JAMES L. TAYLOR, M.D. Throughout the entire country there is a degree of respect and almost veneration felt for learned and successful physicians, who by the exercise of their magic power restore the sick to health, comfort the distressed, and generally contribute to the happiness of their patients. Our subject is a prominent physician of Chatham Township, is much beloved by his numerous patients and is conceded to possess great skill in the art of healing. He is the son of Isaac and Sarah M. (Elliott) Taylor and was born in Sangamon County on the 7th of February, 1853.
The early youth of Dr. Taylor was passed on a farm, and while there he received a district school education, which was by no means comprehensive, and poorly adapted to making his brilliant future. However, it is a generally recognized fact that talent will assert itself and though the surrounding circumstances are not pleasant or instructive, still a brilliant mind cannot help but reach out after knowledge and by constant study master what they crave. Thus it was with out subject. At the age of nineteen he commenced reading medicine with his brother, Dr. I. H. Taylor, at Curran. He taught school through the winter months and studied his chosen profession during the vacation. This he continued three terms, and in the winter of 1875-76, he attended lectures at Rush medical College in Chicago. After that he returned to his brother and read medicine with him very diligently, and again returned to the college from which he was graduated in February, 1877, receiving a diploma as M.D. in the same month and year.
Dr. Taylor on the 16th of March, 1877, located at La Place, Piatt County, Ill., and remained there until the following September, at which time he purchased the practice of Dr. Lowdermilk of Oakley, Macon County. He was married in La Place, November 9, 1877, to Miss Ada Trobaugh, daughter of Alexander Trobaugh. After his marriage he continued to practice in Oakley until November 5th of the following year, at which time he sustained the sad loss of his wife, and removed to Fall River, Kan., where he remained until November, 1881.
Our subject was married July 20, 1881, to Miss Amanda Richards, daughter of Thomas J. Richards. Her father was a native of Indiana, but at the time of her marriage resided in Kansas. To this union has been born one child, Charles Roscoe, whose birth occurred July 29, 1882.
The subject of our sketch returned to Illinois in 1881, locating in Buffalo and for three years practiced there, at the expiration of which time he moved to Chatham, where he still continues to reside and where he has a large and lucrative practice. His father, Isaac Taylor, was born in Hart County, Ky., February 9, 1807, and removed to the State of Illinois in 1819, settling near Springfield. To his marriage with our subject's mother were born thirteen children, ten of whom are now living. Our subject and his wife are faithful members of the Baptist Church, and the Doctor is a member of Chatham Lodge, No. 523, A.F. & A.M. He is a member of the Democratic party and a most public-spirited gentleman.