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- PROF. JOHN SIEBERT TAYLOR, one of the leading instructors
in
- vocal and instrumental music in Janesville Rock County, was
born in Leechburg, Penn., Sept. 15, 1869, a son of John and Julia
(BAIR) TAYLOR, natives of Pennsylvania.
- Matthew TAYLOR, the paternal grandfather of our subject,
a native
- of England, was a merchant tailor by trade, and came to America,
locating in Pennsylvania, near Leechburg, he died at the age
of ninety-five. He had a large family. The grandfather on the
mother's side, John BAIR, was a native of Pennsylvania, of German
descent. The family he reared was a large one, and he died at
eighty-four.
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- In his younger days John TAYLOR, father of Prof. TAYLOR,
learned the trade of a tanner,
- which he followed for fifty years, but now lives retired
form active business, at Leechburg, Penn. His wife died in 1882.
He is a consistent member of the M. E. Church, as was also his
wife. Seven children were born to this couple, five sons and
two daughters: George B., of Birmingham, Ala.; Mary C., wife
of J. H. PARKS, of Leechburg, Penn.; Millard F., of Leechburg;
Harriet, wife of S. M. McCRACKEN, of Leechburg; Charles G., of
Leechburg; William L., of Leechburg; and our subject.
- Prof. John S. TAYLOR was reared in Leechburg, Penn., where
he attended the public schools,
- and later took a course of instruction in the musical department
at Oberlin (Ohio) College. In 1895 Prof. TAYLOR came to Janesville,
and has taught vocal and instrumental music ever since, becoming
very popular, his methods of instruction being such as to commend
him as a teacher, while his pleasing personality gains him numerous
friends. For the past five years Prof. TAYLOR has been the leader
of the Y.M.C.A. band; is a member of the M. E. Church, and is
an important factor in the musical circles of Janesville. In
political matters Prof. TAYLOR is a Republican, and supports
the principles of his party upon all occasions.
- The musical studio of the Professor is located in the Court
Street M. E. Church block. Not only
- does he possess the power to impart his knowledge to others,
but he is also a composer of considerable note, among his compositions
for band, orchestra and piano being: The New Annapolis, The Knight
of Liberty, Old Colonial, Paris Exposition, Peace Jubilee, March
of the Citizen Soldier, March of the Maroons, The Cosmopolitan
Sylvan Rapids, Princetonian, Glen Cathedral, National Guards,
Apollinaris, De Alumins, Silver Plume, and The Alligator. Prof.
TAYLOR possesses a fine baritone voice of good range and timber,
and since assuming his professional duties at Janesville has
given further attention to voice culture under the direction
of Madam Johanna HESS-BURR, of Chicago. He not only sings well
himself, but his pupils show well placed voices and a good style.
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-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, pp. 288-289; lithograph from same book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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