R. M. Taylor, a merchant of Fairport, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, on May 9, 1848. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Taylor, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former born January 27, 1801, and the latter, in 1811. The parents of the father were natives of Ireland, and removed to America after their marriage, locating in Pennsylvania. They removed to Ohio when John was a boy, and were among the first settlers of that State. At that time the country was full of Indians and wild game. They died in Ohio. John engaged in farming in Ohio until September, 1864, when he removed to Camden Township, De Kalb Co., Mo., where he resided until his death on March 9, 1865. He was a zealous and ardent Christian, and was one of the founders of the Methodist Church of De Kalb County. The mother resides on the old homestead near Maysville. To the parents seven children were born, of whom R. M. was the third. He was reared on the farm, and acquired a good education in the district schools of Ohio, and the graded schools of Maysville. He remained with his parents until his thirty-fifth year, and then engaged in farming for himself until January 26, 1887, when he purchased his present stock of hardware. He carries a stock of some $3,500, and does an annual business of about $20,000. On January 22, 1884, he was united in marriage with Miss Cynthia Bray, who was born in De Kalb County on November 18, 1858. She is the daughter of Samuel Bray, of De Kalb County; they have two children.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), pp. 587-588.