CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameDennis Melvin TAYLOR 
[1318], [1319], [1358], [715, p.483], [1698]
[1318], [1319], [1358], [715, p.483], [1698]Birth PlacePennsylvania, United States
MemoObituary states 1 Jan 1832, “near Harrisbugh [sic], Penn.” 1895 census implies a birth year of 1830.
Census Date16 Jun 1860 [1325] Age: 28
Census PlaceLivonia, Wayne Co., Michigan, United States
Purchase Date11 Nov 1865 [1741] Age: 33
Purchase PlaceIronton Twp., Sauk Co., Wisconsin, United States
Memo40 acres
Census Date20 Jul 1870 [1318] Age: 38
Census PlaceIronton Twp., Sauk Co., Wisconsin, United States
Census Date1 Jun 1880 [1321] Age: 48
Census PlaceIronton Twp., Sauk Co., Wisconsin, United States
Census Date8 Jun 1895 [1675] Age: 63
Census PlaceHouston Co., Minnesota, United States
Census Date4 Jun 1900 [1362] Age: 68
Census PlaceHokah, Hokah Twp., Houston Co., Minnesota, United States
Death PlaceHokah, Hokah Twp., Houston Co., Minnesota, United States
MemoAged 78 according to obituary.
Burial Date20 Mar 1910 [1358], [1381], [1498, MEMORIAL# 150311089]
Burial PlaceHokah, Hokah Twp., Houston Co., Minnesota, United States
MemoMount Hope Cemetery
Alt.SpellingDenis [1321]
Alt.SpellingDennes [1675]
OccupationFarmer [1318]
Misc. Notes
Both his parents were born in Pennsylvania. [1321], [1381]
Dennis and his first wife moved to Lime Ridge, WI, about 1864 [1717] (contrary to his obituary, his first wife did not die in Michigan and in fact she did not die until just over seven years after he and the 2nd Mrs. TAYLOR had moved to Minnesota, so it is unclear how the first marriage ended) [1659], [1717]. After his 2nd marriage he moved to La Crosse, WI, and from there they moved to Hokah, MN, [1358] on or about 08-SEP-1891 (the 1895 census says he has been a resident of the state and enumeration district for 3 years, 9 months). [1675]
On 11-APR-1870, Dennis and Mary sold, via mortgage, 62 acres of their land in Sauk Co, WI, to John BOWES of Colusa Co., California. [1707] Mr. BOWES is probably Mary’s brother who is listed in the 1850 census [1371]). Based on a deed in Vol.10, p.162, the first 40 acres of this property was purchased in 1865. In 1877, there was a “Satisfaction of Mortgage” [1742] regarding this property, also involving Mr. BOWES, though this time his name was spelled BOWERS. This land was within two miles (north) of the property owned by Thomas ALLEN (wife Margaret TAYLOR). The property was again mortgaged in 1877 to a George T. MORSE for $550. [1743] In 1883, Dennis and Mary sold 72 acres for $1.00 to A.L. HARRIS. [1744] The 1900 census of Colusa, Colusa Co., CA, has a John BOWES, born Nov. 1833, in New York, whose parents were born in England [5030]. This matches very well with the John BOWSE listed in the 1850 census of Farmington, MI. But the Findagrave.com memorial for John BOWES (# 93984330) claims he was born in Howard Township, Centre Co., PA, to Margaret Elizabeth SHEETS & Morris BOWES. Since the 1870 mortgage reference to John BOWES of Colusa County makes it almost certain that this is Mary's brother, I suspect the reference to Pennsylvania is in error. The memorial says that John was a private in the Civil War, Company B, 39th Illinois Infantry, and the inscription on his grave says as much. He served from 1861 to 1864, having enlisted at Chicago. Fold3 has a pension index card showing such a John BOWES with both Invalid an Widow claims filed (widow appl. # 8672750, cert. # 651380). After the war he went to Colusa, CA, where his son, Everett, was born in May, 1883 [5030]. So it is reasonable for him to have been in Colusa at the time of the mortgage transaction with his sister and brother-in-law. Two pension applications found for John BOWES of the 39th Illinois Regiment: Invalid # 56445(J) & Widow # 867275(0) [the "J" and "0" appear in the next column of the pension index card, but may be a continuation of the application numbers; the parentheses are mine].
In the 1900 census [1362], the number-of-years-married field was first written as “41” but later crossed out and changed to “28” which matches the value reported for his wife. Forty-one puts the year at 1859 which is close to the current estimate of 1860 for his marriage to Mary BOWSE. But twenty-eight isn’t even correct for Mary HOCKING’s first marriage, which was in 1875.
Dennis and his first wife moved to Lime Ridge, WI, about 1864 [1717] (contrary to his obituary, his first wife did not die in Michigan and in fact she did not die until just over seven years after he and the 2nd Mrs. TAYLOR had moved to Minnesota, so it is unclear how the first marriage ended) [1659], [1717]. After his 2nd marriage he moved to La Crosse, WI, and from there they moved to Hokah, MN, [1358] on or about 08-SEP-1891 (the 1895 census says he has been a resident of the state and enumeration district for 3 years, 9 months). [1675]
On 11-APR-1870, Dennis and Mary sold, via mortgage, 62 acres of their land in Sauk Co, WI, to John BOWES of Colusa Co., California. [1707] Mr. BOWES is probably Mary’s brother who is listed in the 1850 census [1371]). Based on a deed in Vol.10, p.162, the first 40 acres of this property was purchased in 1865. In 1877, there was a “Satisfaction of Mortgage” [1742] regarding this property, also involving Mr. BOWES, though this time his name was spelled BOWERS. This land was within two miles (north) of the property owned by Thomas ALLEN (wife Margaret TAYLOR). The property was again mortgaged in 1877 to a George T. MORSE for $550. [1743] In 1883, Dennis and Mary sold 72 acres for $1.00 to A.L. HARRIS. [1744] The 1900 census of Colusa, Colusa Co., CA, has a John BOWES, born Nov. 1833, in New York, whose parents were born in England [5030]. This matches very well with the John BOWSE listed in the 1850 census of Farmington, MI. But the Findagrave.com memorial for John BOWES (# 93984330) claims he was born in Howard Township, Centre Co., PA, to Margaret Elizabeth SHEETS & Morris BOWES. Since the 1870 mortgage reference to John BOWES of Colusa County makes it almost certain that this is Mary's brother, I suspect the reference to Pennsylvania is in error. The memorial says that John was a private in the Civil War, Company B, 39th Illinois Infantry, and the inscription on his grave says as much. He served from 1861 to 1864, having enlisted at Chicago. Fold3 has a pension index card showing such a John BOWES with both Invalid an Widow claims filed (widow appl. # 8672750, cert. # 651380). After the war he went to Colusa, CA, where his son, Everett, was born in May, 1883 [5030]. So it is reasonable for him to have been in Colusa at the time of the mortgage transaction with his sister and brother-in-law. Two pension applications found for John BOWES of the 39th Illinois Regiment: Invalid # 56445(J) & Widow # 867275(0) [the "J" and "0" appear in the next column of the pension index card, but may be a continuation of the application numbers; the parentheses are mine].
In the 1900 census [1362], the number-of-years-married field was first written as “41” but later crossed out and changed to “28” which matches the value reported for his wife. Forty-one puts the year at 1859 which is close to the current estimate of 1860 for his marriage to Mary BOWSE. But twenty-eight isn’t even correct for Mary HOCKING’s first marriage, which was in 1875.
Research
WHS Genealogy Index, pre-1907 Vital Records, has no record of his 2nd marriage in any county. [681] Also failed to locate his 2nd marriage at the Register of Deeds in Dodgeville, Iowa Co., WI (25-AUG-2010).
Originally believed that Dennis was “M D Taylor” in the 1850 census for Lycoming Co., PA, but although it is now known that ‘M D’ was “Mahlon D. Taylor”, it is also true that ‘M D’ is unaccounted for after the 1850 census. [952] A Mahlon D. TAYLOR from Pennsylvania registered for the Civil War Draft in 1863, [4306] while residing in Farmington, Oakland Co., MI, which is close to Lavonia, MI, where Dennis was living in 1860. And Farmington is also where Mahlon D’s brother William was living from 1850 to 1880. This Mahlon D. TAYLOR is listed as married in the Draft Registration, and Dennis was married sometime after the 1860 census. No Dennis TAYLOR has been found near Harrisburg, PA, or in Lycoming Co., PA, in the 1850 census.
A Dennis TAYLOR, b. ca. 1827, was found in the 1850 census of Venango Twp., Butler Co., PA, with a wife, Charlotte and daughter Lydia E. This is the only Dennis TAYLOR born 1827-1837 in PA, in that census. That location is in western PA, far from Lycoming Co., and Harrisburg, PA. In 1840, there were 7 TAYLOR households in Butler Co., of which 5 consisted of more than one person; none of them in Venango Twp. But of course only the head of household is named for 1840.
Need stronger evidence that he is from Lycoming, given that his obituary said Harrisburg, PA. [1358]
checked the online index [1468] for Minnesota but there was no record of a Dennis Taylor getting married anywhere in Minnesota from 1890-1910
Originally believed that Dennis was “M D Taylor” in the 1850 census for Lycoming Co., PA, but although it is now known that ‘M D’ was “Mahlon D. Taylor”, it is also true that ‘M D’ is unaccounted for after the 1850 census. [952] A Mahlon D. TAYLOR from Pennsylvania registered for the Civil War Draft in 1863, [4306] while residing in Farmington, Oakland Co., MI, which is close to Lavonia, MI, where Dennis was living in 1860. And Farmington is also where Mahlon D’s brother William was living from 1850 to 1880. This Mahlon D. TAYLOR is listed as married in the Draft Registration, and Dennis was married sometime after the 1860 census. No Dennis TAYLOR has been found near Harrisburg, PA, or in Lycoming Co., PA, in the 1850 census.
A Dennis TAYLOR, b. ca. 1827, was found in the 1850 census of Venango Twp., Butler Co., PA, with a wife, Charlotte and daughter Lydia E. This is the only Dennis TAYLOR born 1827-1837 in PA, in that census. That location is in western PA, far from Lycoming Co., and Harrisburg, PA. In 1840, there were 7 TAYLOR households in Butler Co., of which 5 consisted of more than one person; none of them in Venango Twp. But of course only the head of household is named for 1840.
Need stronger evidence that he is from Lycoming, given that his obituary said Harrisburg, PA. [1358]
checked the online index [1468] for Minnesota but there was no record of a Dennis Taylor getting married anywhere in Minnesota from 1890-1910
Spouses
Birth Date20 Jan 1837 [1318], [1321], [1371], [1655], [1717], [1659], [1703], [1498, Memorial# 59354801]
Birth PlaceNew York, United States
MemoOr Michigan, or Lime Ridge, Sauk Co., WI
Census Date8 Aug 1850 [1371] Age: 13
Census PlaceFarmington Twp., Oakland Co., Michigan, United States
Census Date20 Jul 1870 [1318] Age: 33
Census PlaceIronton Twp., Sauk Co., Wisconsin, United States
Census Date1 Jun 1880 [1321] Age: 43
Census PlaceIronton Twp., Sauk Co., Wisconsin, United States
Death Date15 Jan 1899 [1321], [1717], [1659], [1498, Memorial# 59354801] Age: 61
Death PlaceLime Ridge, Sauk Co., Wisconsin, United States
MemoDennis’ obituary suggested that his first wife died before he moved to Wisconsin but she was still with him in the 1880 census and her obituary proves she was alive after he married Mrs. MILLER.
Burial DateJan 1899 [1498, Memorial# 59354801]
Burial PlaceLime Ridge, Sauk Co., Wisconsin, United States
MemoLime Ridge Cemetery, center section, row 6 from highway. Verified in person, 27-SEP-2010.
Alias/AKAMary BOWS [1659], [715, p.483]
Alt.SpellingMary BOW [1698]
Alt.SpellingBOUGHS [1319]
Alt.SpellingBOWERS [1655]
Alt.SpellingBOWES [1707]
FatherHenry BOWSE (ca1795-)
MotherJane [BOWSE] (ca1805-)
Misc. Notes
Mary was listed as a widow on her death certificate [1659], but Dennis did not die until eleven years later (though it seems clear they had been apart for possibly as long as 18 years when she died). The death register of the day did not have any provision for recording the name of the informant, so we’ll never know who provided this erroneous fact. The death record also appears to be in error regarding her place of birth and the names of her parents are different from what has been found in the census records, though at this point it can only be ruled a discrepancy, since neither set of names has been verified.
See Notes for her husband, Dennis, for information regarding Mary’s brother, John.
See Notes for her husband, Dennis, for information regarding Mary’s brother, John.
Research
Found a Mary BOWS in Novi, Oakland Co., MI, 1860 (head of household: Levi BISHOP), but she was born in 1842. Insufficient information to rule her in or out (HeritageQuest & Ancestry.com)
A very puzzling death record has been found for a Mary TAYLOR who died in Lime Ridge, Sauk Co., WI, on 15-JAN-1899. For every fact that seems to be a match, another fact seems impossible. It says her maiden name was BOWS which is a believable spelling. It says she was born in 1837 but in Lime Ridge rather than Michigan or New York. It says her husband was Dennis TAYLOR but that she is a widow. It says her parents were born in England but gives the father’s name as John BOWS and the mother’s name is something that starts with a ‘D’ and a surname that starts with a ‘K’ - possibly “KROW” or “KROM.” [1659] Since it was previously established that Dennis TAYLOR had two wives, and that he married the second one in Wisconsin before moving to Hokah, MN, it was assumed that the first wife died before he married the second. This record seems to imply that she was still alive after he married the second Mary and that he died before the first Mary died. Very confusing. The death record does not list any informant, but whoever it was they would appear to have jumbled the facts. It seems unlikely there were two Mary BOWS (any spelling) and two Dennis TAYLORs that married. Perhaps it was actually a divorce and the informant did not know Dennis had moved to Minnesota and was still alive.
Based on the fact that the Mary who died in 1899 is buried next to Helen Taylor Selden in Lime Ridge Cemetery, that makes a pretty good case for her being Helen’s mother.
A very puzzling death record has been found for a Mary TAYLOR who died in Lime Ridge, Sauk Co., WI, on 15-JAN-1899. For every fact that seems to be a match, another fact seems impossible. It says her maiden name was BOWS which is a believable spelling. It says she was born in 1837 but in Lime Ridge rather than Michigan or New York. It says her husband was Dennis TAYLOR but that she is a widow. It says her parents were born in England but gives the father’s name as John BOWS and the mother’s name is something that starts with a ‘D’ and a surname that starts with a ‘K’ - possibly “KROW” or “KROM.” [1659] Since it was previously established that Dennis TAYLOR had two wives, and that he married the second one in Wisconsin before moving to Hokah, MN, it was assumed that the first wife died before he married the second. This record seems to imply that she was still alive after he married the second Mary and that he died before the first Mary died. Very confusing. The death record does not list any informant, but whoever it was they would appear to have jumbled the facts. It seems unlikely there were two Mary BOWS (any spelling) and two Dennis TAYLORs that married. Perhaps it was actually a divorce and the informant did not know Dennis had moved to Minnesota and was still alive.
Based on the fact that the Mary who died in 1899 is buried next to Helen Taylor Selden in Lime Ridge Cemetery, that makes a pretty good case for her being Helen’s mother.
ChildrenHelen M. (1861-1902)
Florence Jane (1863-1951)
Franklin William (1865-1921)
Edward Dennis (1868-1953)
May J. (1870-1945)
Birth PlaceMineral Point, Iowa Co., Wisconsin, United States
Memo1900 census gave Dec 1853; 1880 census implies 1847. 1895 census says born in England.
Census Date17 Jun 1880 [1658] Age: 28
Census PlaceMineral Point, Iowa Co., Wisconsin, United States
Census Date8 Jun 1895 [1675] Age: 43
Census PlaceHouston Co., Minnesota, United States
Census Date4 Jun 1900 [1362] Age: 48
Census PlaceHokah, Hokah Twp., Houston Co., Minnesota, United States
Census Date15 Apr 1910 [1572] Age: 58
Census PlaceHokah, Hokah Twp., Houston Co., Minnesota, United States
MemoAge given as 58.
Death Date11 Mar 1912 [450, CERTID# 1912-MN-004634], [1656], [1657] Age: 60
Death PlaceHokah, Hokah Twp., Houston Co., Minnesota, United States
MemoAge 60 yr. 2 mo.
Burial Date14 Mar 1912 [1656], [1657], [1498, MEMORIAL# 150311118]
Burial PlaceHokah, Hokah Twp., Houston Co., Minnesota, United States
MemoMount Hope Cemetery
Alias/AKAMary Berthan HAWKINS [1498, MEMORIAL# 150311118]
FatherRichard HOCKING (ca1809-~1855)
MotherSusanna KENDALL (1810-1863)
Misc. Notes
At the time of her marriage to Dennis, Mary was “Mrs. Miller.” [1358]
Mary had a son, William J. Miller, from her previous marriage, who resided with his mother at least through 1910. [1358], [1572] William was the informant for his mother’s death certificate. [1656]
Mary’s parents were born in England. [1362], [1656] It is not clear from her death certificate if “HOCKING” was her mother’s maiden name or married name.
The 1900 census indicates that Mary had three children in her life but that only one was living at that time. [1362]
A discrepancy to be dealt with here is the dates given for the marriage to Mr. Miller and the date of birth of their first child, William Miller. Mary's obituary says she married her first husband in 1870. The marriage record that I found on the books in Iowa County, WI, has the date as 30 May 1875. The best estimate for the date of birth of their son, William, is 1873, which is based on the 1880 and 1900 census schedules. That looks good if his parents married in 1870 but not so good if they married in 1875. So that places some doubt on the marriage record, in the sense that it might be for the wrong Mr. & Mrs. Miller. But what clinches the deal here is Mary's death certificate, because it states that her mother's name was Susan HOCKING, and the 1875 marriage record says the same thing. So now we have the situation that the year of birth of William Jr. is either wrong in both census schedules (20 years apart), or he was illegitimate. As to the surname, HOCKING, that appears to be her father's surname and not her mother's maiden name (the old records were supposed to reflect the mother's maiden name but apparently if it wasn't known, her married surname was written). And so it is by the marriage record that we know Mary's maiden name was HOCKING. The 1900 census says she had been married 28 years, which takes it back to 1872, which clearly is not the year of marriage to Dennis TAYLOR, her husband as of 1900, but neither is it quite correct for her first marriage.
Mary had a son, William J. Miller, from her previous marriage, who resided with his mother at least through 1910. [1358], [1572] William was the informant for his mother’s death certificate. [1656]
Mary’s parents were born in England. [1362], [1656] It is not clear from her death certificate if “HOCKING” was her mother’s maiden name or married name.
The 1900 census indicates that Mary had three children in her life but that only one was living at that time. [1362]
A discrepancy to be dealt with here is the dates given for the marriage to Mr. Miller and the date of birth of their first child, William Miller. Mary's obituary says she married her first husband in 1870. The marriage record that I found on the books in Iowa County, WI, has the date as 30 May 1875. The best estimate for the date of birth of their son, William, is 1873, which is based on the 1880 and 1900 census schedules. That looks good if his parents married in 1870 but not so good if they married in 1875. So that places some doubt on the marriage record, in the sense that it might be for the wrong Mr. & Mrs. Miller. But what clinches the deal here is Mary's death certificate, because it states that her mother's name was Susan HOCKING, and the 1875 marriage record says the same thing. So now we have the situation that the year of birth of William Jr. is either wrong in both census schedules (20 years apart), or he was illegitimate. As to the surname, HOCKING, that appears to be her father's surname and not her mother's maiden name (the old records were supposed to reflect the mother's maiden name but apparently if it wasn't known, her married surname was written). And so it is by the marriage record that we know Mary's maiden name was HOCKING. The 1900 census says she had been married 28 years, which takes it back to 1872, which clearly is not the year of marriage to Dennis TAYLOR, her husband as of 1900, but neither is it quite correct for her first marriage.
Research
The 1880 census [1658] has a widow, Mary Miller, living in Mineral Point, Iowa Co., WI, with a son, William, born 1873 in Wisconsin. Lists her parents as born in England. Good match with data for Dennis’ 2nd wife, especially since her obituary states she was born in Mineral Point [1657]. So this suggests that Mr. Miller died before 1880, and in fact her obituary states that he died in 1879. The census record also implies that Mr. Miller was also born in England. [1037] Also listed is a daughter, Susan Miller, who does not show up with Mary after she married Dennis; except that it says Susan’s father was born in Wisconsin. Susan was not mentioned in Mary’s obituary.
At the Houston County Historical Society library in Caledonia, MN (June, 2010), I examined their listing of all burials at Mount Hope Cemetery, but did not find anyone named TAYLOR. Since this list was based on walk-throughs of the cemetery, it is possible that their graves were unmarked or the stones are missing or no longer legible.
At Iowa Co. Register of Deeds (25-AUG-2010), no marriage records were found under Dennis TAYLOR or Mary MILLER.
At the Houston County Historical Society library in Caledonia, MN (June, 2010), I examined their listing of all burials at Mount Hope Cemetery, but did not find anyone named TAYLOR. Since this list was based on walk-throughs of the cemetery, it is possible that their graves were unmarked or the stones are missing or no longer legible.
At Iowa Co. Register of Deeds (25-AUG-2010), no marriage records were found under Dennis TAYLOR or Mary MILLER.
Marr Dateaft 1880 [1321]
Marr MemoNo record of this marriage found in Iowa County, WI (Dodgeville courthouse).