AS RECORDED IN:
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES
PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903
P.
1064
BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN TAYLOR (deceased), in his
life time one of the most highly respected and valuable citizens of Stafford
Springs, Tolland county, was born at Willington, Conn., Aug. 7, 1818, coming
from a family long identified with the best interests of this part of the State.
Elisha
Taylor, the great-grandfather of Benjamin F., was born in Cape Cod, Mass., in
1725, and died in 1815, when over ninety years old. His
wife, Dorcas, died in 1802, at the age of seventy-six.
Their children were: Dorcas,
who died at the age of seventy years; Samuel;
and Thomas.
Deacon
Thomas Taylor, son of Elisha, was born in Willington in 1752, and died in his
native town April 15, 1815. His
wife, Experience, died May 19, 1809, at the age of fifty-nine years.
Their children were: Experience,
born in 1782, died in 1834; and Asa.
Deacon
Asa Taylor, the father of Benjamin F., was born in Willington, Conn., June 21,
1786, and was long a deacon of the Baptist Church, his death having occurred
Sept. 28, 1851. Anna Fenton, who
became his wife in May, 1810, was born June 1, 1786, and died Oct. 7, 1869.
Their children were: Solomon,
born in 1811, married Marietta Rider, of Willington, and died Aug. 23, 1894;
Sanford, born Aug. 25, 1812, lives in Clinton, Mass.;
Eliza, born Oct. 11, 1815, married Joel Smith, of Leominster, Mass., and
is still living; and Franklin, to whom a school teacher gave the name of
Benjamin, is our subject.
Benjamin
Franklin Taylor had his education in his native town in both the public and the
select schools, and then took up the study of music in Hartford under Prof.
Wade, a noted musician of the time. In
1844 Mr. Taylor came to Stafford where he taught music and also had a music
store. He was a gifted man in many
respects, and was noted as an artist, his work still adorning many of the homes
in this section of the State. A few
years before his death he sold his music store, which was quite the resort of
the music and art lovers of the community. Mr.
Taylor taught the violin, piano and voice culture, and was in every respect a
thorough musician and a finished instructor.
In his younger days he taught singing school, and for many years was
organist in the Congregational Church at Stafford Springs, where he was also
Superintendent of the Sabbath School. Mr.
Taylor was a member of the Baptist Church at Stafford Hollow, where he was
organist and Sunday school superintendent until his engagement with the
Congregational Church. In his
politics he was a Republican, but never sought office.
Mr.
Taylor was married June 5, 1843, to Miss Matilda Ellis, who was born in Dana,
Mass., April 28, 1823, a daughter of Sheperd Ellis, of Stafford, and to this
marriage were born: Julia Ellis,
born march 26, 1845, died in infancy; Clementine
Ardelle married the late Clark Sidman, a noted musician of Homer, N.Y., and is
the mother of Edward Arthur, an attorney of New York city, and she now resides
in Oil City, Pa.; Frances Eudora,
born Aug. 25, 1848, married George H. Barber, of New London, and is the mother
of Mabel Ellis, now Mrs. James Walcott, of New London;
Edward Everett, born April 24, 1851, died June 20, 1873.
Mr. Taylor contracted a second marriage, May 11, 1853, when Miss Maria
Antoinette Eaton became his wife. She
was born in Somers, Conn., Sept. 13, 1833, a daughter of Eli and Almira (Bourn)
Easton, of Somers, the former of whom was a soldier in the war of 1812, going as
substitute for his older and married brother, Horace, and he saw service at New
London, Conn. Mrs. Almira (Bourn)
Eaton, was a daughter of Moses Bourn, a Revolutionary soldier who moved from
Rhode Island to Somers, Conn. Mr.
Taylor was a director of the old Stafford National Bank, and also of the
Cemetery Association. Much
interested in educational matters, he served on the school committee several
years, and rendered the city valuable service in this connection.
He died April 21, 1900, and was buried at Stafford Springs.
His life was indeed that of a Christian gentleman, honest and upright in
his relations with his fellowman, and tender and affectionate in his home.
Reproduced by:
Linda
D. Pingel
This page was created by Linda Pingel on
April 7, 2008
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