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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON LEONARD TAYLOR

Leonard Taylor.  The name of this gentleman is widely and favorably known throughout Batavia Township.  Mr. Taylor became owner of this property in 1856.  Like most of the prominent men around him, he is a native of the Empire State, having been born near Clarence Hollow, Monroe County, N.Y., when a young man, before his marriage.  He sought for his wife among the maidens of that region Miss Caroline Stranaban, who was born and reared in N.Y. State.  There also their two eldest children were born:  Leonard, Jr., and his brother Franklin, the latter of who died in childhood.

In the spring of 1834 the father of our subject, with his family, started for Southern Michigan, making the journey to Detroit by a lake vessel, and from there with teams overland to Clinton Township, Lenawee County.  A year later they changed their residence to this county, and rented the old hotel on the Chicago Road in Batavia Township.  Mr. Taylor conducted the house alone for a time, then purchased a tract of land on section 29, in Batavia Township, where he spent the remainder of his days, passing away on the 4th of November, 1877, when 77 years old.  The wife and mother survived her husband seven years, her death taking place June 29, 1884, she also being 77 years old. 

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Batavia Township.  He married Miss Roxana Sweet, who was born in Ohio, and came with her parents to Michigan when young.  Her father, Northrup Sweet, located in Batavia Township early in the fifties, and died at an advanced age some years ago.  Of this union there was born one child only, a son, J. Franklin, who died when about 18 months old.  Mrs. Roxana Taylor departed this life at her home in Batavia Township, in January 1854.

Our subject contracted a second marriage, May 4, 1854, with Mrs. Laura A. (Card) Baker, who was born in Williams Township, Berkshire Co., Mass., March 14, 1827.  Her parents, Freeden and Julia (Lamphere) Card, were also of New England birth and parentage, and came to the West about 1837.  The father died at age of 66 years, Oct. 12, 1863, in Dover, Lenawee County, leaving a good property.  The mother was subsequently married to a Mr. Carter, and is a resident of Adrian, being now 82 years old.

Mrs. Laura Taylor was a child four years of age when her parents left Mass., and settled in Herkimer County, N.Y., where they lived about 6 years, and then came to Michigan, locating in Lenawee County.  They were residents of that county a period of 20 years, then came to Batavia Township, this county.  Their daughter Laura was first married in Dover Township, to Wm. J. Baker, a native of New York, and who died in Lenawee County, at the age of 33 years.  By her two marriages Mrs. Taylor is the mother of 6 children, tow of whom, Juliet and Frederick L., died when 21 months and 18 years old respectively.  Emma J. is the wife of Charles Noyes,; Laurett, Charles H. and Edward Watson are at home.