| Notes |
- - From Goodspeed’s “History of Southeast Missouri”, published 1888:
- Robert L. Taylor, a prosperous farmer and merchant of Randol Township, Cape Girardeau County, is a native of Tennessee, born December 18, 1845, and is a son of Robert L. Taylor, Sr., and Nancy (Uhles) Taylor, both natives of Tennessee. The parents removed to Missouri in 1846, locating first on Cedar Creek, Wayne County. After about four years' residence there, Mr. Taylor removed to Cape Girardeau County, and purchased the farm upon which the subject of this sketch now resides.
At the time of the purchase by Mr. Taylor, the farm had but nine acres cleared, upon which was a little cabin. He cleared the land and made valuable improvements. The farm is six miles from Cape Girardeau, on the Egypt Mills road. Nine children were born to the parents, the mother of whom died about 1872. Mr. Taylor married the second time, by which marriage he had one child. He died at his home about 1875.
Robert L. Taylor, Jr., was reared on his father's farm and married January 30, 1868, Sarah Jane Davidson, a native of Cape Girardeau County, and a daughter of Eldridge Davidson [see sketch]. After his marriage Mr. Taylor located in the river bottoms, where he built a house and cleared considerable land, upon which he resided about nine years, when he bought out the other heirs and removed to the old homestead. He now has 265 acres of land, with about 160 acres under cultivation. His wife died on April 24, 1878, leaving one daughter, Mary L., now a young lady. Mr. Taylor was married again on December 25, 1879, choosing for his second wife Elizabeth Faust, daughter of John Faust, deceased. She is a native of Indiana, but was mostly reared in Cape Girardeau County. One child has blessed this union, Henry Cleveland. In July, 1887, Mr. Taylor engaged in the mercantile business at Egypt Mills, as a member of the firm of Taylor & Hempstead. They carry a nice line of general merchandise and command a good trade.
- Dr. Benjamin R. Hempstead was born in Randol Township, Cape Girardeau County, August 26, 1854, and is a son of Dr. John B. Hempstead, a native of New London, Conn. The latter came to Missouri when eighteen years of age with his father, Dr. John E. Hempstead, an Englishman by birth, who grew to maturity and studied his profession in his native country. After removing to Missouri in 1835 Dr. John B. studied medicine under the direction of his father. He married Margaret D. Thompson, a native of Cape Girardeau County, and a daughter of James Thompson. Dr. John B. practiced his profession in Cape Girardeau County, in the same vicinity that his father had practiced, until his death in 1864. His wife lived until 1877. Dr. Benjamin R. was reared at the home of his parents, and attended the Southeast Missouri Normal at Cape Girardeau, and had nearly completed the course when he had to leave school on account of failing health. He studied medicine under the direction of Dr. J. H. Rider, one of the leading physicians of Cape Girardeau. He entered the Missouri Medical College in 1878, graduating from that institution in the spring of 1880. After completing the course he returned to Egypt Mills, and began the practice of his profession, which he has continued with reasonable success, and now controls a good practice. In connection with his practice he is engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Taylor & Hempstead. They carry a stock of general merchandise, including drugs, hardware and farm implements. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic lodge at Cape Girardeau. Soon after engaging in the mercantile business he was appointed postmaster, which position he still holds.
- Eldridge G. Davidson, a farmer residing two miles north from Jackson, was born in Henry County, Tenn., on September 12, 1825. He is the son of Robert and Lucy (Brooks) Davidson, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Cape Girardeau County. After his marriage Mr. Davidson located in his native county, where he resided until about 1832, when he settled in Cape Girardeau County on a farm three miles north from Cape Girardeau, on which place he resided until his death about 1847. His wife died in the spring of 1846. Eldridge G. was the eldest of four children. On September 29, 1843, he was united in marriage with Francis D. Penn, daughter of Joseph Penn, of Tennessee. She was born in Lincoln County, Tenn. After their marriage Mr. Davidson cultivated the home farm until the spring of 1866. He then conducted a woodyard and warehouse on the river above Cape Girardeau. In 1881 he came to the farm where he resides at present, and remained a year and a half, then returned to the old place. In February, 1887, he came back to his present farm, consisting of 154 acres, of which 120 acres are in cultivation. They have had five children, as follows: Lucy A. (Mrs. William Taylor), Mary A. (widow of H. C. Ancel), William G., Sarah J. (Mrs. Robert Taylor, deceased), and Ellen Ann (deceased).
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1845 - 1940 (94 years)
