WI BIO - Dane Co - TAYLOR, David Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 1893, Vol I, pp 171-172 Judge David TAYLOR, one of the prominent men of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, who died at his home, 03 April 1891, was born in Carlisle, Schoharie County, New York, 11 March 1818. He came of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and was the son of Joseph TAYLOR, who was born in the north of Ireland and there was reared and received good educational advantages. His family were almost all professional men and so continue in Ireland to this day. John TAYLOR came to America and settled in the State of New York when he was quite a young man and became a farmer in Schoharie County. Our subject [David TAYLOR] grew up under the good Christian training of pious people and was one of a family of eight children, the most of whom are now dead. He obtained an academical education in his native country and graduated from Union College, New York, with the class of 1841. He at once turned his attention to the practice of law and was in the office of Attorney Henry SMITH, of Catskill [Greene County], New York, and after two or three years of study, he practiced some three years in his native place. In 1846 he decided to try his fortune in the West, and came to Chicago and proceeded to Milwaukee [Milwaukee County, Territory of Wisconsin]. From there he made his way on the back of a pony to Green Bay [Brown County], Wisconsin [Territory], and thus traveled over the sparsely settled country where there were but few houses scattered over the wide prairie. Seeking a location that bore the appearance of future growth, our subject selected Sheboygan* as presenting more signs of greatness than either Chicago [Cook County, IL] on her muddy swamp, or than Milwaukee [Milwaukee County] with her incipient breweries, and at the little village he entered into partnership with Cyrus P. HILLER (since deceased) and this partnership proved to be a pleasant and successful one for fifteen years. [* Exactly where Sheboygan was in 1846 depends on the date he settled there. Formerly a part of Michigan Territory, the Territory of Wisconsin was created on 20 April 1836. Sheboygan County, Territory of Wisconsin, was created on 07 December 1836. WI became a state 29 May 1848. The borders of Sheboygan County have remained the same since the county was created.] While in the city of Sheboygan, Judge TAYLOR, in 1863, became a member of the Assembly and in 1855-1856 he was made a member of the Wisconsin Senate. In the contest for a seat in the U. S. Senate, in 1857, he was mentioned as one deserving of that honor, and in the election of the Legislature he received the vote of the venerable Wyman SPOONER, notwithstanding the choice of the Republican caucus had fallen upon James R. DOOLITTLE. The following year he was chosen as Judge of the Fourth Circuit and served in that position until 01 January 1869. Three times was Judge TAYLOR a Representative and twice a Senator; prior to 1853 he had been a Circuit Judge, and he had twice revised the State Statutes of Wisconsin and was known as a most competent codifier and law counselor and the last revision of the State Statutes was started about 1874 and required the close application of three revisers for about four years, sometimes requiring the assistance of two others. Judge TAYLOR was elected Circuit Judge in 1858 and filled that office for eleven years. He was later elected to the State Supreme Bench and held that office from 1878 to his death. He came to Madison [Dane County, WI] in 1878 and [p 172] devoted his whole soul to the work of his profession. He left a host of friends in Wisconsin and was among the well known men of the State and was considered one of the best judges in the State. Judge TAYLOR was no office seeker, but his talents as a scholar and a jurist could not be hidden, and he was elected to office without regard to party lines. In politics he was always a sound Republican, and for many years a consistent member of the Congregational Church. Submitted by Cathy Kubly