Condensed BIOGRAPHY OF STEPHEN SLADE TAYLOR
Born 29 June 1818 in Butler Co. KY, he was only 11 years old when his father died.
Having almost all of his uncles in the Baptist ministry, Stephen Slade followed in their
footsteps. This was about the time that Alexander Campbell was preaching and teaching in
the KY area and caused much unrest among the Baptists. Some of his family decided that
Stephen Slade was embracing these teachings and were very concerned. Family oral history
says that although his uncle Alfred performed the wedding ceremony in 1844, that he spent
the night outside of the newly wed's door, "because Stephen was not strong in the faith".
Stephen continued to preach and a son, Hannibal Giddings Taylor, was born to Stephen Slade
and Eleanor Aston Maddox Taylor in January of 1846, another son, Ephriam Kelly Taylor, Nov.
1847 and a daughter, Aurilla Eliza Jane Taylor, was born in Ohio Co. KY in Feb. of 1850.
Family oral history continues that one day Stephen returned home at noon, noticably
upset and informed the family that they were leaving for Texas, and they did! That afternoon,
by buggy! They made it to Johnson County, IL, the Vienna township, by census taking time,
the baby is 7 months old. Arriving in Texas the family settled first in Rockwall County where
Stephen Slade studied medicine for a year under Dr. Cubley. While there they attended a
meeting and joined the Christian Church. Another daughter, Mary Joanna was born in 1852, by
1854 the family was living in what was then Johnson Co. TX, later Hood County. In 1857 Stephen
Slade is credited with the establishment of the Christian Church in Weatherford, Parker Co. TX.
In 1857 the family moved to Golconda, (that is a whole story in itself!) which was later named
Palo Pinto and became the county seat of Palo Pinto Co. Dr. Taylor held church in his home until
a building was erected in 1882, the first church in Palo Pinto. Dr. Taylor was the first Doctor
and the first preacher in the new county. He became known as "Medicine Man" An indian told
Stephen's son, Pleasant John, "Me know Dr. Taylor, he Medicine man. Indian no kill Medicine Man".
Dr Taylor continued his life preaching and establishing churches, he was instrumental in the
establishment of Texas Christian University and Ad Ran College.
In the early years, due to unrest of the Indians, Dr. Taylor and 3 of his sons saw
service as Texas Rangers for protection of the early settlers.
Dr. Taylor and wife had nine children, almost uncountable grand children and were followed
in the ministry in Palo Pinto by his son Hannibal Giddings Taylor, another son, Pleasant John moved
to Idaho and was a noted preacher there. Stephen Slade Taylor died 13 June 1898 and Eleanor Aston Maddox Taylor died 14 July 1903, both are buried in the Palo Pinto
Cemetery.
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HANNIBAL GIDDINGS (HAM) and MARY JANE BEVERS TAYLOR
Ham Taylor was the oldest of the nine Taylor children, born in Ohio County Kentucky 10 January 1846. He followed in his father's footsteps as a
minister for the First Christian Church. 24 June 1868 he married Mary Jane Bevers, daughter of George Rice and Lucinda Jane Tacker Bevers. Family oral
history says he made his boots, I would like to know who did his hair! Stephen Slade Taylor gave consent for the marriage, the service was performed by
G. W. Slaughter and then Stephen Slade Taylor recorded the marriage as he was County Clerk. When his daughter Aurilla Eliza Jane married Houston Bevers,
son of George Rice and Lucinda Tacker Bevers, he also performed the ceremony. Ham and Mary Jane had 12 children, they held church in their home until the
building was erected in 1882. Mary Jane Taylor was loved by all who knew her and called "Ma" Taylor by all of her children and grand children.
One grandson, J. Carroll McConnell wrote a 2 volume set of books "The West Texas Frontier" which is a collector's item today. I have often used it in
doing research as he was unexcelled in collecting and verifying information about indian raids, without respect for county lines, therefore one can
follow a group of raiding indians all across Texas and back. J. Carroll was a member of the Texas State Legislature at the time that his grandmother
died and the Legislature was adjourned in her name as a Texas Pioneer. Mary Jane recalled vividly her trip to Texas as a girl with her parents and
her account of this trip has been passed down in the family.
Ham Taylor passed away 10 Sept 1910, "Ma" Taylor died 11 Feb 1935, they were my great grandparents.
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Copyright 2004 by Bobbie Ross