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DUNCAN TAYLOR, a well-known citizen of Rushville township, is a citizen of the Republic by adoption, his native land being Scotland; he was born in Perthshire, in March, 1819, a son of Collin and Mary (Watt) Taylor, natives of the same shire. The parents spent their lives in their own country; they reared a family of eight children, named as follows: Jane, Thomas and John, twins, James, Margaret, Duncan, the subject of this biographical sketch, Ann and Catherine. Duncan Taylor and his brother James were the only members of the family who emigrated to America; James entered the service in the Florida war, and was never heard of after leaving Boston. Our subject was reared and educated in Scotland, and resided in that country until he was eighteen years of age. He then went to London, England, and there followed the baker's trade until 1843. In that year he emigrated to the United States, embarking on board a sailing vessel at Liverpool, which landed in New York after a voyage of thirty days. He worked at his trade in New York city until l848, and then started toward the setting sun. The city of Chicago at that time had a population of a few thousand people, but there was not a railroad entering the place, and stages ran to St. Louis and other important points. Mr. Taylor engaged in work at his trade in Chicago, and remained there a year, coming at the end of that time to Rushville.At the breaking out of the civil war he abandoned his private interests, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment in all the marches and campaigns; the most important battles in which he took part were Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Jackson, Miss, and the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg. He was honorably discharged August 26, 1864, the term of his enlistment having expired.
He returned to his home and resumed his former vocation, which he pursued a number of years; he was successful in his business operations, and at different times invested in land, until he now owns three farms in Woodstock township.
Mr. Taylor was married in 1843, to Elizabeth Fourgeson, a native of Ireland, and a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Fulton) Fourgeson. Four children were born of this union, two of whom are living, Robert and William, twins; Sarah and Mary are both deceased. Robert married Ann Beck, and has four children; William married Adele Vandavenor; Sarah was the wife of Richard Lawler, and Mary married Charles Reed; she left two children. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are worthy and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Taylor is an ardent supporter of Republican principles. He is a member of Colonel Harvey Post, No. 131, G. A. R. He is a man of superior business ability, is honorable in all his dealings, and worthy of the confidence his fellow men repose in him.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 192 - 193.
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