One of the able, enterprising young business men and financiers of LaSalle county is Charles P. Taylor, who is a director of the National City Bank of Ottawa, and is the cashier of the State Bank of Seneca. He possesses qualities which have rapidly brought him to the front and gained for him a reputation as a successful man of affairs, and his numerous friends predict for him a brilliant future in the world of finance.
Born December 3, 1866, in Rock Island, Illinois, Mr. Taylor is a son of Alfred H. and Sarah (Case) Taylor, who were natives of Vermont and Rock Island, respectively. The mother is a daughter of Charles H. Case, one of the sterling pioneers of the city mentioned, he having settled there in 1827. Among his early friends in that locality was the famous Indian chief. Black Hawk. The parents of Alfred H. Taylor were Rev. Philander and Faithful (Manning) Taylor, the former a native of the Green Mountain state, and both of English descent, and highly respected. After a busy, useful life, spent chiefly in Rock Island and Ottawa, A. H. Taylor is now retired, after eighteen years' service as the clerk of the supreme court, his home being in the last mentioned place.
When he was a lad of about nine years Charles P. Taylor removed to Ottawa with his parents, and there obtained his elementary education in the public schools. After being graduated at the high school of Ottawa he entered the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, and, after completing the curriculum, was graduated, in 1889. He then went to California with a party of friends on a pleasure trip, thus having the satisfaction of seeing something of this wonderful country before settling down to business life. Upon his return to Ottawa he accepted a position in the employ of the firm of Fisk & Beem, as bookkeeper and cashier, and continued with that house, one of the leading merchant tailoring establishments of the place, for two or three years. When the State Bank at Seneca was organized in 1892 Mr. Taylor was honored by being chosen as its cashier, the other officers being: Thomas D. Catlin, president, and A. F. Schoch, vicepresident. A general banking business is transacted, and from the first the bank has possessed the confidence of the public, largely on account of the high standing and excellent business reputation of its officials, who are gentlemen of unimpeached integrity of character, and for many years have occupied distinguished places among the citizens of Ottawa.
Socially Mr. Taylor is exceedingly popular, and is connected with several fraternal organizations. While a college student he was a member of the Sigma Phi, a leading and influential Greek letter fraternity. He now belongs to Occidental Lodge, No. 40, F. and A. M.; Shabbona Chapter, No. 37, R. A. M.; and Ottawa Commandery, No. 10, K. T., in all of which he is highly esteemed.
In 1894 the marriage of C. P. Taylor and Miss Josephine Porter was solemnized in Ottawa, and they have a little son and daughter now to gladden their attractive home, the elder being named Sarah and the younger Alfred H., Jr., for his paternal grandfather. Mrs. Taylor is a daughter of J. E. Porter, the well-known manufacturer of agricultural implements at Ottawa. She possesses a superior education and many graces of character and manner which endear her to everyone she chances to become acquainted with.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 286-287.
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