynesville he went to Louisiana, remaining there but a short time and then coming to this place, arriving here in February, 1889, and immediately opened up a general merchandise business, with a stock valued at several thousand dollars. He is an energetic and capable young business man, and although he has been here for so short a time, he has already gained a host of friends, and will probably do a business of $30,000 or $40,000 during the year of 1890. He was married in 1876 to Miss Ella McRee, of Ouachita Parish, La., daughter of, Samuel McRee, an old settler of Louisiana. By this marriage he is the father of two children, both interesting little girls, Sara and May. Mr. Taylor is a member of Haynesville Lodge No. 169, A. F. & A. M., and Homer Lodge, I. O. O. F. While at Haynesville, Mr. Taylor served three or four years as postmaster. Mrs. Taylor is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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This family biography is one of 44 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lafayette County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Lafayette County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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