Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, September 17, 2006 at 05:22:41 :
Marin Journal
Thursday, May 4, 1916
page 3
Another Pioneer Passes Away
Daniel T. Taylor, a 49er, Resided in Marin More Than Sixty Years
Another link connecting Marin county’s present with the past was severed last Saturday in the death of Daniel T. Taylor.
With the death passes one of the men conspicuous in the political and social life of the county in the fifties, when San Rafael was a small cluster of buildings, when railroads, telephones and electricity were but promises for the residents of this district.
After suffering several weeks at a San Francisco hospital, Mr. Taylor passed quietly away last Saturday at the age of 85 years, 11 months and 25 days.
Taylor was a member of the Baltimore & Frederick Milling & Trading Company which was established in what is now Baltimore Canyon in 1849. He came here from Baltimore, Maryland, starting from that city with twenty-six others, and he lived to count the names of all of them in the death column. Among those who came here with him were the Baechtel brothers and Ai Barney, father of Chas. S. Barney.
Shortly after building the mill and the lumber camp, the company disposed of its entire plant to Benjamin R. Buckelew. Daniel Taylor, Ai Barney and others went to the mining counties and remained for one winter, but had little success. Upon returning here Taylor, a life long Democrat, was elected to the office of County Clerk, which combined the duties of that office with those of Recorder and Auditor. He was returned to this office several terms, until defeated in t he late sixties by R. W. Osgood. Osgood was in turn defeated by John Reynolds and Taylor was given the office of deputy, which he held for many years.
Taylor was peculiarly fitted for the duties of his employment by reason of his educational qualifications. His parents in Baltimore were engaged in the mercantile business, in which he had been trained thoroughly.
A few years after he came here he was married to a daughter of Captain Simpton, Elizabeth, who preceded him to the grave by several years.
Taylor had many stories of the early days and incidents of San Rafael. He knew personally many whose names are familiar to those who read the early history of the county. The county records of sixty-five years ago are in “Dan” Taylor’s handwriting, and they are as clear, legible and perfect as those of today which are typewritten.
There were few social events of those days when “Dan” Taylor was not present and, indeed, one of the favorites. Six feet in height, always modishly dressed, polished in demeanor and withal jovial, he found and gave pleasure at any function. For many years he held office in the San Rafael Volunteer Fire Department.
The funeral yesterday was largely attended, the friends and mourners gathering at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church here at 11 o’clock. Rev. G. M. Cutting and Rev. Bradley officiated. The burial at Mount Tamalpais cemetery was under the direction of Dr. F. E. Sawyer.
The deceased is survived by Mrs. C. S. Livingston, Mrs. Ada Donovan, Mrs. P. J. Elliott, Mrs. J. D. Robertson, Miss Emily Taylor, daughters, and Daniel I. Taylor, a son.
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