Bedford Times-Republican, Tuesday, February 6, 1923, [p. 1]
Another Pioneer Crosses The Divide
Robert A. Taylor Aged 86 Years, Dies of Pneumonia After a Brief Illness
In our last issue we announced the critical illness of Robert A. Taylor, for at that time the doctors held out no hope for his recovery and he passed to his reward late Thursday evening of last week, surrounded by all the members of his family, with the exception of one son, Chas. G. Taylor who lives at Leavenworth, Wash., the distance to that point being too great for him to even get here in time for the funeral.
Mr. Taylor was what rightfully would be termed one of the real pioneers of Taylor County, having come to this county some 65 years ago and resided here continuously since that time. He was a man of strong personality and counted his friends by the score.
Although the father of a large family, all shared alike in his affections, and it was his great aim in life to see that all were duly educated and placed on the highway to success and prosperity.
When Mr. Taylor first settled in this county, it was near what is now known as Old Lexington, then the county seat of this county. His life since he came to this section has practically been spent on this one farm, lying northeast of Bedford. There all the children were born and raised, not as “pampered darlings” but taught the true instincts and duties of loyal citizenship---taught them all to appreciate the full value of a dollar and its true worth, and when it came time for him to depart this life, he could look about him with satisfaction, and see the fruition of his long cherished dreams being carried out successfully and to his utmost liking.
Mr. Taylor, or “Uncle Bob” as he was familiarly called by all his neighbors, had a pleasant word at all times for everybody, and many a resident who still resides in this section of the country will tell you that he was always ready to lend a helping hand to a worthy person or cause.
In the passing of Mr. Taylor, the county loses one of its very best citizens. He was a man who never meddled in other people’s business---not even to listen to idle rumors, but tended strictly to his own affairs, thus claiming all the countryside as his friends, even to the last.
It was only a few years ago that Mr. Taylor gave up his active farm duties and came to Bedford to reside. He lived to see all the members of his family grow up and establish homes for themselves, letting his own farm out to be worked by others, but up until the very last, making weekly visits to the farm, just merely to content himself. The obituary below, read by the pastor at the last sad obsequies, gives a most graphic description of the dead man’s trials since infancy, of his climb from poverty and deprivation to a home of affluence and contentment. By his death he leaves a grief stricken wife, five daughters and four sons, who have the sympathy of all in their great loss and bereavement.
Robert Atkinson Taylor was born October 9, 1837 in Lincolnshire, christened in the Church of England and died at Bedford, Iowa, Feb. 1, 1923.
His father died when Robert was very young, leaving him to the care of his mother. In 1850 he came with his family, consisting of mother, stepfather, sister, brother and two half-brothers, to the United States. The voyage was too severe for the mother and in three months she had crossed the ocean of time.
Mr. Taylor settled in Kendall County, Ill., where he remained about seven years, after which he went to Chicago. There he was married to Mary Florence Golliday, Oct. 27th, 1858, and moved at once to Taylor County, Iowa, and settled on the land now called the home place, near the old town of Lexington, then the county seat.
To this union four children were born, two sons dying in infancy, Mrs. Annie Parrish who died in March, 1915, and Mrs. Chas. Swaine of Council Bluffs.
Mrs. Taylor having died, he was united in marriage May 27, 1865, at Bedford, to Martha Miller. This union was blessed with 9 children, eight of whom are living: Chas. G. Taylor, the youngest son is at Leavenworth, Wash., going there in 1909; Mrs. Cary Wickersham, Mrs. Chas. G. Mar[t]in, Alfred A. Taylor, Robert A.[tkinson], Jr., Mrs. Frank Hart, Luther B., and Mrs. W. H. Gooding are all well known, all residing in or near Bedford.
About 28 years abo Mr. Taylor gave up active farming and moved into Bedford, where he took great pride and pleasure in creating and improving a substantial home, gradually relinquishing his oversight of the farm as he advanced in years. All through his long and useful life his most promising characteristics have been thrift, honesty and the desire to be of service to humanity.
Bravely he met and conquered the hardships and privations of pioneer life; and with a faith in knowledge of a well-spent life he cheerfully answered his final call, telling the loved ones that he had had long life and that they must be reconciled to his going.
He leaves to mourn his death his aged wife, five daughters, five sons-in-law, four sons, four daughters-in-law, ten grandchildren, and one great granddaughter, many friends and neighbors, and especially the remaining pioneers.
The funeral was Saturday morning at 10:30, conducted by Rev. M. E. Lumbar, assisted by Rev. Harlan and the interment was at Fairview cemetery.