HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG1447.AM: Elisha Taylor, 1851-1944
Correspondence: 1880-1882; 1941 and 1945
Blaine County and Broken Bow, Custer County, Nebraska: Homesteader, Rancher, Livestock Dealer, Insurance and Real Estate Agent
Size: Twelve items
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Elisha Taylor, son of Miner and Anna Taylor, was born in Green County, Wisconsin on December 20, 1851. After receiving an education at academies in Watertown and Broadhead, Wisconsin, Taylor spent some time teaching near his family home. Elisha Taylor came to Nebraska in 1880 and homesteaded in Blaine County where he began a cattle ranch on the Dismal River. In 1886, he moved to Custer County and continued ranching and dealing in livestock. He married Louise Hersinger Darr in 1888 and went on to have five children. Taylor continued ranching and dealing in livestock until 1900 when he entered the real estate, loan, and insurance business. At this time he moved to Broken Bow, where he resided until his death on February 6, 1944.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of twelve letters dating from 1880-1882, 1941 and 1945. Ten of the twelve letters were written by Elisha Taylor, newly arrived in Nebraska, to his sisters in Wisconsin. Taylor describes his primitive living conditions, the topography of the ranching land in Blaine and Custer Counties, and dances and social events attended. Convinced that his new home is ideal for ranching, “but is no farming country,” Taylor also mentions livestock purchased. Taylor’s cousin, Nellie Taylor Monroe, wrote a letter to commemorate Taylor’s 90th birthday in 1941. In this letter, Taylor’s cousin recalls him as a young man. A letter dating from 1945 from “Ray” to his cousins was probably written by Taylor’s nephew. Written to Taylor’s children, the writer recalls Taylor’s ranch in Blaine County and stories about Taylor.
Accession: 167
INVENTORY
Correspondence, 1880-1882, 1941 and 1945
Subject headings:
Blaine County (Neb.) — History
Cattle
Custer County (Neb.) — History
Livestock
Ranches — Nebraska
Taylor, Elisha, 1851-1944
AIP/ksa 06-1991
Revised TMM 05-09-2007
