Taylor Family History

I. Introduction

The Taylor family history is a narrative of transition—from the self-sufficient homesteading of the early 19th century to the industrial labor struggles of the early 20th century. This record serves to preserve the lineage, the physical legacy of the land, and the oral traditions passed down through generations.

II. The Taylor Family Pedigree

Generation 1: The Settlers

• Robert Taylor (1805–1885) m. Nancy Taylor (1809–1889)

  • George Mooney Taylor (1820–1898) — See Gen 2

  • Jonathan David Taylor (1823–1904)

  • Olive Eaves Taylor (1826–1882) m. Waters

  • Emilia B. Taylor (1832–)

Generation 2: The Homesteaders

• George Mooney Taylor (1820–1898) m. Dorcas "Darcus" P. Lowry/Toney (1816–1894)

  • Nancy D. Taylor (1844–1917) m. J.M. Epley (1858–1935)

  • Robert D. Taylor (1847–1890) m. Martha Jane Dysart (1867–1942) — See Gen 3

  • Jasper Lafayette Taylor (1850–1907) m. Susannah Toney (1856–1932) — See Gen 3

  • Sarah Taylor (1852–1941) m. Joseph P. Toney (1865–1938)

    • Children: Martha Toney, George Toney.

  • Susan Taylor (1855–1954)

  • Louisa Taylor (1859–1960) m. James W. "Jim" Reel (1872–1948)

    • Children: Minnie Reel, Robert Reel, Charles Reel.

  • William Taylor (1865–1959) m. Rhoda Josephine Harris (1870–1945)

  • Charlie Marvin (C. M.) Taylor (1881–1952) m. Para Maybelle Pace (1885–1960) — See Gen 3

Generation 3: The Expanding Branches

Branch of Robert D. Taylor & Martha Jane Dysart

• Robert D. Taylor (1847–1890) m. Martha Jane Dysart (1867–1942)

  • Etta Taylor (1886–1960) m. Robert Walker

  • Newton Henry Taylor (1888–1973) m. Lona Mae Reel

  • James T. Taylor (1889–1949) m. Bertha Sisk

Branch of Jasper Lafayette Taylor & Susannah Toney

• Jasper Lafayette Taylor (1850–1907) m. Susannah Toney

  • Zeb V. Taylor (1892–1968) m. Catherine S. Taylor (1895–1981)

    • Children: Thelma T. Bright, Faye T. Harris, Burlin Taylor, Dorothy T. Lytle.

  • Cora Taylor (1894–1972)

  • Lillie Taylor (1898–1985)

Branch of Charlie Marvin (C. M.) Taylor & Para Maybelle Pace

• C. M. Taylor (1881–1952) m. Para Maybelle Pace (1885–1960)

  • Lillie Taylor (1905–1988) m. Poteat

  • Minnie Taylor (1907–1992)

  • Robert Taylor (1910–1984)

  • Gladys Taylor (1912–1999)

  • Mary Taylor (1914–2002) m. Ralph N. Taylor

  • Ruth Taylor (1916–2005) m. James Wood

  • Charles Taylor Jr. (1919–1991)

  • William Taylor (1921–1995)

  • Mildred Taylor (1923–2008)

  • Warren E. Taylor, Sr. (1924–2010) m. Janet O. Taylor (1927–2013)

  • Esther Taylor (1926–2014) m. Henry Harris

  • Dorothy "Jessie" Taylor (1932–2024) m. Thomas Holleman

  • Morris R. Taylor m. Charlotte

  • Jasper H. Taylor m. Anna

  • Jay S. Taylor m. Aileen

  • Cora Taylor m. Roy Morgan

  • Euna T. Taylor m. Thompson

  • Dorris Taylor m. Harry Rodenhizer

Generation 4: The Next Generation

• Warren E. Taylor, Sr. (1924–2010) m. Janet O. Taylor (1927–2013)

  • Marshall R. Taylor

  • Warren E. Taylor Jr. m. Judy

  • Sandra M. Morey m. Richard

  • Victor M. Taylor m. Dee Dee

III. The Foundational Generations (1805–1918)

The family’s presence in McDowell County was established by Robert and Nancy Taylor, who settled in the Dysartsville district. Their son, George Mooney Taylor, expanded the farmstead, a success reflected in the 1870 Agricultural Schedule. A critical milestone was the 1878 Land Deed, which formalized the boundaries of the homestead that would later be identified in legal records as the "Jasper L. Taylor Property."¹

IV. Industrial Transition and the Marion Massacre (1929)

This era serves as the bridge between the agricultural "Homestead Era" and the industrial age. Charlie Marvin (C. M.) Taylor embodied the family’s transition from farming to the textile industry. Working as a skilled loom fixer at the Marion Manufacturing Company, he became a central figure in the labor movement of 1929.

In the late 1920s, textile workers were subjected to "stretch-outs" and shifts lasting up to 12 hours. In early 1929, workers began organizing under the United Textile Workers (UTW). C. M. Taylor was part of a specialized class of loom fixers essential to the mill's operation. When management fired union members in July 1929, it triggered a massive walkout.

The tension reached a breaking point on the morning of October 2, 1929. As strikers gathered at the mill gates, a confrontation began with McDowell County Sheriff Oscar Adkins and his deputies. Deputies fired tear gas and live ammunition into the crowd. Six workers were killed and twenty-five were wounded; historical records indicate most were shot in the back while retreating.² C. M. Taylor was among those arrested in the aftermath, a defining moment in the family's history that highlighted the resilience of the family during the Great Depression.³

V. The Mineral Era: Industrial Prospecting

Over time the family explored the potential for mineral wealth on the property. This era is physically preserved on the landscape today by distinct prospecting pits located on the 100-acre Jasper L. Taylor tract. These depressions measure approximately 3–6 feet deep and 6–10 feet in diameter, often accompanied by a nearby mound of earth, serving as a silent record of the family's industrial prospecting efforts.⁴

VI. Research Bibliography & Citations

I. Real Property & Land Tenure Records

Public records maintained by the McDowell County Register of Deeds, Marion, NC.

• 1878: Land Deed; Deed Book 13, Page 50 (George M. Taylor, Grantee). ¹

• 1893: Legal Adjudication; Deed Book 123, Page 48 (George M. Taylor vs. Parties).

• 1972: Conveyance of Undivided Interests; Deed Book 230, Pages 771, 772, and 946 (Heirs of C.M. Taylor to Warren E. Taylor, Sr.).

• 1973: Partition Deed; Deed Book 237, Page 30 (Leonard W. Taylor and Warren E. Taylor, Sr.).

• 2014: Access Easement; Deed Book 1124, Page 980 (LDMA-AU, Inc. to Taylor; PIN 1711-00-09-7756).

• 2014: Warranty Deed; Deed Book 1372, Page 874 (Warren E. Taylor Jr., et al., to Marshall R. Taylor).

II. Civil & Genealogical Records

Sourced via the North Carolina State Archives and National Archives (NARA).

• Federal Census Records:

  • 1870 U.S. Census, Agricultural Schedule: McDowell Co., NC; Page 3, Line 12. ¹

  • 1930 U.S. Census, Population Schedule: Marion Township, District 59-12, Sheet 14A. ³

• Vital Statistics:

  • Death Certificate (C.M. Taylor): NC State Board of Health. ³

  • Death Certificate (Martha Jane Dysart Taylor): NC State Board of Health. Local File No. 144, 1942.

III. Labor History & Academic Monographs

• Salmond, John A. Gastonia 1929: The Story of the Loray Mill Strike. ²

• Tippett, Tom. When Southern Labor Stirs. ³

• NC Historical Marker N-36 (Marion Strike). ³

IV. Oral History & Curated Collections

• Taylor Family Archive (Private): Field notes on "The Mineral Era" prospecting pits, measurements (3–6' depth, 6–10' diameter), recorded April 2026. ⁴

Appendix A: Nested Name Index

BRIGHT

• Thelma T., 4

DYSART

• Martha Jane (1867–1942), 4, 6, 9

EPLEY

• J.M. (1858–1935), 4

HARRIS

• Esther Taylor (1926–2014), 5

• Faye T., 4

• Henry, 5

• Rhoda Josephine (1870–1945), 4

HOLLEMAN

• Dorothy "Jessie" Taylor (1932–2024), 5

• Thomas, 5

LYTLE

• Dorothy T., 4

MOREY

• Richard, 5

• Sandra M., 5

MORGAN

• Cora Taylor, 5

• Roy, 5

PACE

• Para Maybelle (1885–1960), 4, 5

POTEAT

• Lillie Taylor (1905–1988), 5

REEL

• Charles, 4

• James W. "Jim" (1872–1948), 4

• Lona Mae, 4

• Minnie, 4

• Robert, 4

RODENHIZER

• Dorris Taylor, 5

• Harry, 5

SISK

• Bertha, 4

TAYLOR

• Anna, 5

• Burlin, 4

• Catherine S. (1895–1981), 4

• Charles Jr. (1919–1991), 5

• Charlie Marvin (C. M.) (1881–1952), 4, 5, 7, 9

• Charlotte, 5

• Cora (1894–1972), 4, 5

• Dee Dee, 5

• Emilia B. (1832–), 4

• Esther (1926–2014), 5

• George Mooney (1820–1898), 4, 6, 9

• Gladys (1912–1999), 5

• James T. (1889–1949), 4

• Janet O. (1927–2013), 5

• Jasper H., 5

• Jasper Lafayette (1850–1907), 4, 6, 8

• Jay S., 5

• Jonathan David (1823–1904), 4

• Judy, 5

• Lillie (1898–1985), 4, 5

• Marshall R., 5, 11

• Mary (1914–2002), 5

• Mildred (1923–2008), 5

• Minnie (1907–1992), 5

• Morris R., 5

• Nancy (1809–1889), 4, 6

• Newton Henry (1888–1973), 4

• Ralph N., 5

• Robert (1805–1885), 4, 6

• Robert (1910–1984), 5

• Robert D. (1847–1890), 4

• Ruth (1916–2005), 5

• Sarah (1852–1941), 4

• Susan (1855–1954), 4

• Victor M., 5

• Warren E. Jr., 5

• Warren E., Sr. (1924–2010), 5, 11

• William (1865–1959), 4

• William (1921–1995), 5

• Zeb V. (1892–1968), 4

TONEY

• Dorcas P. (1816–1894), 4

• George, 4

• Joseph P. (1865–1938), 4

• Martha, 4

• Sarah Taylor (1852–1941), 4

• Susannah (1856–1932), 4

WALKER

• Robert, 4

WATERS

• Olive Eaves Taylor (1826–1882), 4

WOOD

• James, 5

• Ruth Taylor (1916–2005), 5

Appendix B: Geographical Index

McDowell County, NC

• Dysartsville District: 6, 9

• Dysartsville Baptist Church Cemetery: 4, 6

• Drucilla Presbyterian Church: 16

• Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery: 16

• Marion (City): 7, 9

• Marion Manufacturing Company (Mill Site): 7

• McDowell County Register of Deeds: 9

• North Carolina Room (McDowell Public Library): 11

• South Muddy Creek (Homestead Site): 6, 9

• Taylor Prospecting Pits (Mineral Era): 8, 11

• Whiteside District: 4, 9

FEDERAL & STATE ARCHIVES

• National Archives (NARA): 9, 11

• North Carolina State Archives (Raleigh): 9, 11