| DuncanTaylor |
DUNCAN TAYLOR, a well-known citizenof Rushville township, is a citizen of the Republic by adoption, his nativeland being Scotland; he was born in Perthshire, in March, 1819, a son ofCollin and Mary (Watt) Taylor, natives of the same shire. The parents spenttheir 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 Taylorand his brother James were the only members of the family who emigratedto America; James entered the service in the Florida war, and was neverheard 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 thenwent 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 sailingvessel at Liverpool, which landed in New York after a voyage of thirtydays. He worked at his trade in New York city until l848, and then startedtoward the setting sun. The city of Chicago at that time had a populationof 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 engagedin work at his trade in Chicago, and remained there a year, coming at theend of that time to Rushville.
At the breaking out of the civil war he abandonedhis private interests, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-eighthIllinois Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment in all the marchesand campaigns; the most important battles in which he took part were FortHenry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Jackson, Miss, and the sieges of Corinthand Vicksburg. He was honorably discharged August 26, 1864, the term ofhis enlistment having expired.
He returned to his home and resumed his formervocation, which he pursued a number of years; he was successful in hisbusiness operations, and at different times invested in land, until henow owns three farms in Woodstock township.
Mr. Taylor was married in 1843, to ElizabethFourgeson, 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 marriedAnn Beck, and has four children; William married Adele Vandavenor; Sarahwas the wife of Richard Lawler, and Mary married Charles Reed; she lefttwo children. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are worthy and consistent members ofthe Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Taylor is an ardent supporterof 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 allhis dealings, and worthy of the confidence his fellow men repose in him.
Biographical Reviewof Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical ReviewPublishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 192 – 193.
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