Frank G. Taylor
1878-1949
(1st) Most Honorable Grand Commander in Chief
Served: 1912-1943
Ogle County Republican - July 28, 1949
Word came by telegraph Friday of the death of Frank G. Taylor at Poultney, Vermont, on Thursday of last week.
Frank Taylor came to Oregon (Illinois) at the age of 26 years, began a teaching career in 1904, being in charge of the Oregon Public Schools until 1924 when he moved to Earlville, to take a similar position.
He was married to Jessie Ward of Poultney, Vermont, who passed away at Oregon, leaving her husband, four sons and one daughter. The children were Charles, Dallas, Frank, Paul and Dr. Lois Taylor, who passed away in March, 1947, after gaining a high position in the medical world.
In the years that Mr. Taylor was at the head of the Oregon schools, he was beloved by all of his pupils. He had a way of getting along with them, and developing them. He produced the best athletic teams that Oregon ever had, in the days of Frank Loomis, Earl Eby and Sherman Landers. His teams won in debates and in other events. He was tireless in his work. In after years we remember the last talk we had with Faye Emerson, who had then gone to the front with one of the large concerns of this country. He said, "Where is Mr. Taylor now?" and we replied, "At Earlville." "Well, I am going over there to see him today," he said. And then he said, "If it hadn't been for Prof. Taylor, I would not have amounted to a hill of beans. He stood by me, encouraged me, worked with me, and I made the grade all the way through," and that coming from Faye Emerson was meant in all sincerity.
His wife died early in his married life, but he carried on just the same. He had four boys and a girl to raise, and he raised them as honest, upright citizens. He served as Sunday School Superintendent and as an elder in the Oregon Presbyterian church for years, and was well known all over the country for his work in the Masonic order.
After he retired from teaching in 1943, he intended to take life easy at the old home place in East Poultney, Vermont, but World War II came on and his sons and daughter were with the forces. After the war, he took a trip to various foreign nations.
Frank G. Taylor had a good influence in his home, in his school and in his church. He was one man who stood up and could be counted if he thought he was right. His football teams, his basketball teams, debating teams and his track squads were the wonder of all this section, and his athletes won many of the big meets, and went over to appear in the greatest competition there is the Olympics.
When this world lost Frank G. Taylor, it lost a man who was four square at every turn. As he saw the right, he stood steadfast, and many a man and girl grown up today, felt a deep sorrow at his passing.
Funeral services were held for Brother Taylor on Monday, July 25, 1949 in the Baptist Church in Poultney, Vermont. Services were conducted by the Rev. Lloyd Marble, a member of Putnam Lodge in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A graveside Masonic service was conducted by Morning Star Lodge # 37 of Poultney, Vermont.
Information provided is courtesy of Betty Croft at the Ogle County Genealogy Society in Oregon, Illinois
