JAMES A. TAYLOR, one of the best known pioneers of the county, and a resident of Washington Township, has been a resident of this county for forty years. He was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, February 24, 1831, a son of Pleasant Taylor, a native of Tennessee and an old pioneer of this county. His father, Burzil Taylor, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Pleasant Taylor was married in Montgomery County, Indiana, to Jane Allison, a daughter of James Allison, who was born in Pennsylvania. They had five children: James A., our subject; Mary E. Gordon, of Oklahoma; Thomas and Pleasant, deceased; and William H., of Silver Creek Township, Pottawattamie County. They lived in Indiana until about 1840, when they moved to Missouri, then to Illinois, and in 1843 they came to Iowa and lived in Wapello County until 1850; then they came to Pottawattamie County and bought a Mormon claim in Silver Creek Township, being the first" Gentile" in the vicinity. Some years later he sold out and came to Washington Township and bought the place where he now lives. His wife died in June, 1868. Several years after her death, he married Sidney Webb, with whom he still lives.

James A. Taylor, our subject, was about twenty years old when he came to this county. His education was obtained in the log school houses of that period. In 1858 he took charge of a saw and grist mill on Silver Creek for two years. He subsequently purchased 120 acres of land and at once commenced its improvement. He now has a well improved farm of 400 acres, one of the best in Washington Township. In 1885 he erected a good house, which cost $1.500. It is built in modern style, and is well furnished throughout. A grove of fifty-five acres and orchard near by makes his home an attractive one. Both general farming and stock-raising are carried on here.

Mr. Taylor was married in Pottawattamie County, in 1859, to Miss Maria E. Piles, who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1839. Her father, James Piles was born in Ohio, in 1804, and died in that State, at the .age of fifty. Her mother, Margaret (English) Piles, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1810; and died in this county at the age of forty-seven.

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have had nine children: Mary K, wife of G. W. Hamilton, and a resident or Washington Township; William M., Henry P., who married December 4, 1889, Ada M. Cole, a teacher of Pottawattamie County, and is a resident also of Washington Township; Isaac, John, Martha Ellen (died in 1882), Alice M., Ira J. and Margaret J.

Mr. Taylor is a Democrat in politics. He has served the public as Township Trustee and as a member of the School Board. He, Henry and John, are associated with the Masonic Order, Coral Lodge, No. 430, at Carson. He and his wife, Henry and wife, John and Alice are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Taylor is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. As a fireside companion Mr. Taylor is jovial and cordial. He is well informed on all general topics, and is a good story-teller. He is regarded as one of the popular and worthy citizens of Pottawattamie County.