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Note: Re: John E. Taylor brother of Ora Curtis Taylor and former mayor of Crooksville, Ohio Doug Cannon : Saturday, October 30, 1999
Here is what I have found so far in our village archives:
John E. Taylor was first elected mayor April 20, 1899. One of the first things he did was to give us GAS. "Natural," that is! In 1899, he and the town council franchised the United Gas Company to lay natural gas mains under the village's streets and alleys. That same year they passed an ordinance to regulate the establishment of pool and billiard halls. Shades of River City (from The Music Man). Just before Christmas of 1999 the council authorized payment of $14.10 to the mayor and his marshall for their expenses in sending a Mr. Marion Stevans to the "stone pile." Generous of the council and the mayor, don't you think. Their generosity and Christmas spirit of giving continued into 1900 when they raised the lamplighter's pay from $80/year to $130/year (a whopping 62.5% increase). My council today would consider such a percentage extravagent. MORE TO COME. MAYOR DOUG CANNON.
We found this article in an old booklet, "Photographic and Industrial History of Crooksville, O," written and published by R. M. Gibson in 1906. It is crumbling and falling apart, but I believe we may have located a better copy. I will have to check on that. Enjoy!
A commendable example of the enterprising spirit of the Builders of Crooksville, and one who is eminently worthy of mention in our History of Crooksville is Mr. John E. Taylor, Secretary and General Manager of the Globe Stoneware Company.
Mr. Taylor is also a stockholder of the Company and has been filling his present position satisfactorily and commendably for one and one-half years. His has been a varied experience (sic), his career ever ranging upward and onward toward that desirable goal--Success, with never a step backward as this sketch shows.
Mr. Taylor was born near Lyonsdale, Perry County, 1869, the son of John and Emily Taylor, now living on a farm near Lyonsdale.
Early evincing a desire to attain an education which would fit him for his grapple with the world, he pursued a course at the New Lexington High School, afterwards becoming a student at the National Normal University at Lebanon. He studied expressly to fit himself for his chosen profession as a teacher, and began teaching in 1888. He followed this noble calling for a period of fourteen years, principally in the Perry County Schools, his last position being that of Principal of the West Side School of Crooksville.
Mr. Taylor has served as County School Examiner since 1904, and has always exhibited those traits of fairness and honesty which are his by birthright in connection with the discharge of his duties on the Board.
He was united in marriage in 1887 with Miss Chestoria Moore. Five children have come to bless the union, all boys.
He is a member of the United Presbyterian church and is connected with the (Masonic?) lodges.
He held a term as Mayor of Crooksville.
The last two paragraphs had parts missing. We will try to locate a better copy. -- Doug
Mayor John Taylor (news from 1900) Doug Cannon : Thursday, November 04, 1999
More happenings from the administration of Crooksville Mayor John E. Taylor. In April of 1900 the town, with support from Mayor Taylor, voted the town DRY! They outlawed beer, whiskey, "porter," and other alcoholic beverages. I guess "porter' may have been port or other wines. This would have pre-dated national prohibition by about 20 years. Today the town is still partially dry. Our one operating bar cannot serve whiskey, beer stonger than 3.2 %, or other stong drink. Maybe that's why we only have one bar in town today. Also, in March of 1900 they passed Ordinance #153 requiring people to spend three days a year working on the public streets and highways of Crooksville! WOW! I thought that practice went out with the middle ages. Unfortunately, I can't find copies of any ordinances prior to #256 (Nov. 1906). They were probably destroyed by floods (1907 and 1950). At least, we have the council minutes going back to 1894, or we wouldn't have all this data on the Taylor administration. Check out the reprinted item on John E. Taylor I placed in the Family History section. More to follow. -- Doug C.
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