Yolo County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
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John Z. TAYLOR
 
An identification with Yolo county dating back to a period in childhood so early 
that Mr. Taylor has only vague and indistinct recollections of the former home 
of the family, has continued uninterruptedly up to the present time and has been 
fruitful in the acquisition of valuable farming lands and in the building up of 
a circle of warm personal friends. Fifty years have brought their almost magical 
changes into the county since first he came here with his parents.  Time, 
transforming him from childhood to the rugged strength of maturity and opening 
before him the serenity of advancing years, has likewise left its impress upon 
the region familiar to his boyhood recollections and has replaced a vast 
roadless plain with improved farms, thriving villages and a flourishing country 
with a network of railroads and every evidence of a high civilization.  In his 
own life the flight of the seasons has witnessed his increasing prosperity and 
his ultimate ownership of two well-improved farms, the larger of which forms his 
attractive home place.
 
Born at Springville, Utah, December 19, 1854, John Z. Taylor was one of six 
children born to the second marriage of John E. Taylor, a native of England, but 
a resident of the United States from young manhood.  For some years he made his 
home on a farm in Utah, but the superior advantages of California led him to 
remove hither in 1861.  Three of his children by his second wife (in maidenhood 
Elizabeth Pincock, a native of England) were born in Utah, the others are 
natives of California.  Of the sons James is represented on another page of this 
volume and W. S. cultivates the old home farm.  The three daughters are as 
follows:  Cecelia, wife of J. W. Browning, of Grand Island, Cal.; Rosina, of 
Woodland; and Stella, wife of Dr. W. J. Blevins, also of Woodland.  The eldest 
son, John Z., had few advantages in early life, for he was obliged to work early 
and late assisting his father in the support of the younger children, and while 
other boys were in school he was helping to till the soil of the home farm.  
However, he has become a well-informed man, but his knowledge comes from reading 
and observation rather than from regular attendance at schools.
 
The marriage of John Z. Taylor and Miss Anna McClintic, daughter of John 
McClintic, took place in Yolo county in March of 1890.  Her father came across 
the plains from Missouri in the early �50s.  He afterward returned east and was 
married, in Missouri, to Sarah E. Tincher, bringing his bride to his home in 
California.  He improved a farm three miles west of Knights Landing, and here 
the parents both passed away.  Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Taylor began keeping house of the farm which had been bought prior to the 
marriage.  Mrs. Taylor, who is a native of this county, inherited a small tract 
of land and Mr. Taylor added to the same, so that he now owns one hundred acres 
two miles distant from the home farm, both of which places he superintends, 
having the tillable land in wheat, barley and alfalfa.  Good stock is to be seen 
on the farm and proves a source of considerable income to the owner.  An 
industrious farmer and conservative business man, he is making a success of his 
enterprises and owns, besides his land and personal property, stock in the 
Rochdale store at Yolo.  In his family there are six children, Frank T., Maude, 
Jessie, Ethel, Clarence and Floyd.  In politics he votes with the Republican 
party, but takes no part in public affairs aside from casting his ballot and has 
never been induced to become a candidate for office.  Fraternally he is a Master 
Mason and a prominent member of Yolo Lodge No. 81, F. & A. M.
 
Transcribed by Bea Barton
Source:  �History of Yolo County, California� by Tom Gregory.  Published by the 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1913, pages 715 � 716.