Wikipedia

Edmund Dick Taylor

Colonel Edmund Dick Taylor (October 18, 1804 – December 4, 1891) was an American businessman, politician, and soldier from Illinois. He is remembered as the first person to suggest that the United States should issue paper currency ("greenbacks") during the American Civil War.

Edmund Dick Taylor
"Father of the Greenback"
U.S. Receiver of Public Moneys
at Chicago
In office
1835–1839
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byEli S. Prescott
Member of the
Illinois State Senate
In office
1834–1835
Succeeded byJob Fletcher
Member of the
Illinois House of Representatives
In office
1832–1834
1830–1832
Personal details
BornOctober 18, 1804
Lunenburg County, Virginia
DiedDecember 4, 1891
Chicago, Illinois
Resting placeOak Ridge Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMargaret Taylor
ChildrenJohn Taylor,
Charles Taylor,
William W. Taylor,
Elizabeth J. Taylor,
Ella F. Taylor,
Margaret Taylor,
and others.
OccupationEntrepreneur
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States, Illinois Militia
Battles/warsBlack Hawk War
Winnebago War

Early life

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He was born Edmund Richard Taylor in Lunenburg County, Virginia, son of Giles Y Taylor (1766–1830) and Francine "Sina" Stokes. In later years, he preferred to use his middle name rather than his first name, and used in its short form. Thus he became known as "Dick" Taylor, and his middle initial was written "D" in formal documents.

In the fall of 1823, he began general merchandising with Colonel John Taylor in Springfield, Illinois. On 18 September 1829, he married Margaret Taylor (born 28 December 1813 in Kentucky), the daughter of Col. John Taylor and Elizabeth (Burkhead) Taylor.[1]

Politics

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In 1830, he was elected to the Illinois State Legislature, representing Sangamon County. In 1832 he was re-elected, defeating several challengers including Abraham Lincoln. Taylor and Achilles Morris[2] were the only men to defeat Lincoln in a direct election.[3] In 1834 he was elected to the Illinois Senate from Sangamon County.[4]

In 1835, he was appointed by President Andrew Jackson as Receiver of Public Moneys in Chicago, where he was in charge of substantial sales of federal land. After holding this position for four years, he returned to the private sector. He continued to play a leading role in Democratic Party politics in Illinois.[5]

Business career

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Illinois coal mines

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Taylor was a pioneer of the coal industry in Illinois. In 1823 he took an interest in coal and opened the West End Shaft, also known as West End Coal Mine.[6][7]

In 1856, he sank a shaft in LaSalle County, Illinois, operating as the Northern Illinois Coal and Iron Company. He also owned other mines in that area.[8]

On 18 February 1863, at a convention in Chicago of the coal operators in Illinois, Edmund was appointed Chairman.[9]

Internal improvements

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Taylor played an important role in Illinois in promoting and bringing about "internal improvements" (canals, railroads, and other transportation infrastructure). General Usher F. Linder stated "If any man deserves more credit than another for the completion of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, it is Col. Edmund D. Taylor."[10]

When the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad was incorporated on 16 January 1836, Taylor was appointed commissioner and director.[11]

On 18 January 1837, at Russell's Saloon in Chicago, supporters of internal improvements held a mass meeting. William H. Brown was called to the chair and William Stuart appointed Secretary, Francis Payton stated the objects of the meeting. A committee of five was appointed namely: Edmund D. Taylor, Captain J. B. F. Russell, Francis Payton, John H. Kinzie, and Joseph N. Balestier. The meeting declared in favor of the immediate construction of the Illinois Central Railroad and general system of improvement.[12]

Chicago Merchants' Exchange

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On 5 February 1857, the Chicago Merchants' Exchange company was incorporated by: Edmund D. Taylor, Thomas Hall, George Armour, James Peck, John P. Chapin, Walter S. Gurnee, Edward Kendall Rogers, Thomas Richmond, Julian Sidney Rumsey, Samuel B. Pomeroy, Elisha Wadsworth, Walter Loomis Newberry, Hiram Wheeler and George Steele.[13]

Bankruptcy

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Taylor was ruined by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed 14 stores owned by him. He had insurance, but it was with Chicago firms that were overwhelmed by the disaster.

Appeal to Congress

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During the Civil War, Taylor had spent considerable sums from his own pocket for travel on government business and in raising and equipping Union troops. At the time, he asked for no reimbursement. But in 1887, he applied to Congress to be repaid $15,000 of his expenses. Taylor retained considerable standing in Chicago's business community. His petition included a supporting memorial signed by 56 prominent men of Chicago and Illinois. Taylor's petition was considered by the Committee on War Claims, but it was rejected for want of documentation.[14] Taylor renewed his petition in 1890, but it was again rejected.[15]

Father of the Greenback

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By late 1861, it was clear that the Civil War was going to be much more costly than anyone had expected, and that the Union would have to raise or find or borrow vast amounts of money. Taylor had the idea that the Union could pay its expenses with newly created money in the form of paper currency ("greenbacks"). In 1861, Taylor mentioned his idea for greenbacks at General Grant's headquarters in Cairo, Illinois.

On 16 January 1862, Taylor met privately with President Abraham Lincoln at his request. Taylor suggested the issuance of treasury notes bearing no interest and printed on the best banking paper. Taylor said "Just get Congress to pass a bill authorizing the printing of full legal tender treasury notes... and pay your soldiers with them and go ahead and win your war with them also. If you make them full legal tender... they will have the full sanction of the government and be just as good as any money; as Congress is given the express right by the Constitution."[16]

In a letter dated 16 December 1864, the President named Col. Edmund D. Taylor as "the father of the present greenback".[17][18]

Taylor cited his suggestion of the greenback in his 1887 petition to Congress. He included the 1864 letter from Lincoln.[14] In February 1888, he added a recent letter from General John McClernand, who had been at Cairo at the time, and confirmed Taylor's account.[14]

Educational institutions

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Taylor was a patron of many educational institutions.

In 1837, he was on the Board of Trustees for Rush Medical College.[19]

In 1857, he was one of the Founding Board of Trustees for the Old University of Chicago.[20]

  •  
    The Old University of Chicago

Military service

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Taylor had several tours of military service.

During the Winnebago War of 1827, he enlisted as a private in Captain Bowling Green's Company of the militia on 20 July 1827, and was honorably discharged 27 August.[21]

During the Black Hawk War of 1831, he was commissioned as a colonel in the state militia on 13 June by governor John Reynolds. He was also Aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Joseph Duncan of the Brigade of Mounted Volunteers, in service of the United States.[21][22]

During the Civil War, Taylor was again commissioned a colonel. He did not serve in the field, but was employed very extensively by President Lincoln as a confidential messenger.[14]

Family

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On 18 September 1829 in Illinois, Edmund Richard "Dick" Taylor married Margaret Taylor (b. 28 December 1813 in Kentucky), the daughter of his business partner Col. John Taylor and Elizabeth Burkhead.[1] Their offspring were:

  • Giles Y Taylor (1833–1852) married. His son Giles Young Taylor married 16 March 1886 in Dupage County, Illinois,[23] to Ella May Downing;
  • Elizabeth Taylor (1834–1915);
  • Hannah T Taylor (b. 1836);[24]
  • Samuel F Taylor (1836–1876);
  • Margaret A Taylor (25 Nov 1838 in Cook County, Illinois – 9 Feb 1922),[25][26] married B. F. Beebe;[27]
  • John Taylor (b. 1843 in Illinois);
  • Charles T. Taylor (17 October 1844 in Springfield, Illinois – 3 August 1905), industrialist, married Pelagie Ewing (18 November 1846 – 28 December 1920), sister of William L. Ewing;
  • Dick Taylor (b. 1846 in Indiana);
  • William W Taylor (1853–1911), General Superintendent of St. Paul Coal Company,[28] married in Illinois to Jennie Margaret Mills (25 Nov 1853 in La Salle County, Illinois – 25 April 1936);[25][29] and
  • Ella Francine Taylor (1857–1938), married 6 November 1878 in La Salle County, Illinois,[23] to Isaac Whitson Rogers.

Death

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Taylor died in Chicago, Illinois, on December 4, 1891.

References

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  1. ^ a b Power, John Carroll (Sep 15, 1876). "History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois: "centennial Record"". E. A. Wilson & Company. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Lincoln, Abraham. "Achilles Morris". Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  3. ^ Power, John Carroll (1876). "History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois". Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via books.google.com.
  4. ^ State, Illinois Office of Secretary of (Sep 15, 1919). "Blue Book of the State of Illinois". Phillips bros., state printers. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Bateman, Newton; Selby, Paul; McLean, Alexander (Sep 15, 1907). "Historical encyclopedia of Illinois". Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ Hoffman, Urias John (Sep 15, 1906). History of La Salle County, Illinois. S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. ISBN 9780608358659. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill ) (Sep 15, 1881). "History of Sangamon County, Illinois; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships ... portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens. History of Illinois ." Chicago : Inter-state Pub. Co. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Geologist, Illinois State (Sep 15, 1882). "Economical Geology of Illinois: Reprinted from the Original Reports of the Geological Survey, with Additions and Emendations". H. W. Rokker, state printer and binder. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "The Illinois Farmer". Bailhache & Baker. Sep 15, 1863. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Linder, Usher F. (Sep 15, 1879). "Reminiscences of the Early Bench and Bar of Illinois". Chicago Legal News Company. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Company, Chicago and North Western Railway (Sep 15, 1905). "Yesterday and To-day: A History". Press of Rand, McNally. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ "Railway Locomotives and Cars". Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. Sep 15, 1838. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ Goodspeed, Weston Arthur (1909). History of Cook County, Illinois--. Goodspeed historical association. ISBN 9780608368931. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via books.google.com.
  14. ^ a b c d "Congressional Serial Set". 1888. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via books.google.com.
  15. ^ "Serial set (no.0-3099)". Sep 15, 1891. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ Brown, Ellen (April 8, 2009). "Revive Lincoln's Monetary Policy". webofdebt.com. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  17. ^ Lincoln, Abraham (1890). "Abraham Lincoln's Pen and Voice". Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via books.google.com.
  18. ^ Walsh, William Shepard (Sep 15, 1892). Handy-book of Literary Curiosities. J.B. Lippincott Company. ISBN 9780742641525. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ "Fergus' Historical Series". 1884. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via books.google.com.
  20. ^ "Annual Catalogue". 1874. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via books.google.com.
  21. ^ a b "The Black Hawk War, 1831-1832 : v. II, letters and papers; part I, April 30, 1831-June 23, 1832". Springfield : Illinois State Historical Library. Sep 15, 1973. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  22. ^ "The Black Hawk War, 1831-1832". Springfield, Ill. : Illinois State Historical Library. Sep 15, 1970. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  23. ^ a b Illinois State Marriage Records. Online index. Illinois State Public Record Offices.
  24. ^ Year: 1850; Census Place: Michigan City, La Porte, Indiana; Roll: M432_157; Page: 286A; Image: 576. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  25. ^ a b Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916–1947.
  26. ^ Year: 1910; Census Place: Wyoming, Lee, Illinois; Roll: T624_302; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0063; FHL microfilm: 1374315. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  27. ^ Year: 1870; Census Place: Chicago Ward 12, Cook, Illinois; Roll: M593_206; Page: 291B; Image: 384483; Family History Library Film: 545705. 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
  28. ^ "Early Days I". www.vil.mark.il.us. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
  29. ^ Year: 1880; Census Place: La Salle, La Salle, Illinois; Roll: 223; Family History Film: 1254223; Page: 279A; Enumeration District: 068; Image: 0079. Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
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