W. W. Taylor

TAYLOR, ROYCE, WELLS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/18/2011 at 19:02:36

W. W. TAYLOR occupies the responsible position of Superintendent of Schools of Grundy County. He makes his home in Grundy Centre and has the honor of being a native of this county, and his birth occurred in Fairfield Township in 1864. His father, W. H. Taylor, is one of the early settlers of the county. He was a native of England, being born on the Isle of Wright, but removed to this country with his parents when very young, and resided in the Empire State and Ontario, Canada. He took up his residence here in 1856, turned his attention to farming. His mother has resided adjacent to and within Grundy County since 1853, removing from Illinois to Iowa with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Orlen Royce, in that year.

Superintendent Taylor was reared upon the old homestead farm, and became familiar with all the duties connected therewith. His early education was acquired in the district school of the neighborhood, after which he entered the State Normal School of Cedar Falls, where he pursued his studies for two years. On leaving that institution he embarked in teaching, which profession he followed for eight years in Fairfield and Beaver Townships, this county. He is an instructor of recognized ability, having met with excellent success in his work along this line. In the autumn of 1891 he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, and so well did he discharge the duties of the position that on the expiration of the two years’ term he was re-elected. He is the first county officer born within the limits of Grundy County to serve the county, and is the first one to occupy the new County Superintendent’s office in the court house. He is untiring in his work in the interest of the schools, and he has outlined a course of study for the district schools of the county, his plan being to grade the country schools. To this work he gave about two years’ careful study before putting the place in operation. Superintendent Taylor also edits a local teachers’ paper, called the Grundy County Teacher, with Prof. W. D. Wells, Superintendent of the city schools, as associate editor. It is a neat and well edited sheet, full of valuable information and suggestions for teachers, and is published once a month.

Mr. Taylor owns a part interest in the old homestead farm in this county, in connection with his father. He has two sisters, Cora E. and Ida L. The former is a graduate of the State Normal School of Cedar Falls, and is now engaged in teaching in New Hartford, Iowa. The latter is the wife of F. M. Wells, who is engaged in the creamery business in Hull, Sioux County, Iowa. Mr. Taylor takes a considerable interest in civic societies. He holds membership with the Masonic fraternity, having taken the Royal Arch and Knight Templar degrees, and also that of the Eastern Star. He has lately been made a member of the Knights of Pythias. He exercises his right of franchise in the support of the Republican party, and is a stalwart advocate of its principles. He served as Township Clerk of Fairfield Township for six years, and served as census taker in 1890.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894