Taylor, Holden Elmer (History - 1840); Biographical, Historical Sketch of Clark Co., WI Genealogy

----Source: 1891 History of Clark and Jackson County, Wisconsin, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

Holden Elias Taylor

H. E. Taylor, jeweler, Neillsville, Wisconsin, took up his abode in Clark County in 1868. He established his business here at that time, has since been identified with the best interests of Neillsville and is today one of its prominent citizens.

Mr. Taylor was born in Tioga County, New York, and is the seventh of eight children born to Perkin Taylor. He received his education in his native county, and remained with his parents till he was twenty-one years old. He learned the carpenter's trade there and was working at it when the war broke out. He at once joined the ranks of the Union Army, enlisting in 1861, in Company H, Sixty-fourth New York Regiment, Captain Barstow, and as a musician, was in active service with the Army of the Potomac for six months. In 1862, on account of disability, he was discharged, after which he returned to New York and was an invalid for a long time. He learned the jeweler's trade in Minnesota, to which place he emigrated in 1865, and followed the business there for two years. From that place he came to Neillsville in 1868 and has since made his home here. Politically he is a Republican. He is known as one of the best rifle shots in the country, and is a total abstainer from gambling and the use of whisky, beer, tobacco, and even tea and coffee.

September 3, 1872, Me. Taylor married Nellie Chase, a native of Franklin County, Vermont. She was educated at Friendship Academy and Alfred University, in Allegany County, New York, was engaged in teaching in the public schools of New York nine years and in Wisconsin two terms. Her father died in Franklin County, Vermont, in 1855.

***Conflicting Information: We found Holden’s wife, Nellie, was born in New York (see the census record below and his obituary #2) on 29 Dec.1843 and died 24 June, 1923. She is buried with Holden and their adopted son, Elmer in the Neillsville City Cemetery, Pine Valley Twp. Clark County, Wisconsin. Elmer, according to the cemetery records, was born 2 May, 1877 and drowned 29 May 1892. It appears that they had no other children. However, her obituary agrees with the 1891 Biography above which says she was born in Vermont.

Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI – 11 June 1892

Fourteen-year-old Elmer Taylor, adopted son of the jeweler H. E. Taylor, drowned in the Black River just north of the railroad bridge. A search party was formed and the river was dragged all the way to Ross Eddy. Not a trace of the boy was found. “The agony of Mrs. and Mr. Taylor is too great for words; the suspense and uncertainty as to where and when the body will be found, being almost more than can be borne.”

Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI – 16 July 1892

The body of Elmer Taylor was found “among the logs in the Dells Dam pond…about 9miles south of this city.” The boy had been playing by the river with a friend, Llewellyn Sufficool, when he fell into the river on May 29^th. The body was recovered at 8 a.m. on July 10^th. “The funeral was held at 4 p.m. the same day at the Congregational Church, Rev. J O. Buswell officiating. The hall… was packed full of people, and the floral display was something almost unequalled in profusion on any similar occasion in the city’s history. Elmer’s desk at the school house was taken to the hall and beautifully festooned with flowers; and at the cemetery, when the procession arrived there the grove was lined with white cloth and profusely strewn with flowers.”

Holden Elias & Nellie (Chase) Taylor

Census Records

1850 U. S. Federal Census - Tioga, Tioga County, New York
Name	Relation	Sex	Race	Age	Marital Status	Birth Place	Father Birth Place	Mother Birth Place	Occupation
Tailor, Perkins	head	m	w	55	m	New York			farmer
Tailor, Margaret	wife	f	w	51	m	New York
Tailor, Thankful	daughter	f	w	21	s	New York	New York	New York
Tailor, Jane	daughter	f	w	20	s	New York	New York	New York
Tailor, Eliza	daughter	f	w	14	s	New York	New York	New York
Tailor, Markle	daughter	f	w	12	s	New York	New York	New York
Tailor, Holden	son	m	w	11	s	New York	New York	New York
Tailor, Rodney	son	m	w	9	s	New York	New York	New York

1870 U. S. Federal Census – Pine Valley, Clark County, Wisconsin
Name	Relation	Sex	Race	Age	Marital Status	Birth Place	Father Birth Place	Mother Birth Place	Occupation
Taylor, Holden E.	head	m	w	32	m	New York			jeweler
Taylor, Emma	wife	f	w	25	m	New York			keeps house

1880 U. S. Federal Census – Neillsville, Clark County, Wisconsin
Name	Relation	Sex	Race	Age	Marital Status	Birth Place	Father Birth Place	Mother Birth Place	Occupation
Taylor, Holden E.	head	m	w	41	m	New York	Vermont	Vermont	jeweler
Taylor, Emma	wife	f	w	34	m	Vermont	New Hampshire	Vermont	keeps house

Military Records

In 1861, Holden Taylor enlisted with Co. H., 64th N.Y. Vol., but was discharged later on account of being disabled by rheumatism.

Contributors

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