Simeon Taylor, a Biographical Sketch

Source: Georgia and Florida Biographies [database on-line].
Original Data from Biographical Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida,
Containing Biographical Sketches of the Representative Public, and many
Early Settled Families in These States. F. A. Battey & Company, 1889.
Transcribed by S. Lincecum about 2006.

Simeon W. Taylor, doctor and druggist, Hawkinsville, Ga, was born in Houston County, Ga, June 3, 1835. His parents were Drury and Elizabeth (Shepherd) Taylor, both natives of Georgia. Drury Taylor was a farmer, and served as sheriff of his native county for many years, served in the legislature one term, and served as sheriff of Pulaski County for six years after moving there. He died in 1882, aged seventy-four. Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor is still living at the age of seventy-four. These parents had five children: Simeon W., Henry S., William H., John R. and Eugenia. Henry S. is in business in Hawkinsville. William H. died at Petersburg, of brain fever, at the age of twenty-two. He was in the Third Georgia infantry, having enlisted in the fall of 1861; he was married to Harriet Lock. John R. is a tailor, living in Hawkinsville, and married to Martha J. Poole. Eugenia, consort of J. L. Barron, is living in Hawkinsville.

Our subject was educated in the Houston County schools. He began for himself as an overseer at the age of twenty-one, and continued as such for five months, when he began to read medicine. He then went to the University of Nashville, and graduated therefrom in 1859. He began practice at once at Hawkinsville, continuing until he enlisted in May, 1861, regiment Eighth (Barton's old regiment), company G, of which he was commissioned second lieutenant. He served in the war three years, and took part in some of the prominent battles, among others both battles of Manassas, seven days' fight around Richmond, besides numerous skirmishes. He resigned and returned home on account of ill health. On returning he opened out a practice, and continued until 1869, when he went to Florida. He remained there in practice until 1882, after which time he was in Hawkinsville in practice until October, 1887, when he opened a drug store and now carries on that business in connection with his practice. During the sixties he served as county treasurer two terms. The doctor is a good business man, a prominent merchant and one of the worthy citizens of Hawkinsville.

He was first married in May, 1867, to Miss Sarah Whitfield, daughter of Col. Whitfield, late of Pulaski County. Two daughters, Stella and Aurora, blessed this union. Mrs. Sarah Taylor died in 1872, at the age of twenty-five years. She was a member of the Baptist Church. His second marriage occurred in October, 1874, to Miss M. E. Beall, daughter of Dr. B. B. Beall, of Alabama. The children by this marriage are Marion Ryland and Minnie B. The doctor is a member of the Masonic order, also of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject's father's father, Simeon Taylor, was from North Carolina. He moved to Houston County, Ga, and was one of its earliest settlers. His wife's name was Millie Williams. She died in 1875, aged seventy-five years. Our subject's maternal grandfather was Henry Shepherd. He died near Henderson, Ga, many years since.