Butte County
Biographies
GILBERT HART TAYLOR
GILBERT HART TAYLOR.--A prominent citizen as favorably known for his frank and generous impulses, and his works of charity, as he is for his substantial success in life and his value to the community as a man of affairs, is Gilbert Hart Taylor, who came to California in the late fifties. He was born at Fishkill, on the Hudson, Dutchess County, N. Y., the son of Augustus C. Taylor, who was born in 1808 at Plattsburg, Vt., and when only four years of age witnessed the Battle of Plattsburg. His grandfather Taylor, also a Vermonter, was in the War of 1812; and his great-grandfather Taylor, who was of English and Scotch descent, saw active service in the Revolutionary War.
Augustus Taylor was a merchant in Fishkill, and also had an iron foundry there; but in 1849 he came to California by way of Cape Horn, and in San Francisco established himself in business, dealing in stoves and house furnishings. He made a trip East each year, and sometimes oftener, in ten years having made twelve round trips to the East. His wife, who was Rachel Hoagland, a native of New York State, where she was born in 1814, made nine trips, all except one by way of Panama. She came of good old Knickerbocker stock, belonging to the Kovenhovens and Bogardus families. She died in San Francisco, the mother of ten children, three of whom are now living. Mr. Taylor continued in business in San Francisco until 1865, when he retired. Eventually he was killed at Fourth and Townsend Streets in that city, in his eighty-second year, being struck in a run-away accident.
The oldest of the living children, Gilbert Taylor was born on December 30, 1845, and was brought up at Peekskill, where he attended the Ashland and the Poultney Academies. In 1859, he came to California by way of Panama, and in May, 1859, landed in San Francisco from the steamer Golden Gate. After attending the high school in that city, he learned the machinist’s trade in Miner’s Foundry, and having completed his apprenticeship worked at his trade until, with thirteen others, he leased the foundry and ran it. He was about three years in that business, and during that time made the iron for the State Capitol, and also manufactured mining machinery.
Leaving San Francisco he went to Santa Cruz, where he took charge of the gas plant. Then he removed to Del Monte and ran the gas plant of the well-known hotel there. Breaking down in health at the end of four years, he made a trip to the Sandwich Islands and return. On reaching the California metropolis again, he engaged with Mr. Crocker, and worked for the San Francisco Gas Company. In 1891, he came to Chico to take charge of the gas plant here. This he managed for nine years, or until it was sold. In the meantime he had experimented in horticulture, having eighty acres at Yuba City, forty of which he set out to almonds, and forty to prunes. As a result of his activity in the field of horticulture, he became a member of the California Peach and Prune Growers’ Association.
Mr. Taylor was twice married. At San Jose he was joined in wedlock to Catherine Peoples, who was born in Santa Clara County on the site of Agnew, and was the daughter of Cary Peoples, a pioneer. She died in Oregon, the mother of one child, Cary P. Taylor, who graduated from Stanford University as an electrical engineer, and was with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company at Nevada, Cal., until joining the army. He is now a first lieutenant in the Ordnance Department, at Washington, D. C. Later, Mr. Taylor married Eda Walton, who was born near Yuba City, the daughter of B. F. Walton, a pioneer of that locality.
At Los Gatos Lodge, in 1885, Mr. Taylor was made a Mason; and he is now a member of Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. & A. M., of which for nine years he was secretary. He belongs to Chico Chapter, No. 42, R. A. M., of which he is Past High Priest; to Chico Commandery, No. 12, K. T., of which he is a Past Eminent Commander; to Josephine Chapter, No. 104, O. E. S.; and to Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco. He is also a member of Chico Lodge, No. 423, B. P. O. Elks, with which he has been connected since its organization in 1898. For nineteen years he served as its secretary, and in April, 1917, he was installed as Exalted Ruler. During his long connection with the order, he has missed but nine sessions of the lodge. He is also secretary of the Elks Hall Association.
As senior warden, almost from the time of the organization of St. John’s Episcopal Church here, Mr. Taylor has been active in church affairs, visiting the sick and otherwise helping to leaven the whole lump of local society; while in civic affairs, he endeavors to do his duty according to the dictates of good citizenship. Politically, he subscribes to the governmental principles laid down in the successive Republican platforms.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 1/15/08.
Source: "History of Butte
County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 613-617, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Vicky
Walker.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies