Robert H. Taylor

Robert H. Taylor

Full Name: Robert H. Taylor
Date of birth: July 5, 1825
Date of death: May 10, 1889

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
H 19 Jan 14, 1879 - Jan 11, 1881 16th (1) (2)   Unaffiliated Bonham / Fannin   Fannin
H 4 Nov 7, 1859 - Nov 4, 1861 8th (3) (4)     Bonham / Fannin   Fannin
S 3 Nov 5, 1855 - Nov 7, 1859 6th (10) (11)   7th (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)     Bonham / Fannin   Fannin, Hunt
H 4 Nov 7, 1853 - Nov 5, 1855 5th     Bonham / Fannin   Fannin
H 24 Nov 3, 1851 - Nov 7, 1853 4th     Bonham / Fannin   Cooke, Fannin, Grayson

(1) Republican, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.
(2) Independent. Texas Legislative Manual, 1879-80, 1879.
(3) [In late 1860 and early 1861] legislators Micajah Lewis Armstrong, John L. Haynes, and Robert H. Taylor mailed circulars to their constituencies defending their unpopular Unionist positions. They joined other Unionist legislators and convention delegates on February 6 in issuing an address entreating Texans to reject secession." "Origins of Early Texas Republican Party Leadership," Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 447. Journal of Southern History.
(4) Included in "Table II, Constitutional Unionists (Identified from newspapers) with Biographical Data," list of leaders of the Texas Constitutional Union Party in 1860. The party was formed in January of 1860. "The Constitutional Union Party in Texas," The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 82, Number 3, January 1979, pp. 238, 256-262, crediting Texas State Historical Association. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries). Table II, Constitutional Unionists
(5) Members of the Seventh Legislature, Biographical Notes - Members, April 1937 issue. Southern Historical Research Magazine, 1937.
(6) Robert H. Taylor of Fannin, pp. 69, 96, 155. American (Know-Nothing) State Convention, January 21-22, 1856, in Austin (Delegate to National Convention); Radical Union Caucus, March 1866; Republican State Convention, August 19-20, 1873, in Dallas (Nominee for Lt. Governor). Platforms of Political Parties in Texas, 1916.
(7) Listed in "Senators holding over: Opposition." Roster of 7th Legislature, "Texas Legislature Complete for 1857-8," Civilian and Gazette. Weekly. (Galveston, Texas), 9/8/1857, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(8) 7th Legislature - Roll of Senators (holdover Senator), 11/2/1857, pp. 1, 4. Senate Journal.
(9) 7th Legislature - Listed in "large cadre of returning senators," p. 276. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.
(10) Included "[a]mong 1855 legislators that this writer has positively identified as Know Nothings." The party was active in Texas at the state level between 1855 and 1857. "An Analysis of the Texas Know Nothings," The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 70, Number 3, January 1967, pp. 414, 416-417, crediting Texas State Historical Association. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(11) 6th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll of Senators elected since the last adjournment presented their credentials, and being qualified, took their seats, 11/5/1855, p. 2. Senate Journal.

Terms of Service top

House District 19
Jan 14, 1879 - Jan 11, 1881
Legislatures: 16th (1) (2)  
Party: Unaffiliated
Home City/County: Bonham / Fannin
Counties in district: Fannin
House District 4
Nov 7, 1859 - Nov 4, 1861
Legislatures: 8th (3) (4)  
Home City/County: Bonham / Fannin
Counties in district: Fannin
Senate District 3
Nov 5, 1855 - Nov 7, 1859
Legislatures: 6th (10) (11)   7th (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)  
Home City/County: Bonham / Fannin
Counties in district: Fannin, Hunt
House District 4
Nov 7, 1853 - Nov 5, 1855
Legislatures: 5th  
Home City/County: Bonham / Fannin
Counties in district: Fannin
House District 24
Nov 3, 1851 - Nov 7, 1853
Legislatures: 4th  
Home City/County: Bonham / Fannin
Counties in district: Cooke, Fannin, Grayson

(1) Republican, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.
(2) Independent. Texas Legislative Manual, 1879-80, 1879.
(3) [In late 1860 and early 1861] legislators Micajah Lewis Armstrong, John L. Haynes, and Robert H. Taylor mailed circulars to their constituencies defending their unpopular Unionist positions. They joined other Unionist legislators and convention delegates on February 6 in issuing an address entreating Texans to reject secession." "Origins of Early Texas Republican Party Leadership," Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 447. Journal of Southern History.
(4) Included in "Table II, Constitutional Unionists (Identified from newspapers) with Biographical Data," list of leaders of the Texas Constitutional Union Party in 1860. The party was formed in January of 1860. "The Constitutional Union Party in Texas," The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 82, Number 3, January 1979, pp. 238, 256-262, crediting Texas State Historical Association. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries). Table II, Constitutional Unionists
(5) Members of the Seventh Legislature, Biographical Notes - Members, April 1937 issue. Southern Historical Research Magazine, 1937.
(6) Robert H. Taylor of Fannin, pp. 69, 96, 155. American (Know-Nothing) State Convention, January 21-22, 1856, in Austin (Delegate to National Convention); Radical Union Caucus, March 1866; Republican State Convention, August 19-20, 1873, in Dallas (Nominee for Lt. Governor). Platforms of Political Parties in Texas, 1916.
(7) Listed in "Senators holding over: Opposition." Roster of 7th Legislature, "Texas Legislature Complete for 1857-8," Civilian and Gazette. Weekly. (Galveston, Texas), 9/8/1857, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(8) 7th Legislature - Roll of Senators (holdover Senator), 11/2/1857, pp. 1, 4. Senate Journal.
(9) 7th Legislature - Listed in "large cadre of returning senators," p. 276. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.
(10) Included "[a]mong 1855 legislators that this writer has positively identified as Know Nothings." The party was active in Texas at the state level between 1855 and 1857. "An Analysis of the Texas Know Nothings," The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 70, Number 3, January 1967, pp. 414, 416-417, crediting Texas State Historical Association. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(11) 6th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll of Senators elected since the last adjournment presented their credentials, and being qualified, took their seats, 11/5/1855, p. 2. Senate Journal.

Biographical Information top

Resolutions and Journal entries

  • 5th Legislature - Roll of Members, Robert H. Taylor, age 28, native state South Carolina, emigrated from Georgia in 1843, lawyer, postoffice Bonham, Fannin County. House Journal.

Biographical Sketches

  • R.H. Taylor, death date 6/10/1889, burial in Willow Wild Cemetery, Bonham, Fannin County. Includes portrait; reprint of obituaries in Dallas Morning News, 5/11/1889, and Fannin Guard, 5/17/1889; and biographical sketch of Col. Robert H. Taylor in Bonham News, 3/2/1909. Find a Grave.
  • TAYLOR, ROBERT H. (1825-1889). Handbook of Texas Online.
  • Biographical sketch and portraits, "The remarkable life and times of Bonham native Robert H. Taylor," Tim Davis, 6/26/2007. North Texas e-News.
  • Biographical sketch and portrait. Texas Album of the Eighth Legislature, 1860.
  • Biographical sketch, pp. 257-258. Elected as an Independent. Texas Legislative Manual, 1879-80, 1879.
  • Biographical sketch, p. 261 - attorney, native of South Carolina. Confirms legislative sessions served; also served as Comptroller, and judge of Eighth District, ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor in 1873. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.
  • Biographical sketch, Col. R.H. Taylor, History of Fannin County, Texas, by W.A. Carter, 1885, pp. 127-128. "Before the war, he was a whig and strong Unionist, after the war, an active republican." Fannin County, TXGenWeb Project.

Military Service Notes

  • John C. Hays' 1st Regiment of Texas Volunteers, Captain, Company B, Mexican War. Confederate States Army, Colonel, 22nd Texas Cavalry. Handbook of Texas Online.
  • Robert H. Taylor. Texas Burial Sites of Civil War Notables: A Biographical and Pictorial Field Guide, 2002.
  • Biographical sketch, pp. 27, 118. Texas in the War, 1861-1865, 1965.

Other Resources

  • Mentioned in "'Blessed with Peace!' War's Bitter Aftermath," pp. 102-136. Brush Men and Vigilantes: Civil War Dissent in Texas, 2000.
  • Mentioned in account of secession debates and vigilantism in the Sulphur Forks watershed counties of East Texas, pp. 35-41. Brush Men and Vigilantes: Civil War Dissent in Texas, 2000.
  • Included in list of "prominent Republicans who soldiered in the Confederate Army." Baggett, James Alex, "Origins of Early Texas Republican Party Leadership," The Journal of Southern History, Vol.40(3), August 1974, p. 452. Journal of Southern History.
  • Mentioned in list of "Future Republicans . . . at one time or another championed Know-Nothingism." Baggett, James Alex, "Origins of Early Texas Republican Party Leadership," The Journal of Southern History, Vol.40(3), August 1974, p. 443. Journal of Southern History.
  • Delegate to Constitutional Convention, 1866. Journal of the Texas State Convention: Assembled at Austin, Feb. 7, 1866. Adjourned April 2, 1866, pp. 3-5. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.

Photographs

Committee Information top

16th R.S. - 1879
Finance  
Indian Affairs  
Internal Improvements (Chair) 
Judiciary No. 2  
Penal Code, Select  
8th R.S. - 1859
Joint Indian Affairs (Chair) 
Judiciary  
Stock and Stock Raising  
7th R.S. - 1857
Education  
Indian Affairs  
Militia  
Printing and Contingent Expenses  
Public Lands  
State Affairs  
6th R.S. - 1855
Judicial Districts, Select  
Judiciary  
Land Office  
Land Titles West of Nueces River, Select  
Printing and Contingent Expenses  
Private Land Claims (Chair) 
5th R.S. - 1853
Engrossed Bills  
Finance  
Judicial Districts  
Privileges and Elections  
4th R.S. - 1851
Adjutant General's Office, Select  
Judiciary  
Peters' Colony, Governor's Message, Select  
Post Office and Department of State, Examine  
Privileges and Elections  

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