(Submitted by Ida Maack Recu)

The Mansfield News (Mansfield, Ohio) March 3, 1933
COUNTY VETERAN, 90, TELLS OF CIVIL WAR EXPERIENCE
    Galion, March 3 - Johnson Taylor of Mansfield road residing in Sandusky township, Richland county, east of Galion, Civil war veteran, and oldest member of Dick Morris Post, G. A. R., this city, will celebrate his 90th birthday anniversary Saturday.
    Mr. Taylor was born on a farm about one-half mile east of the Ohio State Reformatory at Mansfield, and when he was a little past 18 years, in the year 1861, he became a volunteer in Company E, Third Ohio Cavalry, joining at Monroeville. He recalls vividly the scenes of battle at Perryville, Stone River, Chicamauga, Mission Ridge, and others.
    He tells a story of how the Yankees captured a confederate "train" taking money and supplies to the army, and how he found himself with $65,000, in Confederate new money. He used $110 of this money to buy a pipe and tobacco. Later, he lost the money when his horse crossed a river.
    He was mustered out of service at Columbia, Tenn., and received honorable discharge Oct. 10, 1854 at Columbus. Mr. Taylor came back to Ohio and married Eleanor M. Cole who resided on an adjoining farm east of Mansfield. He was employed on the old Erie railroad for four years, and in 1872 bought the present farm where he had lived since.
    Mr. Taylor attended high school at Mansfield until the Civil war broke out. Since he has lived in Sandusky township he has served 10 years as township clerk, and 12 years as justice of the peace. In 1908 he took part in the G. A. R. encampment at Toledo. He recalls the depression when Cleveland was president and oats sold for 12c per bushel.
    Mr. Taylor's four children are: Norton Taylor of near Galion; Dick Taylor of Grove avenue this city; Lisle Taylor of near Galion; and Clyde Taylor who resides on the homestead with his father. There are five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mrs. Taylor, his wife, died Dec. 12, 1926.

(Submitted by Ida Maack Recu)

Mansfield News Journal (Mansfield, Ohio) March 4, 1937
OLDEST GALION CIVIL WAR VET ACTIVE AT 94
Johnson Taylor, Who Survived Bullet Fire in War Days Has Birthday Today.
    GALION-Having survived the Civil war after being shot at many times, and coming out of the war with only a bullet hole in his arm, Johnson Taylor is today quietly celebrating his 94th birthday anniversary.
    Several members of Scarbrough post, the American Legion, plan to call upon him tonight at his home, a farm in Sandusky township, Richland county, five miles east of Galion.
In Good Health.
    Although his eyesight and hearing have been impaired during the past year, his health is good and he is able to get about his home. Taylor has lived at his present home site since 1872.
    He is the oldest member of Dick Morris post, G. A. R., of Galion.
    His Civil war activities included southern engagements, and he is able to recall vividly scenes of battle at Perrysville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and other places. He served under a number of well-known generals including Sherman and Rosecrans.
    He was born on a farm one-half mile east of the Ohio state reformatory at Mansfield. He became a volunteer in Company E, Third Ohio Cavalry, at Monroeville, at the age of 18 years, in 1861. His enlistment ran out just before Sherman made his famous march to the sea.
    After the war he became engaged in railroading and farming.
    His marriage was to Eleanor Cole of Mansfield who died in 1926. Of the five children born to this union, four sons now living are Norton Taylor of the Galion-Mansfield road, LaVerne Taylor of Galion; Lisle Taylor of the home community, and Clyde Taylor, who makes his home with his father. There are five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
(submitted by Ida Maack Recu)

Bellefontaine Examiner
Jan 16, 2010

Richard M. “Dick” Layer, 83, formerly of Ashland, passed away Thursday evening, Jan. 14, 2010, in Hospice of North Central Ohio.

He was born June 1, 1926, in Mansfield, a son of Milton A. and Irene (Yoha) Layer. He graduated from Mansfield Senior High School in 1944.

During World War II, Dick served in the U.S. Navy aboard the cruiser USS Little Rock CL 92, as a radioman. Following the war, he attended the University of Kentucky’s School of Banking, and graduated from The School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.

Dick began his banking career in 1947 with the former Farmer’s Bank in Bellville and in 1959 he joined Citizen’s Bank in Los Angeles. He retired from Crocker Bank, San Francisco, in 1985, as vice-president and regional senior lender. He later joined The Bank of San Diego as senior vice-president and area manager.

He was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Mansfield. He was a longtime member of Bellville Lodge 376 F&AM and Scottish Rite Valley of Columbus.

Survivors include his daughter, two sons eight grandchildren, a step grandson,  six great-grandchildren; three great-step grandchildren; a sister-in-law, several nieces and nephews; and his beloved fiancée. 

He was preceded in death by his wife Norma Jean Folk Layer, a former Logan County area resident; a brother, Bob Layer; and his sister and brother-in-law Mildred and Daurl Shaffer.

Visitation is from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday in Snyder Funeral Home, 2553 Lexington Ave., Mansfield, where Bellville Lodge 376 will conduct Masonic honors following the visitation. Pastor Andrew Jones conducts a funeral at 11 a.m. Monday in First English Lutheran Church, 53 Park Avenue West, Mansfield, followed by military honors conducted by the Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Detail. Burial will follow in Bellville Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are encouraged to Hospice of North Central Ohio and may be made at the funeral home.

Butler's only surviving Civil War veteran is Elah Secrist, aged eighty-six. His brother-in-law, B. F. Oberlin, Civil War veteran, died last December at the age of eighty-six. (source: Duff, William A. History of North Central Ohio embracing Richland, Ashland, Wayne, Medina, Lorain, Huron and Knox Counties. Historical Publishing Co. Topeka-Indianapolis: 1931.)

The Mansfield News (Mansfield, Ohio) March 19, 1909
A BIG GASSER IN BUTLER FIELD
Well Shot on Secrist Farm Promises To be the Best Producer in That Territory - A 250,000 Flow.
    Butler, March 19. - The gas well of the Elah Oil & Gas company on the Elah Secrist farm, which was pronounced a duster at a depth of 2,496 feet, was shot Thursday afternoon and a flow of gas secured which approximates over 250,000 cubic feet. The flow is increasing steadily since being shot, and may prove to be the best well in the Butler territory.
    This well is located one mile north of Butler, on a direct line with the famous McClellan well and the Cates well, four miles north of town.
    The sand is very thick, but is not porous, like in the other wells, and the gas could not come to the surface until an opening was made. Oil men claim there is plenty of gas and oil in this locality and there is a strong likelihood that other wills will be put down this season.
(submitted by Ida Maack Recu)

Names of the living have been omitted to protect their privacy.