| Notes |
- Francis (aka "Frank" or 'Pete") was the only one of J.B. Taylor's sons interested in farming. He wanted to continue farming the land that had been in Taylor possession for 2 or 3 generations. He apparently was very interested in cowboys and, in one family picture, is depicted in full regalia with his pony. He also was a skilled yodeler.
As a child he apparantly hated the name "Francis," probably because it seemed like a girl's name; particularly since his sister's middle name was "Frances." His brother, Jack, told the story that when Francis' baby curls were cut off, he announced, "Just call me John Henry." My father always called him "Frank," but Gene called him "Pete" which I had never heard until after my father had died. He was also referred to as "Pete" in one of the newspaper articles transcribed below.
Unfortunately he was killed in an automobile accident. He had, according to his brother, Jack, been a difficult teenager, and his father maintained a curfew despite his age. He had been visiting his fiancee, Eleanor Bier. They had been shopping for furniture for their up-coming wedding. Jack thought that possibly, he was late in starting home and was hurrying to meet the curfew. He was driving a model A Ford convertible. He hit a car that was believed to be going quite slowly and without lights. He probably saw it too late to avoid it. In swerving, he hit the left rear fender causing him to overturn. His head was crushed. I had never heard of the gunshot incident until I read the Taylor Scrapbook. This led me to wonder if he was he accident prone. -- LKL
"Youth May Die From Gun-Shot Wound in Breast
"Francis Taylor, the seventeen year old son of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Taylor of north of this city, is lying at the point of death in the Canton hospital as the result of an accidental gunshot wound, which re received Sunday afternoon at three-thirty o'clock. Young Taylor in company with four companions, Charles Carmon of Canton, Fred and Alfred Kaiser and Herold Johnson of the Fabius community had driven to the Mark bottom to look for suitable places to set traps for muskrats. The boys were walking along the Burlington tracks and while crossing a tressel young Taylor dropped his twelve-gauge pump gun which fell between the ties stock first to a rock pier about four feet below. As the gun fell Taylor leaned over to see where it fell and received the full load of number five shot in his right chest when the impact caused the gun to explode.
"Members of his party rushed to the car, but could not find the key to start it and had to press another car into service to move him. On being brought to his car he was able to inform the boys where the key was and he walked to the car and was driven home. Dr. E.E. Hartwell, who was visiting in the neighborhood was advised of the accident and hurried to the Taylor home. He took young Taylor in his car and rushed him to the Canton hospital for treatment. X-Ray examination showed that fifty-nine of the shot had lodged in the young man's lung. The wound is very serious and it is not known what the outcome will be. At last report the youth was holding his own and it was felt that he might have a chance for recovery. Young Taylor comes of one of Marion county's oldest and best families. He is a student in Palmyra High School and stands high with his associates and others with whom he is acquainted. The unfortunate accident is greatly ...." [The remainder of the article is cut off.] -- Source unknown, but probably the Palmyra Spectator; a date 1930 is written in and other information, possibly "Oct 18" is so faint as to be illegible.
"Francis Taylor Improving
"We are mighty glad to report that "Pete" has been improving quite consistently since his tragic accident of ten days ago. Through the courtesy of his parents and friends we have been able to keep in daily touch with his condition and have been mighty pleased to know that he has every chance to pull through.
"We are eagerly looking forward to the time when his physicians will permit us to see him.
"Here's luck to you, Pete." -- Presumably from the Palmyra Spectator ca Oct 28th.
"Francis Taylor Doing Well
"The latest reports from Pete are that he is doing very well and will, in all probability, be home by the time this is read. We rejoice with his parents, relatives and friends in his rapid recovery and trust that nothing will prevent his regaining all of his former strength. We'll all be might glad when you'll be ... back in school, Pete." --Presumably from the Palmyra Spectator
"We were overjoyed to have Francis Taylor in our midst and although he took no active part in the merriment it was evident that he thoroughly enjoyed his seat on the throne. That no ill effects resulted from his attending the Barnwarming [sic] is evidenced by that the fact that he has returned to school." -- Presumably from the Palmyra Spectator
"Francis Taylor, of Fabius, who was severely wounded several weeks ago by the accidental discharge of his gun, was able to return to school last week. it is thought he will suffer no permanent damage from his wound. He is quite popular among his school-mates and they are glad to have him among them again." -- Presumably from the Palmyra Spectator
"Francis Taylor Killed Instantly in Car Accident
"Francis T. Taylor, 22, son of Mr and Mrs. J.B. Taylor, prominent and widely known residents of this county, residing north of Palmyra in Fabius township, met instant death about 12:30 Sunday morning, when his car overturned on state highway No. 51, the accident occurring in front of the residence property owned by Mrs. Katharine Mackey, which is located just outside of the southern limits of Palmyra.
"Young Taylor was driving a Model A Ford roadster toward Palmyra and in some manner his car struck the rear left fender and bumper of a Chevrolet coupe that was being driven north by Leo Tate of this city. The Taylor car overturned and slid on the pavement a distance of more than fifty feet and the Tate car went off of the right side of the highway, jumped a two foot embankment and landed upside down in a hedge fence and was badly wrecked. Mrs Leona Sweeney of St. Louis and her nine months old son were passengers in the Tate car, but were unhurt with the exception of several cuts received by Mrs. Sweeney on her right hand. Tate was not injured. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. James Tate, who reside on North Main street. Mrs Sweeney is a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Clark, who live in the northern part of the city. She has been visiting in the home of her grandparents for the last few weeks.
"The body of young Taylor was removed from the wreckage by Thomas Bier [what relation to his fiancee?] and Carl Wilson who were at Graystone Inn, located a short distance south of the scene of the accident. They heard the crash and ran to where the Taylor car was lying on its left side on the west side of the black marker. When his body was removed it was [material may be missing from the photocopied article] morning in the court house, the jury found that Mr. Taylor came to his death as the result of an automobile accident. It was brought out that it was a foggy Saturday night and early Sunday morning and that Taylor evidently failed to see the Tate car.
"Coroner Cecil Schwartz of Hannibal was called to the scene and Sunday morning conducted the inquest at the court house when a number of witnesses were examined. There were no eye witnesses to the accident but there were a number of persons at Graystone Inn who heard the crash. The coroner's jury was composed of Henry Sterkel, Herman Rothweiler, H.S. Taylor, H.J. Boettcher, Arthur Fox, and Russell Meyers.
"Francis Tilden Taylor
"Francis Tilden Taylor was a native of Fabius township, born May 4, 1913. He was the youngest child of J.B. and Grace E. Taylor and besides his parents is survived by two brothers Aubrey Taylor of Iowa City, Iowa and Eugene Taylor of New York City and one sister, Mrs. O.V. Mitchell of Palmyra.
"In 1926 he united with the Bethel Baptist church which was founded by his great grandfather more than a century ago. He attended Franklin school in Fabius and after completing the grades entered Palmyra high school and was graduated in the class of 1931. From infancy he had manifested a great interest in agriculture and farming and had chosen this his life's work. He gave his work close application and had practically assumed the management of his father's farm, under the advice of his father and mother.
"Reared as he was, in the atmosphere of a Christian home and in a community of intellectual interests--he was industrious, reliable, and dependable and possessed those qualities that make for good citizenship. He was popular and a general favorite in this community and his untimely and tragic death is a matter of profound...[more missing from article] el church Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock conducted by the Rev. Harold Hunt of Kahoka, a former pastor of the church. Rev. Hunt was assisted in the service by Rev. A.S. Ingman of LaGrange, who gave the invocation. The funeral hymns were sung by a mixed quartet composed of Mrs. E.G. Nill, Mrs G.B. Lewis, William Owsley and H.H. Heinze. Mrs. F.G. Carlstead, organist of the Palmyra Baptist church, played the accompaniments. Rev. Hunt also contributed a vocal solo. He pall bearers were: Harry and Horace Hansbrough, Harold Johnston, Junior Mc Pike, Harold Hoehne and Glen Ferguson. Burial was made in the Bethel Church cemetery. The funeral was largely attended.
"Among those from a distance who attended the funeral services of Francis T. Taylor of Fabius community which were held at the Bethel Baptist church last week were: Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Imbler, Misses Mabel McLeod and Nell Chevront, Mrs Eva Berry, Mrs. Lucy Young, and Ray White of Kirksville, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Crouch of Quincy, Mr. and Mrs. R.L. McLeod and Mrs. Hackamack and daughter, Miss Beulah, Rev. A.S. Ingman, all of La Grange, Rev. and Mrs. H.M. Hunt and daughter of Kahoka; and a number from Hannibal, Maywood, Philadelphia, Mr. Zion and Withers Mill." -- Palmyra Spectator, undated article, probably October 23, 1935.
"FABIUS YOUTH DIES IN WRECK NEAR PALMYRA -- Francis Taylor's Head Crushed When Two Cars Collide.
"Francis T. Taylor, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Taylor, prominent Fabius residents, was almost instantly killed about 12:30 o'clock Sunday morning when his car over turned on Highway 61, at the south edge of Palmyra.
"Young Taylor was driving a Model A Ford roadster toward Palmyra. In some manner his car struck the left rear fender of a car driven by Leo Tate of Palmyra. The Taylor car overturned and slid twenty or thirty feet along the pavement. Taylor's head was crushed and he was dead when aid arrived.
"The Tate car went off the right side of the road and was demolished. In the Tate car, in addition to Mr. Tate, was Mrs. Leona Sweeney and her nine-month-old son. No one in the Tate car was injured except Mrs. Sweeney, who had a cut on one hand.
"The body was removed from the Taylor car, which was on its side on the Pavement, by Thomas Beer [i.e. Bier] and Carl Wilson. At the inquest held Sunday Morning the jury found that Mr. Taylor came to his death as the result of an automobile accident, and it was brought out that it was foggy Saturday night and early Sunday morning and that Taylor evidently failed to see the Tate car.
"The funeral will be held in Bethel Baptist church in Fabius township, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
"Mr. Taylor leaves his parents: two brothers, Aubrey Taylor, of Iowa City, and Eugene Taylor of New York City, and a sister, Mrs. O.V. Mitchell of Palmyra. He was born May 4, 1913. He had been engaged in farming near Palmyra. -- Source not identified, but probably the Quincy Whig Herald.
"ONE KILLED AN AUTO ACCIDENT NEAR PALMYRA -- Hold Inquest Over Death of Francis Taylor, 2 Others Hurt
"Francis Taylor, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Taylor, of north of Palmyra, was killed in an automobile accident early Sunday morning which occurred on U.S. highway No. 61 between the souther city limits of Palmyra and the Greystone Inn. It was said that Taylor's car, traveling north on the pavement, struck the rear end of another car traveling north and driven by Leo Tate, of Palmyra, who was accompanied by Mrs. Leona Sweeny [sic] and her infant child. The accident occurred between 12:30 and 1 o'clock Sunday morning. Tate and Mrs. Sweeney sustained minor injuries but the baby was reported to have been unhurt.
"Both cars turned over following the crash. The Chevrolet coupe driven by Tate had turned upside down across the hedge in front of Mrs. Katharine Mackey property, about 12 feet from the slab. The Taylor car, a ford roadster, turned over on its side and apparently slid quite a ways on the pavement. Taylor was believed to have been dead when taken from the wreckage.
"Inquest Sunday
"Coroner Cecil Schwartz, of Hannibal, was called to the scene and yesterday morning held an inquest at the courthouse in which a number of witnesses were examined. It was said that there were no eyewitnesses but several people at the Greystone Inn heard the crash and rushed to the scene.
"So far as is known Tom Bier, who was at the inn and Henry Remone, who is employed at the Graystone, were the first to reach the two wrecked cars. They both testified that they did not see the crash, only heard it. Both Bier and Remone said they believed Taylor was dead when he was taken from the car. They said his car was lying on its side (the passenger side) on the west side of of the black line of the pavement, wheels to the north. State Highway Patrolman K.O. Duncan and Lester Matton, both of Hannibal, who were called to the scene about 1 o'clock, said they took measurements. Duncan said that it was 57 feet from where the Taylor Car began to slide on the pavement to where the spot of blood was. He said they were not tire marks but metal scratches on the pavement where the car had evidently slid on its fenders. The Tate car, he said, was about 12 feet from the slab, upside down and half way across the hedge on the Mackey property. The officers said they checked the lights on both cars and found that the lights on the Taylor car would burn. They said the tail light on the Tate car would not burn, although the bulbs were in it. The officers also checked the Tate car headlights, which they said would burn.
"Leo Tate Testifies
"Leo Tate, driver of the Chevrolet, when called to the witness stand, stated that he had turned around at the entrance to the C.M. Grey farm, some distance north of the Graystone Inn and was returning to Palmyra. He said that himself and his companion had observed that the tail light on their car was burning, adding that they had stopped for a little while when they turned around.
"Tate said that he started on back to Palmyra, driving north, and when a short distance south of the Greystone Inn, was struck on the left rear fender and bumper, which caused his car to leave the road and turn over. He said that when he managed to get himself and his companions out of the cars, he observed Taylor's body lying on the slab. He said he was not aware of the car behind him until it struck.
"Tom Bier, Palmyra automobile salesman, said that he and Carl Wilson assisted in taking Taylor's body out of the car. He said Taylor's head was toward the slab, but the head was crushed so badly he could not tell who he was. Henry Remone, an employe [sic] of the Graystone Inn, said that after he heard the crash he went to the highway and could see the Taylor car about 150 yards down the road.
"Several of the witnesses said that it was foggy but vision was not entirely obstructed.
"The jury, composed of H.J. Sterkel, Herman Rothweiler, Henry S. Taylor, H.J. Boettcher, Arthur Fox and Russell Meyers, after hearing the witnesses, returned a verdict that Taylor came to his death in an automobile accident. The remains were removed to the Lewis funeral home where members of the coroner's jury viewed the body yesterday morning.
"Francis Tilden Taylor was born May 4, 1913, on the homestead in Fabius township where he had spent all his life. He was 22 years, 5 months and 16 days of age. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Taylor; a sister, Mrs O.V. Mitchell, of Palmyra; two brothers, Aubrey Taylor of Iowa City, Ia., and Eugene Taylor of New York City.
"Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Bethel Baptist church, north of Palmyra, conducted by the Rev. H.M. Hunt. Pallbearers will be Harold Hoehne, B.J. McPike, Harold Johnston, Glenn Ferguson, Harry Hansbrough, and Horace Hansbrough." -- Hannibal Courier, probably Monday, Oct. 22, 1934.
One wonders about the relationship, if any, between the Tom Bier who assisted at the wreck and Eleanor Bier, Frank's fiancee.
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Taylor Family Genealogy
1913 - 1934 (21 years)