J. W. Taylor, a prominent manufacturer of jeans and woolen goods, and proprietor of a grist-mill, was born in September, (smudged) in White County, Tenn., of Irish descent. His father, Creed A. Taylor , as born about 1809, in Virginia, and immigrated to White County about 1818. His death occurred in 1857. The mother, Sarah (Walling) Taylor was born.about 1811 or 1812, a daughter of Joseph and Katie Walling. She died in 1866, while on a visit to relatives in Arkansas. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the County schools. After farming a short time he engaged in the grist-mill business in 1863, and has met with unusual success. He added wool-carding machines to his business. In 1876 he put in five looms, and several more since that time, until he now has ten, with a capacity of 250 yards per day. The mill has a fine central location; is on Calf Killer River, six miles south of Sparta; is known as the Tebo Woolen Mill. Mr. Taylor has between $17,000 and $18,000 invested and is doing an extensive and lucrative business. He is a self-made man, his possessions being the fruits of his own efforts and industry. His eldest son, Creed A., is a partner in the mill. In 1862 our subject married Miss Margret Smallman, a cousin of the distinguished Judge Smallman, of Warren County. To their union four sons and six daughters have been born. Previous to the war Mr. Taylor was a Whig, and is now a Democrat. He and his wife are consistent and esteemed members of the Christian Church.

Source:   Goodspeed Pub. Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of the Counties of White, Warren, Coffee, DeKalb, and Cannon, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Original Observations, Reminiscences, Etc., Etc. Nashville: Goodspeed Pub. Co, 1887.