BIOGRAPHY: Matthew B. TAYLOR, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, page 569.

  MATTHEW B. TAYLOR, Reedsville, Mifflin county, Pa., was born on the old 
homestead where he now resides, and where he has passed nearly all his life.  He 
is a son of Henry and Priscilla (Turbet) Taylor.  The family is of Scotch-Irish 
descent.  Mr. Taylor's great-grandfather, Robert Taylor, came from Pine Ford, on 
Swatara Creek, in Dauphin county, Pa., and by a warrant dated February 4, 1754, 
secured several thousand acres of land in Mifflin county.  He did not, however, 
take up his residence on his claim, but returned to his home, then within the 
limits of Lancaster county.  His five sons came to Mifflin county at a later 
date, and settled on the land taken up by their father.  These sons were:  
Henry;  William;  Robert;  John;  and Matthew.  Henry settled near Taylors 
Mills, in the Kishacoquillas valley;  William, on a large tract adjoining his on 
the east;  Robert, in the Tuscarora valley;  John, on the property now owned by 
Colonel Taylor;  and Matthew, on land adjoining his on the north.  Robert 
Taylor, Jr., in later years, sold his estate and removed to Erie county, Pa., 
where he was killed by the accidental fall of a tree.  John Taylor emigrated to 
Augusta, Va., while Henry and Matthew died in their old homes.  The father of 
the family, Robert Taylor, Sr., once owned a large tract of land where the 
borough of Middletown now stands, in Dauphin county.  He had leased this land 
for a term of ninety-nine years, the original warrants and deed of lease being 
put on record at Carlisle, Pa., where they were afterwards destroyed by fire.  
Matthew Taylor removed for a time to the vicinity of Middleton, but in time came 
back to Mifflin county, and built himself a log cabin opposite the "big spring," 
on the homestead where his grandson, Matthew now lives.  He married Mrs. Sarah 
(Sample) Mayes, a widow, and a daughter of John Sample.  They had four sons:  
Robert;  John;  Henry;  and Sample.  Robert married Nancy Arnold, whose father 
was at that time a schoolmaster in the valley.  John married Elizabeth 
McManigal;  they had sons and daughters, one of their children being Gen. John 
P. Taylor.  Henry married Ann McNitt, who died;  his second wife was Rosanna 
McFarlane, by whom he had two sons, who both died very young.  The second wife 
dying, Mr. Henry Taylor was again married, to Priscilla Turbet;  their children 
are:  Sarah Jane (Mrs. Samuel Laird), of Juniata county, has two children;  Anna 
(Mrs. James Kyle), has three children;  Henry, married Priscilla Kyle, has three 
sons;  Priscilla (Mrs. William Thompson), of Centre county, died leaving one 
son;  Matthew B.;  and James, who married Nancy Hughes, and has three sons, and 
show daughters are:  Elizabeth (Mrs. Albert Mann);  and Anna (Mrs. Joseph R. 
Mann), of Lewistown.
  Matthew B. Taylor fist attended the common schools of Brown township.  At the 
age of fifteen, he entered the academy at Academia, Juniata county, under the 
tuition of Professor Wilson, studied there for two terms, and then returned 
home.  He continued to reside on the homestead with his parents until their 
death.  Mrs. Henry Taylor died in 1854, at the age of sixty-two years;  her 
husband survived her until August 17, 1862, when he, too, departed this life, 
having reached the venerable age of eighty-four.  Matthew Taylor then succeeded 
to the homestead, on which he has made many improvements, both in the way of 
adding new buildings and other facilities, and of increasing the productiveness 
of the land.  He holds a prominent position among the more substantial and 
intelligent citizens of the township.  His success is largely due to the 
prudence and sound judgment which have kept him free from the entanglements of 
speculation, and led him to prefer the safe ways of regular agricultural 
business, with their moderate but sure profits.  He has always been interested 
in local politics, as an adherent of the Republican party, and has served his 
township in several offices.  Since 1883, Mr. Taylor has relinquished the active 
care of his farm to his son, Frank H. Taylor, who conducts its management with 
skill and success, and has added to it a flourishing dairy business.
  Matthew H. Taylor was married, February 27, 1856, to Eliza Jane, daughter of 
Robert A. and Elizabeth (McNitt) Mean.  Three of their children are deceased;  
the survivors are:  Frank H.;  and Elizabeth McNitt.  Mr. Taylor and his family 
attend the Presbyterian church at Reedsville, of which they are members.
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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:  In the last paragraph there is a typo.  Matthew "H" Taylor 
should read Matthew "B" Taylor.