City of Taylor

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the City of Taylor. Now settle in, because this is a town that came to life fast, grew faster, and never really looked back. When the International and Great Northern Railroad built across Williamson County in 1876, it didn't just lay track.

It laid the groundwork for whole communities strung out along the line like beads on a wire. One of those communities was called Taylorsville, named for railroad executive Moses Taylor. Lots went on sale in June of that year.

By August the ninth, the post office was open. That's how it goes when a railroad decides a place ought to exist. Some of the earliest settlers weren't strangers to the railroad at all.

I. and G. N. president John R. Hoxie put down roots there, and agent Henry Dickson did too.

Merchant C. P. Vance packed up his general store from Circleville and moved the whole operation to the new town.

John McMurray started a private school. And Mortimer R. Hoxie, he donated land for a cemetery, which tells you the settlers were thinking about staying.

Methodist and Presbyterian churches were organized in 1876 itself. Other congregations followed the very next year. Now, the town also had geography working in its favor.

It sat on a cattle trail, and before long Taylorsville was a major shipping point for cattle. Then in 1882, a second rail line came to town. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad extended its reach to Taylorsville, and that spurring of further growth is exactly how the marker puts it.

Also in 1882, the town incorporated, and it needed a first mayor. That man was Daniel Moody, father of Texas governor Dan Moody, who lived from 1893 to 1966. A decade after that, in 1892, folks decided the name could stand to be a little leaner, and Taylorsville became simply Taylor.

By then, cotton had joined cattle and the railroad as a pillar of the local economy. Three things holding up a town. That'll do.

Today, the marker tells us, light industry and diversified farming keep Taylor prosperous. Not bad for a place that was nothing but open Williamson County land before a railroad decided, in 1876, that it ought to be something.

What the marker says

When the International & Great Northern Railroad built across Williamson County in 1876, one of the towns created along its route was "Taylorsville", named for railroad executive Moses Taylor. Lots were sold in June, and the post office opened on August 9, 1876. the earliest settlers included railroad officials such as I.&G.N. president John R. Hoxie and agent Henry Dickson, and merchants such as C. p. Vance, who moved his general store from Circleville. John McMurray started a private school, and Moritmer R. Hoxie donated land for a cemetery. Methodist and Presbyterian churches were organized in 1876, and other congregations the following year. Located on a cattle trail, the new community soon became a major shipping point for cattle. A second rail line, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, was extended to Taylorsville in 1882, spurring further growth. The town was incorporated in 1882 with Daniel Moody, father of Texas governor Dan Moody (1893-1966), as its first mayor. In 1892 the city's name was shortened to "Taylor". By that time, cotton had joined cattle and the railroad as an important element in the local economy. Today light industry and diversified farming contribute to Taylor's prosperity. (1976)