Capt. Charles E. Taylor, (USA)

Per 1893-1905 Death Index, Charles E. Taylor, white, male, 73, married, born in MA, and attorney, died Feb 19 1901 at 1136 Elk St, Franklin, of pneumonia he'd had 2 days. Buried Feb 21 1901.

Franklin News-Herald, Tuesday, Feb 19 1901: Tuesday morning the city and this community generally was pained to hear that Judge Charles E. Taylor had died at 12:40 am. The general public did not even know that he was seriously ill, consequently the news of the death was unexpected. He was up on Saturday evening and took tea with his wife and retired early. On Sunday morning, he was found to be semi-conscious and breathing with difficulty. A physician was summoned, who administrated medicine, thinking that the Judge was laboring under one of the nervous spells he has frequently been afflicted with. He remained in that condition all day Sunday, and on Monday the physician notified the family that the Judge was stricken with an attack of pneumonia, complicated with heart trouble. He gave relatives no hope of for the eventual recovery of the patient. On Monday night he grew constantly worse and expired at the hour stated, surrounded by his sorrow friends. He was 74 years of age last September.

He was President Judge of the 28th Judicial District from the resignation of Judge Trunkey in December, 1877, until he tendered his own resignation, which was accepted March 1, 1895. He was born in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, September 4, 1826, son of Edmund and Theodosia Clark Taylor. Edmund was a Revolutionary soldier from that state. In childhood, the deceased removed with his parents to Cleveland, where he lived until his father's death, when the mother and son removed to Mercer County, PA. He learned the painter's trade and followed that vocation for many years.

In 1846 he married Jane, the daughter of John McWilliams, a pioneer family of Harborcreek Township, Erie County. She survived her marriage only a year, and at her death, left one son, John. In 1856, the deceased came to Franklin, where he continued to work at his trade as a painter, subsequently working in Clarion. Returning to Franklin, he married Susan J., Daughter of Charles W. Mackey, an early resident.

In 1856 he began reading law under McCormick & Kerr of this city. His evenings were spent in acquiring a knowledge of the law, supporting his family by working during the day. His early education consisted of but a few years' schooling in the common schools, and this was a great drawback while pursing his legal studies. With dogged tenacity, he remained firm in his resolve to become a lawyer, and on the 27th of April, 1858, he was admitted to the Venango County bar. He immediately hung out his shingle and soon had a good practice, In the fall of 1859, he was elected on the Democratic ticket as District Attorney, and was filling the position when the Civil War broke out. In 1861 he commenced raising a company of the 4th Pennsylvania Calvary, and was mustered into that regiment as Captain of Company I in the following October. He participated in the Seven Day's Campaign before Richmond, and while on a reconnaissance from Harrison's Landing, was wounded. He was then sent to Point Lookout, MD, where he was honorably discharged from the service October 4, 1862, because of disability to perform further military duty.

On his return to Franklin, he formed a partnership with C. W. Gilfillan, which continued for five years. During that period, the firm of Gilfillan & Taylor did a very extensive business. He afterward formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Hon. C. W. Mackey, and that firm continued the large practice that had been built up.

When the Civil War broker, Judge Taylor was an ardent Unionist, one of the 34 Democratic delegated of Pennsylvania who attended the Peace Congress in Washington, during that exciting period of our national history. In 1866, he was the nominee of the Venango County Republicans for the Judgeship, but the Republicans of Mercer County also had a candidate in the field that year, and both were defeated by the Hon. John Trunkey of Franklin, the Democratic candidate. He and Judge Trunkey were again candidates in 1876, and again Mr. Trunkey was the successful man. In December, 1877, he was appointed to fill the vacancy on the bench caused by the resignation of Judge Trunkey, and on Nov. 5, 1878, he was elected to the same position. On Nov. 6, 1888 he was re-elected, by the largest majority ever given in the county. He was recognized as a bright, leading lawyer, particularly so in the celerity with which he discovered the leading features involved in a case, and the determined persistence with which he presented and prosecuted his plea. He laid no claim to being a signified, great, or brilliant jurist, but he possessed a natural, quick intuition that seldom fails to grasp the most intricate points at issue, and being a hard student, he was always able to support his views. In his death, the county loses one of its best known jurists, an good citizen, and an honored man. He was a charter member of Mays Post, GAR, and one of the oldest Masons in this city.

He is survived by his wife.

Taylor, Charles E. BATTLE UNIT NAME: 4th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry (64th Volunteers) SIDE: Union COMPANY: I
SOLDIER'S RANK IN: Captain SOLDIER'S RANK OUT: Captain ALTERNATE NAME: FILM NUMBER: M554 ROLL 121 PLAQUE NUMBER: NOTES: none