From “Family History of the Joseph Taylor, Jr. and Sarah Best Family”
By Shari H. Franke
James Alfred Taylor, son of Reverend Nicholas Wren Taylor and Julia Ann Elizabeth Cole, was born 24 October 1877 at Mulberry, Crawford, Kansas.
In 1902 (James Alfred and Charles Thomas) the Taylor Brothers, came to Rooks County in search of attractive land to settle on. After looking over the several properties for sale, they decided on Medicine Creek. Their view from the top of the rock quarry of Medicine Creek and the Sam Boggs bottom land made their decision and they took an option on the Boggs’ 800 acres of land for $10.25 per acre. They returned to Mulberry, Kansas, and after the settlement of their father’s estate, the brothers, accompanied by their mother, Julia A. E., and sister, Emma, moved to Rooks County in 1904. The farm was divided–Charles taking the south 400 acres which he later sold to Arthur Chapel, and then he moved to Kansas City.
“James Alfred or “Al”, by which he was better known, was interested in his neighbor’s daughter, a school teacher named Bertha.” He married 12 February 1908, Bertha Laura Yoxall, at Cedar Cliff Ranch at Woodston, Rooks, Kansas. She was born 17 December 1882 at Woodston, Rooks, Kansas, the daughter of George Yoxall and Elizabeth Tirza Farr. They lived on Cedar Cliff Ranch which was later known as the Yoxall Ranch. They moved to the home they both had planned and Al had built on his north 400 acres of land which adjoined the Yoxall Ranch. On this land their eight sons were born, (one dying in infancy) as follows: Murray; Nicholas William; Kenneth Alfred; Thomas Russell; Edward; Fred Herbert; Charles Albert and Theodore “Ted” Taylor.
“Besides the depression, drought, and dust storms, Al and Bertha’s most trying time was the loss of their home by fire in 1940 and later by Bertha’s poor health. But by their continuous persistence, they were rewarded with a successful cattle and general purpose farm which Al continued to farm after the death of his wife Bertha, in partnership with his son William who had returned from service.”
James Alfred Taylor died 27 April 1960, at Osborne Nursing Home at Osborne, Kansas, and Bertha Laura died 28 June 1948 at St. Anthony Hospital, Hays, Kansas. They were both buried at the Survey Cemetery, Woodston, Rooks, Kansas.
Al Taylor was a public spirited man who took part in a number of worthwhile endeavors in the community. To mention some: he helped organize the Rooks County State Bank and served as a director, helped organize the Farmers Elevator in Woodston, and took a leading part in organizing the Woodston Rural High School, and served on its first Board of Directors. He helped raise money to get a fence and restore to good condition the Survey Cemetery, and he was closely associated with the Farm Bureau. He enjoyed singing in church choirs and sang for many funerals.” James Alfred and Bertha Laura had some sons in World War II: Thomas Russell Taylor died 11 January 1942 on the USS Saratoga; Fred Hubert Taylor was in the Navy; and Murray Taylor was in the Merchant Marines.
