Stephen Slade Taylor (1818 - 1898)

Born 29 Jun 1818 in Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Jun 1898 at age 79 in Palo Pinto, Texas, United States

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Biography

Biography by Granddaughter Posted 02 Apr 2022 by Harley Lusher Born 29 June 1818 in Butler Co. KY, he was only 11 years old when his father died.

Having almost all of his uncles in the Baptist ministry, Stephen Slade followed in their footsteps. This was about the time that Alexander Campbell was preaching and teaching in

the KY area and caused much unrest among the Baptists. Some of his family decided that Stephen Slade was embracing these teachings and were very concerned.

Family oral history says that although his uncle Alfred performed the wedding ceremony in 1844, that he spent the night outside of the newly wed's door, "because Stephen was not strong in the faith".

Stephen continued to preach and a son, Hannibal Giddings Taylor, was born to Stephen Slade and Eleanor Aston Maddox Taylor in January of 1846, another son, Ephriam Kelly Taylor, Nov. 1847 and a daughter, Aurilla Eliza Jane Taylor, was born in Ohio Co. KY in Feb. of 1850.

Family oral history continues that one day Stephen returned home at noon, noticably upset and informed the family that they were leaving for Texas, and they did! That afternoon, by buggy! They made it to Johnson County, IL, the Vienna township, by censustaking time, the baby is 7 months old. Arriving in Texas the family settled first in Rockwall County where Stephen Slade studied medicine for a year under Dr. Cubley. While there they attended a meeting and joined the Christian Church. Another daughter, Mary Joanna was born in 1852, by 1854 the family was living in what was then Johnson Co. TX, later Hood County.

1857 Stephen Slade is credited with the establishment of the Christian Church in Weatherford, Parker Co. TX. In 1857 the family moved to Golconda, (that is a whole story in itself!) which was later named Palo Pinto and became the county seat of Palo Pinto Co. Dr. Taylor held church in his home until a building was erected in 1882, the first church in Palo Pinto. Dr. Taylor was the first Doctor and the first preacher in the new county.

He became known as "Medicine Man" An indian told Stephen's son, Pleasant John, "Me know Dr. Taylor, he Medicine man. Indian no kill Medicine Man".

Dr Taylor continued his life preaching and establishing churches, he was instrumental in the establishment of Texas Christian University and Ad Ran College.

More children were born to this family after arriving in Palo Pinto County, until they numbered 9, they were:

1. Hannibal Giddings Taylor born Oct. 1, 1846, married Mary Jane Bevers.

2. Eephriam Kelly Taylor born 14 Nov. 1847, married Samantha Jane

Hutchison.

3. Aurilla Eliza Jane Taylor born Feb. 20, 1850 married Samuel Houston

Bevers.

4. Mary Joanna Taylor born 6 Aug 1852 married Jere Benjamin Hart.

5. Elizabeth Caroline Taylor born 8 July 1855 married Lemuel Washington

Vaughn.

6. Pleasant John Taylor born 20 Oct 1856 married Nancy Eurilla Houx.

7. Martha Amelia Taylor born 30 March 1859 married John C. McLaren.

8. Sarah Susan Taylor born 5 April 1863 married Creed Mathias Click.

9. Sylvester Slade Taylor born 3 April 1867 married Lillie L. Dalton.

From these 9 children Stephen Slade and Eleanor had preachers, actors, law enforcement officers and almost uncountable descendants. In the early years, due to unrest of the Indians, Dr. Taylor and 3 of his sons saw service as Texas Rangers for protection of the early settlers.

Stephen Slade Taylor died 13 June 1898 and Eleanor Aston Maddox Taylor died 14 July 1903, both are buried in the Palo Pinto Cemetery.

By great grandaughter, Bobbie Watson Ross, from book "Bevers and Taylor, Pioneer families of Palo Pinto County Texas", 1996, by Bobbie Ross.

Stephen was born about 1818. Stephen Taylor ...

Sources

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M851-CPN : 20 December 2020), Stephen S Taylor, Johnson, Illinois, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Acknowledgements

First-hand information as remembered by Rachel Blaisdell, Monday, January 26, 2015. Replace this citation if there is another source.