The Ed Taylor Homestead and Family
By Maggie KnightEdwin and his wife were a fine, brave, pioneering couple who soon proved up the land and established a home. They came via covered wagon in March, 1895, bringing their family of eight children, excluding Lizzie, who was born in 1899 in this home. The covered wagon also carried all the necessary equipment for pioneer living, even including the "breaking plow" to do the first plowing of the prairie soil and turn this sod into the material needed to build a dwelling.
The early years were very hard and only people who were determined, willing, and able could cope with the hardships encountered. Since we came a relatively short distance, my father was able to transplant fruit and could get seeds for planting gardens and field crops. He also was able to find work in wheat harvest and corn "shucking" in nearby Kansas, leaving Mother and the older children to farm at home, or at least carry on so he could work away during these necessary periods.
Our land was hilly and sandy but very productive. It was especially good for fruits, gardens, and shade trees; therefore, we were soon comfortable. Fuel was always scarce, but we managed to get coal for heating and mostly used corn cobs and even cow "chips" for cooking. When we arrived, there was 160 acres of prairie, and I've always believed one small elm tree was a native tree which was never large but was left to grow. Of course, our first need was shelter so sod was turned and a soddy built, with the help of neighbors and the boys. After this, a well was dug, and we were home. Ed and Addie set an example for us that we were never to forget. They were always kind and loving to one another and provided a home life for us that was to influence us for all our lives.
Eva always said a tree nearest the well was Losson's tree, and there was a fine grove of shade trees, cottonwood, catalpa, and locust with some cedars. Two orchards of very fine fruit trees and two vineyards. It was for several years, a regular deal for my brothers, who had grown into harvest hands, to give Mother the first harvest wages for sugar to put up our fruit. She would buy 100 lbs. at a time, and we all helped pick and prepare. Eva could soon can and preserve, so we had plenty put up for the winter. We also always put up the native sand plums that grew so abundantly and were ours for the picking.
Since each section had four settlers, we soon had communities helping each other as neighbors should. We needed schools, and our father, who was very anxious that we should receive as much schooling as possible, gave the S.E. corner of our land to the community for a school. The first one was called Fairview, but later known better as "The Taylor School," since so many Taylors were students. A Taylor boy usually built fires, lighted lamps, and was on hand to help out when we had church, literary, or programs of any kind. The school was built by volunteer neighbors and the lumber was hauled by wagon from Alva.
Thanks to our parents, we were able to get to school regularly, so in 1910, there were six of us teaching school, and Lizzie still in school. Both Losson and Floyd did really well in the "three R's" but being older, they stayed home part of the time to help out when needed by Father. Therefore they never tried the exams for teaching. Both of them liked farming best of all and each one farmed very successfully a large part of their lives. The families of both the Garvins' and the Fraziers' were fine musicians and gave all of us many hours of pleasure.
Our mother was strong and capable, and she could deliver a baby, plant and tend a garden, sew for all as well–make a work apron or turn out a lovely blouse or dress. She could run fine tucks or ruffles for trimming as well as sew a straight seam for a dish towel. She once said, "I can love any child and hold and cuddle it, but sometimes I have to wash them first."
She dearly loved to make everything in the house clean. I never as a child believed that there was anything ever broken that Mother or Father could not fix.
Eva being older and with a love of sewing became quite expert and has continued to do her own sewing.
My brothers were indeed victims of the machine age, as they each loved farming best, but after starting with horse-drawn implements, it soon became apparent that land for lease was not available as any land owner could tend a small business in town and still find time to put in a wheat crop with a tractor; and wheat as a crop was indeed king for many years. So they took whatever work they could find and made the best of it.
Omie was expert at ironing, and it fell on her to do many "Sunday Shirts." I've heard it said often that the "Taylor boys were always so well turned out."
Omie, Frank, and I found many chores to do and we always kept busy. Frank worked with the cattle, I worked with the chilckens, and Omie was very clean and particular in preparing fruit and vegetables. So time went on and Mother began losing her health. It seems she had given so much and cared for the family so well that she wore herself out. She was plagued by ailments that are now capable of being medically treated in a satisfactory manner. Her asthma condition never did right itself, and this was her worst affliction. The doctor advised a higher and dryer climate in hopes that it would be beneficial to her. Pa then sold the homestead and moved to New Mexico, which should have been the ideal climate, but Mother died there after a short illness during the first winter and is buried there.
So for about twenty-one years this land was their home. Pa lived his remaining years as a single man, but he was always with some of us children. Orville and Floyd, plus some of their family, Leah and Ralph, are buried in the Eagle Chief Cemetery, which is located a mile east. Leah's, Daisy's and Edith's families all lived near us, and Ethel's family lived, perhaps, 10 miles west. Many of us have roots in this part of the state.
I urge any member of our reunion who is able, to at least drive by this old homestead and say a prayer that we will always be able to continue with the love and good will that has been prevalent for so many years in this family.
This article is excerpted from "A History of the Taylor Family,"
written by Maggie Knight in August, 1974 and
included in the "Reunion News" in 1985| Return to Edwin and Addie Taylor page |