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Note: is first sermon there in August of 1833. Everything was new; the oldest settlers had been there three years. William purchased 211 acres as he had to make his living farming. Church was held in his barn at first. His wife, Sarah, came later after she had sold their farm in Sanborn (Sanbornton), New Hampshire. "Sarah N. Taylor" died 21 Aug. 1840, aged 60 yrs, 10 mo. and 19 days; hence, her birthday was 2 Oct. 1779.
William organized the Baptist Society in Schoolcraft and in 1837 furnished the funds for the church building. He was pastor of the church until 1848. William Taylor, of Kalamazoo, married the widow Tamar (Walker) Phillips 1 September 1841 at LaGrange.
He planned the brick church which the society built in 1851 and toward which he donated 40 acres of land. He was very interested in education and in 1846 established Cedar Park Seminary. Since Taylor had established the school largely from his own funds, it probably was more or less a private school. The title to the property was in Taylor's name, and he maintained the role of patron. Former students tell of the talks he would give every Friday afternoon. It may have been this role that gave him the affectionate title of "Father Taylor", by which he was known in the community. In 1848, four years before his death, he conveyed the school property to Kalamazoo College. When the village of Schoolcraft established a public school system in 1868, Cedar Park Seminary, one building and two acres of land were sold to the School District No. 4 for $2,200.
Helen Hudson (who wrote the article from which this information comes) returned to Schoolcraft, the place of her birth, in 1961. She spoke a woman then in her 80's, and wrote that her face lighted with pleasure as she told of homely little incidents of Father Taylor's kindness and the affection in which he was held. She said that when a new family settled on the prairie, Father Taylor was always there to help with the raising of the house or barn. This was impressive because, at the time the stories were told, William Taylor had been dead for more than 100 years--in fact, he had died 20 years before the woman was born, and she was retelling stories that she had been told. She also shared an amusing incident later in his life: some neighbors driving by Father Taylor's farm on a Sunday morning saw him plowing in the field. They stopped and asked if he were not going to church. He had forgotten in was Sunday! He hurriedly made ready and followed them to town where he joined in the merriment at his own expense.
He died 7 June 1852. By his will, he left his estate to his widow Tamar and her sons.
His tombstone reads: "Rev. William Taylor. Born November 22, 1784. Died June 7, 1852. This excellent man and humble Christian devoted his life and his substance to the welfare of his fellow men and to the service of his Master. He founded the female seminary in this, the town of his allegiance where he was for many years Pastor of the Baptist Church and having to the end ... the character of a Christian .. his Father and his God."
(from "The Life of William Taylor". by Helen N. Hudson of "Foundations" --a publication of a Baptist Historical Society of Rochester, NY-- pp 346-353, October 1962.)
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Referred to as "Father Taylor" in a letter dated 20 Oct. 1849: William Taylor, Baptist preacher, founder of Cedar Park Seminary, and trustee of Kalamazoo College 1851-52.
Called "Brother Taylor" in letter of 11 Sept. 1850; suggests Taylor be sent to St. Joseph Association and to Laport, South Bend and other cities in Indiana.
William Taylor, Newport, pledged $15 for the Theological Endowment, (abt. April 1854)
William Taylor, Newport, pledged $15 for the Theological Endowment (again)
W. Taylor ... $1 interest on Theo. Endowment.
(from Calendar of Baptist Collection of Kalamazoo College; Michigan State Records Survey Project ... Detroit: 1940)
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William Taylor patented land in Kalamazoo Co. in 1834 and 1839.
1840 US Census (Roll 206, p. 223)
Brady, Kalamazoo Co., MI
William Taylor
1 male 50-60 1 female 20-30 1 female 60-70 William Taylor "of Ross County, Ohio" patented land in Cass Co., Michigan in 1833. He was probably a different man, as well as other William Taylors in Michigan who patented land in Lucas Co. in 1835, Hilsdale Co. in 1837 and 1842, in Genesee Co. in 1837, in Oakland Co. in 1837, and in Ingham Co. in 1839.
Note: The Reverend William Taylor came to Schoolcraft, Michigan and preached h
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