From “Family History of the Joseph Taylor, Jr. and Sarah Best Family”
By Shari H. Franke
Atwood Taylor, son of James Wesley Taylor and Marcia Ann Floyd, was born 1 November 1846, near Richardsville, Warren, Kentucky.
He married (1) 1 August 1872, Martha Elizabeth Chapin, who was born 6 February 1855, at Howell County, Missouri. She died two days after their son James Harrison Taylor was born, on 9 April 1874, at Howell County, Missouri. She was buried at the Chapin Cemetery, east of West Plains, Howell, Missouri.
Atwood and Lydia had seven sons and two daughters: Calverna (“Callie”), Julia Exarfy, Jess Newton, Leander (“Lee”), Clarence Nathaniel, Henry Allen, Fred Alfred, Commodore (“Carl”), and Arseen (“Ira”).
Atwood was a farmer. He came to Missouri. about 1872 to farm one of his father’s farms which he purchased. In 1875, he acquired his own farm at Dripping Springs. The family attended the Dripping Springs Christian Church a short distance from their home. All the children were born on the family farm.
When he retired, he moved to West Plains, Missouri, where he resided until his death. The original farmhouse was still standing and the well that Jess and Lee dug was still in use as of 1987.
Atwood and Lydia Elizabeth had three sons that served their Country in World War 1, namely: Commodore (“Carl”), who served with the 33rd Division 9th Field Artillery in France; Henry Allen; and Arseen (“Ira”).
Atwood was a Republican and enjoyed visiting with neighbors and friends about political issues. He died 4 May 1929, at West Plains, Howell, Missouri. Lydia Elizabeth died 29 January 1928, at West Plains. They were both buried at the Dripping Springs Cemetery, Howell County, Missouri.
Note: A Schneider – Taylor reunion was held July 12, 1982 in West Plains, MO.
