Nathaniel Franklin died on May 3, 1883 in Correctionville, IA., the sons (including Owen) worked on farms mostly for their board and room during the winter months, then for wages during the rest of the year. During the year of 1887 the younger brothers lived with the older brother John E.D. Taylor who had bought a farm of College land in Section 6, Little Sioux Township, Woodbury Co., Iowa known as College Corners. John E.D Taylor was the son of Nathaniel and Evaline.
After the death and shortly before Nathaniel Franklin Taylor's death the sons worked on farms mostly for their board and room during the winter months then for wages during the rest of the year. During the year of 1887 the younger brothers lived with the older brother , John E.D Taylor who had bought a farm of College land in Section 6, Little Sioux Township, Woodbury Co., Iowa known as College Corners. According to Nellie Taylor Bailey, Nathaniel Franklin's grand daughter and Walter Llewellyn Taylor's daughter, the boys were "put out to strangers" to work.
The E.D Taylor family continued to live on the John E.D. Taylor family farm . They moved to another farm and shortly thereafter John E.D. Taylor moved to Larned, Kansas. Where he married Emma Anna Johnson, Sept 28, 1890. Anna Mariah Miller (Campell) (Wyatt) Taylor's three boys grew to manhood and Walter L. and Owen married. Arthur moved to Oklahoma, and never married. Walter Llewellyn Taylor married Mary O'Connell. Walter and Mary O'Connell Taylor 1870-1952 moved to Bonesteel, SD in Feb. 1904.
One July 4th he was living on a farm near Smithland, Iowa , he made himself a pair of pants out of a gunny sack and walked barefooted into town for the celebration. (Source for this information Nellie Taylor Bailey) In the June 1, 1880 Federal Census of Columbia, Tama Co. Iowa Walter Llewellyn Taylor is counted as living in the John and Mary Cory household. He is not listed as a relative of the family, rather he is listed as a laborer. He was working for his board and room with this household. At the time he was 11 years old. This was over 2 years before his fathers death. In that same census Walter Llewelly's brother Owen was living with his half sister, Caroline J. Taylor Ballard and her husband William Ballard in Columbia Township, Tama Co. Iowa. Walter's other brother Arthur was living with his half sister Uzillah J. Taylor Showden, also in Tama, Tama Co., Iowa. In 1885 Arthur was still living with the Showden's but he was in Woodbury Co., Iowa. Arthur later moved with the Snowden family to Oklahoma and Owen and Walteer moved in with their half brother John. E.D.
During the year 1887 the younger brothers lived with the older brothers, John E.D., who had bought a farm of College Land in Section 6, Little Sioux Township, Woodbury County, Iowa, known as College Corners. This farm was sold and they moved to another farm two miles south in the Lum Hollow districts. John E.D. Taylor left for Kansas soon after leaving the Lum Hollow community and landed in Larned, Kansas where he met and married Emma Anna Johnson, September 28, 1890.
At the time of his marriage, Walter Llewellyn Taylor had purchased an improved 160 acres of railroad land near Pierson, Iowa. On March 24, 1892 he married Mary O'Connell at Onawa, Iowa. Mary O'Connell was a school teacher near Pierson Iowa. They made their home on a farm one and a half miles southwest of Pierson where they remained for 12 years. A friend and ordained Baptist minister S.M. Stevens, who had settled in eastern Gregory County, SD told them about the frontier land in Gregory County. Gregory County, is located in the south central part of South Dakota. It is named for C. H. Gregory, an officer in the U.S. Army stationed at Ft. Randall. A rivalry for county seat honors sprang up between Fairfax and Bonesteel, which for several years was the source of considerable controversy. In 1898, the county was organized by order of Governor Lee. Fairfax received a majority of votes in an August 1898 election and was declared the county seat. As early as 1906 an effort was made to move the county seat farther west, but efforts failed. In 1916 the matter was again brought up and after one of the bitterest fights in the county's history the seat was moved to Burke.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,053 square miles (2,728 km²), of which, 1,016 square miles (2,631 km²) of it is land and 38 square miles (97 km²) of it (3.56%) is water.
President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation on Feb. 10,1890, declaring one-fourth of eastern portion of Gregory County open to entry settlers. In 1898, the Gregory County government was organized. The remaining portion of Gregory County was opened to homesteaders by President Theodore Roosevelt on April 23, 1904. The land office for the opening was at Bonesteel. Chaotic conditions at Bonesteel prior to the opening and the threat of trouble on the opening day caused Lt. Gov. Snow to mobilize National Guard troops from Sioux Falls to protect the land office and keep order during the opening. The actual opening proved to be uneventful.
Walter Llewellyn Taylor and Mary O'Connell Taylor sold their land in Iowa in 1903. In February 1904 they moved to Bonesteel. They traveled by train, Mrs. Taylor and the children in the passenger area, Walter traveled in the caboose or freight car with his livestock and machinery. They purchased a half section of land (320 acres) from Dr. Louis Boutillier, DVM (Butler) who had sqatted on the East 1/2 of the West 1/2 of section 32, Schriever Township, in the military reserve and later filed on it. He had a blacksmith shop on the place. He sold the land and house to Walter Taylor and moved with his blacksmith shop into Bonesteel. The shop was moved to Lots 13 & 14 west of the saloon in Bonesteel. Dr. Louis Boutillier, in addition to being a man of medicine he was a veterianian and a blacksmith, and also had knowleged of treatment of humans. He concocted a salve or ointment used by him to cure cancer. Louis Boutlillier was a Frenchman; his name was americanized to Butler.
There was a five room house on the land, Walter built a barn and several other smaller buildings.
All of Walter and Mary's children graduated from Bonesteel High School.
The family lived very close to Bonesteel, where they engaged in farming and raising Purebred Shorthorn cattle. The farm was about a mile west of Bonesteel. He took pride in his work and was a regular exhibitor in the Gregory Co. fair winning 9 cups and many ribbons for outstanding livestock. His sons Paul and Walter were associated with their father in the farming/cattle raising operation.
Walter retired from the farm and in January 1926 and moved into Bonesteel. He enjoyed tree and vegetable gardening . He was a member of the city council when the City Hall was built in 1933 and 1934. He served on the Bonesteel school board; he was the first clerk of Pleasant Valley Township and he was a director of the Gregory County Fair Board.
After his retirement his sons Paul Lester with the help of Walter Justin took over the farm and cattle operation. His oldest daugther, Edna Taylor Vondrack moved to Hinton, Woodbury Co., Iowa in 1918; his son Raymond moved to Rapid City, So. Dak. in 1931, Ray served for 2 1/2 years in the US Navy during World War I; his son Paul Lester stayed in Bonesteel, where he and his brother Walter Justin operated the family homestead; his daughter Nellie Taylor Bailey stayed in Bonesteel and lived on a ranch north of Bonesteel after living in Fremont, Nebraska for a few years, sometime between 1920 and 1928, she taught school while in Fremont; his son Walter Justin never married and stayed in Bonesteel, SD, he served in the U.S. Army in both World Wars., and his son Bruce Taylor moved to Nebraska, first to Linsay in 1947, then to Hartington, Nebraska in 1948.
Walter Llewellyn Taylor died Jan 6, 1947. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning Jan 8, 1947 at 9 o'clock at the Catholic church in Bonesteel and were conducted by Father E.J. McGonigal. Burial was at St. Mary's Catholic cemetery. Pall bearers were: Martin Grady, Ambrose Burke, Theo Sondgeroth, J.M. McNamara, J. R. Jones, and Jim Metal.
Also buried in St. Mary's Cemetery are his wife Mary O'Connell Taylor in 1952, his daughter Nellie Taylor Bailey and her husband Elslie Hull Bailey, two of Walter Llewellyn's sons, Walter Justin and Paul Lester and Paul's wife Nora Mary Sondgeroth Taylor. Edgar Bailey, a grandson and a great granson William A. (Bill) Bailey) are also buried there.
Twenty three children were born to the children of Walter Llewelly Taylor and Mary O'Connell Taylor, and many great grandchildren.
Children:
Edna Elizabeth Taylor 1893-1990,
Raymond John Taylor 1895-1979,
Nellie M. Taylor 1897-1991,
Walter Justin Taylor 1899-1976,
Paul Lester Taylor 1902-1966, and
Bruce Richard Taylor 1902-1966..
written by Keith Taylor
After the death and shortly before Nathaniel Franklin Taylor's death the sons worked on farms mostly for their board and room during the winter months then for wages during the rest of the year. During the year of 1887 the younger brothers lived with the older brother , John E.D Taylor who had bought a farm of College land in Section 6, Little Sioux Township, Woodbury Co., Iowa known as College Corners. According to Nellie Taylor Bailey, Nathaniel Franklin's grand daughter and Walter Llewellyn Taylor's daughter, the boys were "put out to strangers" to work.
The E.D Taylor family continued to live on the John E.D. Taylor family farm . They moved to another farm and shortly thereafter John E.D. Taylor moved to Larned, Kansas. Where he married Emma Anna Johnson, Sept 28, 1890. Anna Mariah Miller (Campell) (Wyatt) Taylor's three boys grew to manhood and Walter L. and Owen married. Arthur moved to Oklahoma, and never married. Walter Llewellyn Taylor married Mary O'Connell. Walter and Mary O'Connell Taylor 1870-1952 moved to Bonesteel, SD in Feb. 1904.
One July 4th he was living on a farm near Smithland, Iowa , he made himself a pair of pants out of a gunny sack and walked barefooted into town for the celebration. (Source for this information Nellie Taylor Bailey) In the June 1, 1880 Federal Census of Columbia, Tama Co. Iowa Walter Llewellyn Taylor is counted as living in the John and Mary Cory household. He is not listed as a relative of the family, rather he is listed as a laborer. He was working for his board and room with this household. At the time he was 11 years old. This was over 2 years before his fathers death. In that same census Walter Llewelly's brother Owen was living with his half sister, Caroline J. Taylor Ballard and her husband William Ballard in Columbia Township, Tama Co. Iowa. Walter's other brother Arthur was living with his half sister Uzillah J. Taylor Showden, also in Tama, Tama Co., Iowa. In 1885 Arthur was still living with the Showden's but he was in Woodbury Co., Iowa. Arthur later moved with the Snowden family to Oklahoma and Owen and Walteer moved in with their half brother John. E.D.
During the year 1887 the younger brothers lived with the older brothers, John E.D., who had bought a farm of College Land in Section 6, Little Sioux Township, Woodbury County, Iowa, known as College Corners. This farm was sold and they moved to another farm two miles south in the Lum Hollow districts. John E.D. Taylor left for Kansas soon after leaving the Lum Hollow community and landed in Larned, Kansas where he met and married Emma Anna Johnson, September 28, 1890.
At the time of his marriage, Walter Llewellyn Taylor had purchased an improved 160 acres of railroad land near Pierson, Iowa. On March 24, 1892 he married Mary O'Connell at Onawa, Iowa. Mary O'Connell was a school teacher near Pierson Iowa. They made their home on a farm one and a half miles southwest of Pierson where they remained for 12 years. A friend and ordained Baptist minister S.M. Stevens, who had settled in eastern Gregory County, SD told them about the frontier land in Gregory County. Gregory County, is located in the south central part of South Dakota. It is named for C. H. Gregory, an officer in the U.S. Army stationed at Ft. Randall. A rivalry for county seat honors sprang up between Fairfax and Bonesteel, which for several years was the source of considerable controversy. In 1898, the county was organized by order of Governor Lee. Fairfax received a majority of votes in an August 1898 election and was declared the county seat. As early as 1906 an effort was made to move the county seat farther west, but efforts failed. In 1916 the matter was again brought up and after one of the bitterest fights in the county's history the seat was moved to Burke.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,053 square miles (2,728 km²), of which, 1,016 square miles (2,631 km²) of it is land and 38 square miles (97 km²) of it (3.56%) is water.
President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation on Feb. 10,1890, declaring one-fourth of eastern portion of Gregory County open to entry settlers. In 1898, the Gregory County government was organized. The remaining portion of Gregory County was opened to homesteaders by President Theodore Roosevelt on April 23, 1904. The land office for the opening was at Bonesteel. Chaotic conditions at Bonesteel prior to the opening and the threat of trouble on the opening day caused Lt. Gov. Snow to mobilize National Guard troops from Sioux Falls to protect the land office and keep order during the opening. The actual opening proved to be uneventful.
Walter Llewellyn Taylor and Mary O'Connell Taylor sold their land in Iowa in 1903. In February 1904 they moved to Bonesteel. They traveled by train, Mrs. Taylor and the children in the passenger area, Walter traveled in the caboose or freight car with his livestock and machinery. They purchased a half section of land (320 acres) from Dr. Louis Boutillier, DVM (Butler) who had sqatted on the East 1/2 of the West 1/2 of section 32, Schriever Township, in the military reserve and later filed on it. He had a blacksmith shop on the place. He sold the land and house to Walter Taylor and moved with his blacksmith shop into Bonesteel. The shop was moved to Lots 13 & 14 west of the saloon in Bonesteel. Dr. Louis Boutillier, in addition to being a man of medicine he was a veterianian and a blacksmith, and also had knowleged of treatment of humans. He concocted a salve or ointment used by him to cure cancer. Louis Boutlillier was a Frenchman; his name was americanized to Butler.
There was a five room house on the land, Walter built a barn and several other smaller buildings.
All of Walter and Mary's children graduated from Bonesteel High School.
The family lived very close to Bonesteel, where they engaged in farming and raising Purebred Shorthorn cattle. The farm was about a mile west of Bonesteel. He took pride in his work and was a regular exhibitor in the Gregory Co. fair winning 9 cups and many ribbons for outstanding livestock. His sons Paul and Walter were associated with their father in the farming/cattle raising operation.
Walter retired from the farm and in January 1926 and moved into Bonesteel. He enjoyed tree and vegetable gardening . He was a member of the city council when the City Hall was built in 1933 and 1934. He served on the Bonesteel school board; he was the first clerk of Pleasant Valley Township and he was a director of the Gregory County Fair Board.
After his retirement his sons Paul Lester with the help of Walter Justin took over the farm and cattle operation. His oldest daugther, Edna Taylor Vondrack moved to Hinton, Woodbury Co., Iowa in 1918; his son Raymond moved to Rapid City, So. Dak. in 1931, Ray served for 2 1/2 years in the US Navy during World War I; his son Paul Lester stayed in Bonesteel, where he and his brother Walter Justin operated the family homestead; his daughter Nellie Taylor Bailey stayed in Bonesteel and lived on a ranch north of Bonesteel after living in Fremont, Nebraska for a few years, sometime between 1920 and 1928, she taught school while in Fremont; his son Walter Justin never married and stayed in Bonesteel, SD, he served in the U.S. Army in both World Wars., and his son Bruce Taylor moved to Nebraska, first to Linsay in 1947, then to Hartington, Nebraska in 1948.
Walter Llewellyn Taylor died Jan 6, 1947. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning Jan 8, 1947 at 9 o'clock at the Catholic church in Bonesteel and were conducted by Father E.J. McGonigal. Burial was at St. Mary's Catholic cemetery. Pall bearers were: Martin Grady, Ambrose Burke, Theo Sondgeroth, J.M. McNamara, J. R. Jones, and Jim Metal.
Also buried in St. Mary's Cemetery are his wife Mary O'Connell Taylor in 1952, his daughter Nellie Taylor Bailey and her husband Elslie Hull Bailey, two of Walter Llewellyn's sons, Walter Justin and Paul Lester and Paul's wife Nora Mary Sondgeroth Taylor. Edgar Bailey, a grandson and a great granson William A. (Bill) Bailey) are also buried there.
Twenty three children were born to the children of Walter Llewelly Taylor and Mary O'Connell Taylor, and many great grandchildren.
Children:
Edna Elizabeth Taylor 1893-1990,
Raymond John Taylor 1895-1979,
Nellie M. Taylor 1897-1991,
Walter Justin Taylor 1899-1976,
Paul Lester Taylor 1902-1966, and
Bruce Richard Taylor 1902-1966..
written by Keith Taylor
Nathaniel Franklin died on May 3, 1883 in Correctionville, IA., the sons (including Owen) worked on farms mostly for their board and room during the winter months, then for wages during the rest of the year. During the year of 1887 the younger brothers lived with the older brother John E.D. Taylor who had bought a farm of College land in Section 6, Little Sioux Township, Woodbury Co., Iowa known as College Corners. John E.D Taylor was the son of Nathaniel and Evaline.
After the death and shortly before Nathaniel Franklin Taylor's death the sons worked on farms mostly for their board and room during the winter months then for wages during the rest of the year. During the year of 1887 the younger brothers lived with the older brother , John E.D Taylor who had bought a farm of College land in Section 6, Little Sioux Township, Woodbury Co., Iowa known as College Corners. According to Nellie Taylor Bailey, Nathaniel Franklin's grand daughter and Walter Llewellyn Taylor's daughter, the boys were "put out to strangers" to work.
The E.D Taylor family continued to live on the John E.D. Taylor family farm . They moved to another farm and shortly thereafter John E.D. Taylor moved to Larned, Kansas. Where he married Emma Anna Johnson, Sept 28, 1890. Anna Mariah Miller (Campell) (Wyatt) Taylor's three boys grew to manhood and Walter L. and Owen married. Arthur moved to Oklahoma, and never married. Walter Llewellyn Taylor married Mary O'Connell. Walter and Mary O'Connell Taylor 1870-1952 moved to Bonesteel, SD in Feb. 1904.
One July 4th he was living on a farm near Smithland, Iowa , he made himself a pair of pants out of a gunny sack and walked barefooted into town for the celebration. (Source for this information Nellie Taylor Bailey) In the June 1, 1880 Federal Census of Columbia, Tama Co. Iowa Walter Llewellyn Taylor is counted as living in the John and Mary Cory household. He is not listed as a relative of the family, rather he is listed as a laborer. He was working for his board and room with this household. At the time he was 11 years old. This was over 2 years before his fathers death. In that same census Walter Llewelly's brother Owen was living with his half sister, Caroline J. Taylor Ballard and her husband William Ballard in Columbia Township, Tama Co. Iowa. Walter's other brother Arthur was living with his half sister Uzillah J. Taylor Showden, also in Tama, Tama Co., Iowa. In 1885 Arthur was still living with the Showden's but he was in Woodbury Co., Iowa. Arthur later moved with the Snowden family to Oklahoma and Owen and Walteer moved in with their half brother John. E.D.
During the year 1887 the younger brothers lived with the older brothers, John E.D., who had bought a farm of College Land in Section 6, Little Sioux Township, Woodbury County, Iowa, known as College Corners. This farm was sold and they moved to another farm two miles south in the Lum Hollow districts. John E.D. Taylor left for Kansas soon after leaving the Lum Hollow community and landed in Larned, Kansas where he met and married Emma Anna Johnson, September 28, 1890.
At the time of his marriage, Walter Llewellyn Taylor had purchased an improved 160 acres of railroad land near Pierson, Iowa. On March 24, 1892 he married Mary O'Connell at Onawa, Iowa. Mary O'Connell was a school teacher near Pierson Iowa. They made their home on a farm one and a half miles southwest of Pierson where they remained for 12 years. A friend and ordained Baptist minister S.M. Stevens, who had settled in eastern Gregory County, SD told them about the frontier land in Gregory County. Gregory County, is located in the south central part of South Dakota. It is named for C. H. Gregory, an officer in the U.S. Army stationed at Ft. Randall. A rivalry for county seat honors sprang up between Fairfax and Bonesteel, which for several years was the source of considerable controversy. In 1898, the county was organized by order of Governor Lee. Fairfax received a majority of votes in an August 1898 election and was declared the county seat. As early as 1906 an effort was made to move the county seat farther west, but efforts failed. In 1916 the matter was again brought up and after one of the bitterest fights in the county's history the seat was moved to Burke.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,053 square miles (2,728 km²), of which, 1,016 square miles (2,631 km²) of it is land and 38 square miles (97 km²) of it (3.56%) is water.
President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation on Feb. 10,1890, declaring one-fourth of eastern portion of Gregory County open to entry settlers. In 1898, the Gregory County government was organized. The remaining portion of Gregory County was opened to homesteaders by President Theodore Roosevelt on April 23, 1904. The land office for the opening was at Bonesteel. Chaotic conditions at Bonesteel prior to the opening and the threat of trouble on the opening day caused Lt. Gov. Snow to mobilize National Guard troops from Sioux Falls to protect the land office and keep order during the opening. The actual opening proved to be uneventful.
Walter Llewellyn Taylor and Mary O'Connell Taylor sold their land in Iowa in 1903. In February 1904 they moved to Bonesteel. They traveled by train, Mrs. Taylor and the children in the passenger area, Walter traveled in the caboose or freight car with his livestock and machinery. They purchased a half section of land (320 acres) from Dr. Louis Boutillier, DVM (Butler) who had sqatted on the East 1/2 of the West 1/2 of section 32, Schriever Township, in the military reserve and later filed on it. He had a blacksmith shop on the place. He sold the land and house to Walter Taylor and moved with his blacksmith shop into Bonesteel. The shop was moved to Lots 13 & 14 west of the saloon in Bonesteel. Dr. Louis Boutillier, in addition to being a man of medicine he was a veterianian and a blacksmith, and also had knowleged of treatment of humans. He concocted a salve or ointment used by him to cure cancer. Louis Boutlillier was a Frenchman; his name was americanized to Butler.
There was a five room house on the land, Walter built a barn and several other smaller buildings.
All of Walter and Mary's children graduated from Bonesteel High School.
The family lived very close to Bonesteel, where they engaged in farming and raising Purebred Shorthorn cattle. The farm was about a mile west of Bonesteel. He took pride in his work and was a regular exhibitor in the Gregory Co. fair winning 9 cups and many ribbons for outstanding livestock. His sons Paul and Walter were associated with their father in the farming/cattle raising operation.
Walter retired from the farm and in January 1926 and moved into Bonesteel. He enjoyed tree and vegetable gardening . He was a member of the city council when the City Hall was built in 1933 and 1934. He served on the Bonesteel school board; he was the first clerk of Pleasant Valley Township and he was a director of the Gregory County Fair Board.
After his retirement his sons Paul Lester with the help of Walter Justin took over the farm and cattle operation. His oldest daugther, Edna Taylor Vondrack moved to Hinton, Woodbury Co., Iowa in 1918; his son Raymond moved to Rapid City, So. Dak. in 1931, Ray served for 2 1/2 years in the US Navy during World War I; his son Paul Lester stayed in Bonesteel, where he and his brother Walter Justin operated the family homestead; his daughter Nellie Taylor Bailey stayed in Bonesteel and lived on a ranch north of Bonesteel after living in Fremont, Nebraska for a few years, sometime between 1920 and 1928, she taught school while in Fremont; his son Walter Justin never married and stayed in Bonesteel, SD, he served in the U.S. Army in both World Wars., and his son Bruce Taylor moved to Nebraska, first to Linsay in 1947, then to Hartington, Nebraska in 1948.
Walter Llewellyn Taylor died Jan 6, 1947. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning Jan 8, 1947 at 9 o'clock at the Catholic church in Bonesteel and were conducted by Father E.J. McGonigal. Burial was at St. Mary's Catholic cemetery. Pall bearers were: Martin Grady, Ambrose Burke, Theo Sondgeroth, J.M. McNamara, J. R. Jones, and Jim Metal.
Also buried in St. Mary's Cemetery are his wife Mary O'Connell Taylor in 1952, his daughter Nellie Taylor Bailey and her husband Elslie Hull Bailey, two of Walter Llewellyn's sons, Walter Justin and Paul Lester and Paul's wife Nora Mary Sondgeroth Taylor. Edgar Bailey, a grandson and a great granson William A. (Bill) Bailey) are also buried there.
Twenty three children were born to the children of Walter Llewelly Taylor and Mary O'Connell Taylor, and many great grandchildren.
Children:
Edna Elizabeth Taylor 1893-1990,
Raymond John Taylor 1895-1979,
Nellie M. Taylor 1897-1991,
Walter Justin Taylor 1899-1976,
Paul Lester Taylor 1902-1966, and
Bruce Richard Taylor 1902-1966..
written by Keith Taylor
After the death and shortly before Nathaniel Franklin Taylor's death the sons worked on farms mostly for their board and room during the winter months then for wages during the rest of the year. During the year of 1887 the younger brothers lived with the older brother , John E.D Taylor who had bought a farm of College land in Section 6, Little Sioux Township, Woodbury Co., Iowa known as College Corners. According to Nellie Taylor Bailey, Nathaniel Franklin's grand daughter and Walter Llewellyn Taylor's daughter, the boys were "put out to strangers" to work.
The E.D Taylor family continued to live on the John E.D. Taylor family farm . They moved to another farm and shortly thereafter John E.D. Taylor moved to Larned, Kansas. Where he married Emma Anna Johnson, Sept 28, 1890. Anna Mariah Miller (Campell) (Wyatt) Taylor's three boys grew to manhood and Walter L. and Owen married. Arthur moved to Oklahoma, and never married. Walter Llewellyn Taylor married Mary O'Connell. Walter and Mary O'Connell Taylor 1870-1952 moved to Bonesteel, SD in Feb. 1904.
One July 4th he was living on a farm near Smithland, Iowa , he made himself a pair of pants out of a gunny sack and walked barefooted into town for the celebration. (Source for this information Nellie Taylor Bailey) In the June 1, 1880 Federal Census of Columbia, Tama Co. Iowa Walter Llewellyn Taylor is counted as living in the John and Mary Cory household. He is not listed as a relative of the family, rather he is listed as a laborer. He was working for his board and room with this household. At the time he was 11 years old. This was over 2 years before his fathers death. In that same census Walter Llewelly's brother Owen was living with his half sister, Caroline J. Taylor Ballard and her husband William Ballard in Columbia Township, Tama Co. Iowa. Walter's other brother Arthur was living with his half sister Uzillah J. Taylor Showden, also in Tama, Tama Co., Iowa. In 1885 Arthur was still living with the Showden's but he was in Woodbury Co., Iowa. Arthur later moved with the Snowden family to Oklahoma and Owen and Walteer moved in with their half brother John. E.D.
During the year 1887 the younger brothers lived with the older brothers, John E.D., who had bought a farm of College Land in Section 6, Little Sioux Township, Woodbury County, Iowa, known as College Corners. This farm was sold and they moved to another farm two miles south in the Lum Hollow districts. John E.D. Taylor left for Kansas soon after leaving the Lum Hollow community and landed in Larned, Kansas where he met and married Emma Anna Johnson, September 28, 1890.
At the time of his marriage, Walter Llewellyn Taylor had purchased an improved 160 acres of railroad land near Pierson, Iowa. On March 24, 1892 he married Mary O'Connell at Onawa, Iowa. Mary O'Connell was a school teacher near Pierson Iowa. They made their home on a farm one and a half miles southwest of Pierson where they remained for 12 years. A friend and ordained Baptist minister S.M. Stevens, who had settled in eastern Gregory County, SD told them about the frontier land in Gregory County. Gregory County, is located in the south central part of South Dakota. It is named for C. H. Gregory, an officer in the U.S. Army stationed at Ft. Randall. A rivalry for county seat honors sprang up between Fairfax and Bonesteel, which for several years was the source of considerable controversy. In 1898, the county was organized by order of Governor Lee. Fairfax received a majority of votes in an August 1898 election and was declared the county seat. As early as 1906 an effort was made to move the county seat farther west, but efforts failed. In 1916 the matter was again brought up and after one of the bitterest fights in the county's history the seat was moved to Burke.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,053 square miles (2,728 km²), of which, 1,016 square miles (2,631 km²) of it is land and 38 square miles (97 km²) of it (3.56%) is water.
President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation on Feb. 10,1890, declaring one-fourth of eastern portion of Gregory County open to entry settlers. In 1898, the Gregory County government was organized. The remaining portion of Gregory County was opened to homesteaders by President Theodore Roosevelt on April 23, 1904. The land office for the opening was at Bonesteel. Chaotic conditions at Bonesteel prior to the opening and the threat of trouble on the opening day caused Lt. Gov. Snow to mobilize National Guard troops from Sioux Falls to protect the land office and keep order during the opening. The actual opening proved to be uneventful.
Walter Llewellyn Taylor and Mary O'Connell Taylor sold their land in Iowa in 1903. In February 1904 they moved to Bonesteel. They traveled by train, Mrs. Taylor and the children in the passenger area, Walter traveled in the caboose or freight car with his livestock and machinery. They purchased a half section of land (320 acres) from Dr. Louis Boutillier, DVM (Butler) who had sqatted on the East 1/2 of the West 1/2 of section 32, Schriever Township, in the military reserve and later filed on it. He had a blacksmith shop on the place. He sold the land and house to Walter Taylor and moved with his blacksmith shop into Bonesteel. The shop was moved to Lots 13 & 14 west of the saloon in Bonesteel. Dr. Louis Boutillier, in addition to being a man of medicine he was a veterianian and a blacksmith, and also had knowleged of treatment of humans. He concocted a salve or ointment used by him to cure cancer. Louis Boutlillier was a Frenchman; his name was americanized to Butler.
There was a five room house on the land, Walter built a barn and several other smaller buildings.
All of Walter and Mary's children graduated from Bonesteel High School.
The family lived very close to Bonesteel, where they engaged in farming and raising Purebred Shorthorn cattle. The farm was about a mile west of Bonesteel. He took pride in his work and was a regular exhibitor in the Gregory Co. fair winning 9 cups and many ribbons for outstanding livestock. His sons Paul and Walter were associated with their father in the farming/cattle raising operation.
Walter retired from the farm and in January 1926 and moved into Bonesteel. He enjoyed tree and vegetable gardening . He was a member of the city council when the City Hall was built in 1933 and 1934. He served on the Bonesteel school board; he was the first clerk of Pleasant Valley Township and he was a director of the Gregory County Fair Board.
After his retirement his sons Paul Lester with the help of Walter Justin took over the farm and cattle operation. His oldest daugther, Edna Taylor Vondrack moved to Hinton, Woodbury Co., Iowa in 1918; his son Raymond moved to Rapid City, So. Dak. in 1931, Ray served for 2 1/2 years in the US Navy during World War I; his son Paul Lester stayed in Bonesteel, where he and his brother Walter Justin operated the family homestead; his daughter Nellie Taylor Bailey stayed in Bonesteel and lived on a ranch north of Bonesteel after living in Fremont, Nebraska for a few years, sometime between 1920 and 1928, she taught school while in Fremont; his son Walter Justin never married and stayed in Bonesteel, SD, he served in the U.S. Army in both World Wars., and his son Bruce Taylor moved to Nebraska, first to Linsay in 1947, then to Hartington, Nebraska in 1948.
Walter Llewellyn Taylor died Jan 6, 1947. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning Jan 8, 1947 at 9 o'clock at the Catholic church in Bonesteel and were conducted by Father E.J. McGonigal. Burial was at St. Mary's Catholic cemetery. Pall bearers were: Martin Grady, Ambrose Burke, Theo Sondgeroth, J.M. McNamara, J. R. Jones, and Jim Metal.
Also buried in St. Mary's Cemetery are his wife Mary O'Connell Taylor in 1952, his daughter Nellie Taylor Bailey and her husband Elslie Hull Bailey, two of Walter Llewellyn's sons, Walter Justin and Paul Lester and Paul's wife Nora Mary Sondgeroth Taylor. Edgar Bailey, a grandson and a great granson William A. (Bill) Bailey) are also buried there.
Twenty three children were born to the children of Walter Llewelly Taylor and Mary O'Connell Taylor, and many great grandchildren.
Children:
Edna Elizabeth Taylor 1893-1990,
Raymond John Taylor 1895-1979,
Nellie M. Taylor 1897-1991,
Walter Justin Taylor 1899-1976,
Paul Lester Taylor 1902-1966, and
Bruce Richard Taylor 1902-1966..
written by Keith Taylor
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
-
![]()
Lucy Ellen Taylor
1851–1856
-
![]()
John Ellis Dye Taylor
1853–1928
-
![]()
Caroline Julia Taylor Ballard
1855–1933
-
![]()
Mary Jane Campbell Walters
1856–1907
-
![]()
Uzillah Jane Taylor Showen
1857–1949
-
![]()
Frank Andrew Campbell
1858–1919
-
![]()
George Elmer Taylor
1860–1862
-
Charles Franklin Taylor
1863–1939
-
![]()
Edgar William Taylor
1866–1946
-
![]()
Edwin Thomas Taylor
1866–1952
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
