John Randall Taylor (1843-1941)
 1941 |
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This unidentified newspaper article, hand-dated Mar. 1938, was found in a scrapbook owned by Town Historian Richard Schmal:
JOHN R. TAYLOR WAS 95 YEARS OLD SUNDAY
ENJOYS VERY GOOD HEALTH. ONLY CIVIL WAR VETERAN LIVING HERE.
"I'm hale and hearty and I eat as good and sleep as sound as I did 80 years ago!"That's the way John R. Taylor, oldest native born son of Lake County, describes himself as he celebrated his 95th birthday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lydia Pixley, in Lowell on Sunday. Scores of relatives and friends from all over Lake County and Chicago helped him celebrate the event.
The day had a triple significance for the aged celebrant as his daughter, Mrs. Cora Schofield, of Griffith, observed her 52nd birthday and his great-grandson, Larry Joyce, of Hammond, heralded the arrival of his fifth birthday.
John Taylor was born 95 years ago in a log cabin at a settlement then known as Tinkerville (now Creston), about three miles north of Lowell. He is the father of six children, five of whom are living, namely: John A. and Hamlet B., of Lowell; Mrs. Lydia Pixley of Lowell, Mrs. Cora Schofield, of Griffith, and Mrs. Maud Wheeler of Hammond.
The five children together with 27 grandchildren and 41 great-grand-children, and scores of other relatives and friends were present.
He has lived in Creston, Hammond, Crown Point, Griffith, and has made his home with his daughter and husband here for a number of years.
John Taylor served in the Union Army of the Civil War and is the only surviving veteran of that great war living in southern Lake County. He is still quite active, enjoys good eyesight, and his hearing is unimpaired.
The following article from an unknown source was found in the Lowell Public Library local history files (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 5, page 45):
LAST CIVIL WAR VET HERE CALLED
WAS BORN IN LAKE COUNTY.
CIVIL WAR VETERAN.
PAST 98 YEARS OLD
He was active until a few days ago, and old age was given as the cause of his demise. He took a keen interest in all current events. He never could understand the terrible slaughter of men in the European war and often talked of the civil war, in which he served for two years. He retained his hearing and eyesight and enjoyed listening to the radio and reading the daily papers to keep abreast of the times.
Mr. Taylor saw Lake county grow from the ox-cart days to one of the best counties in the state, having wonderful concrete roads, large manufacturing plants and the great steel mills of the Calumet regions.
Last fall he assisted in unveiling a plaque at the grave of Obidiah Taylor, his great-grand-father, at Cedar Lake. Obidiah Taylor was a veteran of the Revolutionary war.
Mr. Taylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Taylor, was born in a log cabin near Tinkerville, now Creston, March 13, 1843.
He enlisted for Civil war duty in Crown Point on Oct. 19, 1863, and received honorable discharge on Nov. 10, 1865, in Vicksburg, Mass. He suffered a leg wound with three comrades on the scouting line.
Taylor was married in 1872 to Susan Strong of West Creek township. They were the parents of six children. A son, Calvin Edgar, lived only a year and a daughter, Mrs. Lydia Pixley, died in June 1940. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Cora Schofield of Griffith and Mrs. Maud Wheeler, 20 Russell street, Hammond; two sons, John A. Taylor and Hamlet B. Taylor of Lowell; a brother, Alfred Taylor, Cedar Lake, who is 83-years-old; 27 grand-children; 52 great-grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.
Go to John Randall Taylor, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
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