ISAAC H. TAYLOR, M.D. Among the many successful professional men who are making their homes in this county, none has a better reputation in the community of which he makes one than Dr. Taylor, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page. He established himself in Barclay in the spring of 1874 and has since made that place his home and the center of an increasing practice which extends over a wide territory. Not only as a physician well versed in the principles of therapeutics and skilled in their application, but as a man and citizen, Dr. Taylor stands well among the people.

Isaac Taylor, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky and was one of the first settlers in Clear Lake township, this county. He entered land near Mechanicsburg and finally acquired four hundred acres. He was a soldier during the Black Hawk War. His demise took place in April, 1887, when he had reached the age of fourscore. The wife of Isaac Taylor bore the maiden name of Sarah M. Elliott. She was born in North Carolina in 1818, and when but a child accompanied her parents to this State. Her father, Andrew Elliott, located on the present site of Springfield and died in the vicinity in the '60s. The mother of our subject is still living and is now Seventy-two years old. For many years she has been a member of the Christian Church, of which religious body her husband was also a member.

Dr. Taylor was born March 6, 1850, on his father's farm in this county, and spent his boyhood and early youth in attending the common schools and performing such services as his parents required at his hands. When seventeen years old he began reading medicine with Dr. Elliott, of Buffalo, this county, and after studying under that gentleman a year, began his attendance at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He spent three years in close application, and in February, 1871, received his diploma. The following April he opened an office in Curran, this county, making that the seat of his labors until his removal to Barclay. He is able to surround his family with many comforts and afford them many pleasures, as he not only derives a good income from his professional work, but owns three hundred and seventy acres of improved land in Williams Township.

The joys of Dr. Taylor's home life are mainly due to the presence therein of an educated, refined and Christian woman, who became his wife, January 16, 1872. She bore the maiden name of Irena Constant, and is a native of this county, born September 7, 1851. Her father, Reason Constant, a Kentucky gentleman, was one of the early settlers here; he died in 1887, at the advanced age of seventy-seven years. The wife of Dr. Taylor has presented him with two children - Percy Lewis, born December 6, 1873, and Fanny G., born February 5, 1876.

Both Doctor and Mrs. Taylor are identified with the Church of Christ of Barclay, and both are to be found taking such a part as their other duties will allow of in the promulgation of the Gospel work. Dr. Taylor has brought the powers of his mind to bear upon the political questions of the day and is fully persuaded that in the Democratic party rests the hope of the nation. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.