Contra Costa County Biography

VOLNEY TAYLOR

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
Among the men who assisted materially in the development of eastern Contra Costa 
County prominent mention should be made of Volney Taylor, a man of enterprising 
ideas and methods. He was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, June 20, 1851, 
and came with his parents to California when he was fifteen years of age. His 
father, Alexander T. Taylor, was born in the township of Bolton, Province of 
Quebec, Canada, September 15, 1821, and at the age of twenty he started in life 
for himself. In 1844 he rented a farm in  Canada, and later purchased the land, 
which he operated for eleven years. Disposing of his landholdings he returned to 
the place of his birth, where he remained until his removal to  the Pacific 
Coast. Accompanied by his family he sailed from New York on November 6, 1866, to 
the Isthmus of Panama, and from there to San Francisco, arriving December 6th of 
that year. He located near Vallejo, Solano County, where he rented a farm for 
two years. In September, 1868, he removed to Contra Costa County, locating in 
the Point of Timber district, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres 
of land. From the first he was successful, and large crops of grain made his 
land a valuable investment. The marriage of Alexander T. Taylor occurred on June 
17, 1845, to Miss Louisa Bruce, a native of Vermont. To this union were the 
following children: Valeria M., born July 14, 1846, wife of C. A. Foster (passed 
away in 1908); Avyette, born October 27, 1848, wife of A. Richardson (passed 
away in 1907); Alexander V., born April 11, 1853; and Volney, the subject of 
this review. The Taylor family originated in England, and established themselves 
near Quebec, Canada, during the early history of America. Alexander T. Taylor 
died in 1912 and was numbered among the most prominent and representative men of 
eastern Contra Costa County. He came empty-handed to the State and won his way 
to a position of prominence, and his death was mourned by a wide circle of 
friends. Volney Taylor acquired his education in the public schools of Vallejo, 
and in 1872 he graduated from the Pacific Business College in San Francisco, 
after which he returned to his home place and took up farming. He purchased the 
home farm from his father, and in addition to this he bought two other ranches. 
He now owns about eight hundred acres of the finest land in the eastern part of 
the county, being especially adapted to grain and alfalfa, and Mr. Taylor now 
has about one hundred and fifty acres of the finest alfalfa raised in this 
county. From 1896 to 1905 Mr. Taylor made his home in Oakland. He was united in 
marriage to Miss Agnes E. Andrews, a native of Illinois, and to this union was 
born one son, Everett B., now a prominent attorney residing in Martinez. On 
December 11, 1901, he was united in marriage to Miss Carrie F. Bohmen, of 
Sacramento, and their one daughter, Beatrice B., was born in 1905. Volney Taylor 
has gained a place of influence in Contra Costa County, and has one for himself 
a fine reputation for his business ability. He is president of the Byron- 
Bethany Irrigation Company. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason and a member 
of the Eastern Star. He also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and in the Independent Order of Good Templars.
 
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California", Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 496-497.