User:Coltaylor/Colonel Taylor Inn

Colonel Joseph Danner Taylor A Lawyer by trade, born in Goshen Township, Belmont county, Ohio, in November, 1830, his parents moved to Guernsey county in 1833, where he then resided. Up to the age of twenty years his life was spent mostly upon the farm where his home was situated, the laborious duties of farm life, alternating with hard study during winter months and summer evenings, the foundation was laid for those habits of intense application and persevering industry which was the keynote to his subsequent success. He turned his attention to his literary pursuits, but having to depend wholly on his own exertions, he studied, taught school, and read law, attending Madison College part time, where he went through all the branches of the collegiate course except Greek. He taught about five years, and was considered one of the most successful teachers in eastern Ohio. He took an active part in the organization and management of teachers' associations and institutes, contributing to the new era in public education, and through the Fairview High School (attended mostly by teachers), which he established and taught for several years. While teaching he was elected to County Surveyor, and was subsequently re-elected, but resigned the office before completing his second term, to give his attention to other duties. He became School Examiner of Guernsey county, but resigned this position when he entered the army. In March, 1859, he was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court in Columbus. He attended the Cincinnati Law School two terms, graduated in the spring of 1860, and the following fall began the practice of law in Cambridge, Ohio. When the war broke out he was appointed by the Governor a member of the county and district military committees. He gave much time and valuable aid in the organization of troops, and in procuring and forwarding supplies to the soldiers in the field. In the fall of 1861, in connection with W. H. F. Lenfestey, of Cambridge, Mr. Taylor purchased the Guernsey Times, the only Republican paper in the county, publishing it under the name of Taylor & Lenfestey for ten years, he took only a general management of the paper, during which time the size of the paper was doubled, and the subscription list increased from less than seven hundred to over two thousand. The Republican party grew to a reliable majority of six hundred. In 1863, when General Morgan's command crossed the Ohio river, Governor Tod issued a call for troops to defend the State, giving it as his opinion that the seat of war was about to move to the north of the Ohio river. Mr. Taylor raised a company for the 88th Ohio Regiment in about ten days, where he was by a unanimous vote of the company chosen Captain. He was then detailed on special duty, and remained on detached service until the close of the war. He served on court-martials and military commissions as Judge Advocate, at Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and other places. In the fall of 1864 he was appointed Judge Advocate of the District of Indiana, with office at Indianapolis, until 1866. He was then given the whole management of the Judge Advocate's department in that district by General Hovey, who was then in command. He organized two military courts, and served as Judge Advocate. While on duty at Indianapolis he was sent to Cambridge, Ohio, as Judge Advocate of a military court convened by General Hooker and tried the murderers of John B. Cook, Provost Marshal. This was one of the military trials during the war which attracted great attention throughout the country. He received his commissions as Colonel; and his superior officers also asked that he be paid extra compensation for his services. In the early part of his career he was twice elected Prosecuting Attorney of Guernsey county. In December, 1866, he was married to Miss Hill, daughter of William Hill, of North Berwick, Maine. In 1872, when the scarcity of money seemed to slow the progress of improvements in the community where he resided, he obtained authority to organize a national bank, and procured the stock and completed the organization of the Guernsey National Bank. He was chosen and continued as President. He was also President of the Cambridge Board of Education for the past six years. During that time the board has built one of the finest union school buildings in the State; for which the people of the Cambridge Union School District are greatly indebted to him. as he led in the movement for the house and in the management. He was active in procuring the stock and location at Cambridge of the Marietta & Pittsburgh Railroad, and in all important enterprises in the community. He practiced Law and had a large and lucrative practice. He is a man of unswerving integrity, tireless energy and spotless reputation.

He was appointed to fill a term in the US Congress. Later elected 4 times.

He built commissioned the architect Samuel Hanniford to build his mansion which was built in 1878. The Taylor Mansion is one of 900 in the USA accepted for Save Americas Treasures, The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Along with the National Register. The Grand Taylor Mansion is a 9,000 sq ft Victorian painted lady, now a wonderful Bed & Breakfast. There are three floors, a full basement and an attic that you can walk in a good part of… The daughter wrote a book and told about moving to the mansion on the hill; she said they were to have bathrooms ~ that was early for bathrooms, they were to have a furnace, and they were to have gaslights ~ that was all the latest! Electricity (the light bulb) was invented the next year and it was quite some time before it was put into homes… The only original light fixtures left in the home are the ones on the newel post going up the stairwell. There is an original stained glass window on the portico side (being repaired right now), and across the front entrance are the other original stained glass windows. There are solid brass hinges & hardware throughout to hold up these heavy doors. There are 11 fireplaces; they were built to burn coal so they are not very deep, then later changed to gas and we have upgraded all of them. There are 11-foot ceilings; pocket doors and original plaster ceiling medallions throughout the first & second floors. The grand foyer has the most ornately carved fireplace; inlaid flooring, carved paneling and a built-in hat/coat rack which is unusual ~ along with a shelf for calling cards. * The formal parlor has a large ceiling medallion and imported tile. The library with original bookcases built-in, is now our gift shop/office open to the public; there is carved writing on the fireplace that says, “On books for to read, I me delight.” A little Pennsylvania Dutch, i.e., German influence. There is a photo of Col. Taylor on the wall in the foyer, a little more history about him & a copy of a print of the original homestead ~ he owned more than a thousand acres ~ from the park to Lincoln school and up to Taylor Ave & nothing behind him… … He was close friends to Presidents Hayes, Garfield & McKinley ~ we have proof that President McKinley stayed here and we are working on proof of the others. There are original photos from when Col. Taylor lived here in his home.

The formal dinning room has a fruit motif in the ceiling medallion. The butler’s pantry is just off the kitchen with a large built-in cabinet, but the cabinet & the kitchen cabinets are new made to look period.

The Taylor Mansion is now an award winning Bed & Breakfast Inn. The photos on the stairwell are of Jim & Patricia’s families. There are four beautiful guestrooms on the second floor each with a private bath. The house is unusual in that it has lots of closets. There are two balconies.