John C. Taylor Colfax County, New Mexico

John C. Taylor, a rancher, and discoverer of the Aztec Mineral Spring at Taylor, Colfax County, New Mexico, was born in Elgin. Illinois, June 15, 1854, son of James S. and Abigail (Colby) Taylor. At the age of seven years he moved with his parents from Illinois to Nebraska, where they made their home until 1866, when the family again started westward, Denver, Colorado, being their objective point. From Denver they went to Colorado Springs, where the father engaged in stock ranching. John C. remained in Colorado until 1880. That year he came to New Mexico and purchased the ranch on which he now lives, from the Maxwell Land Grant Company, and here he has since been in the cattle business. Since the discovery of the Aztec spring he has been giving some of his time to the water business, intending soon to devote his entire attention to it. Description of this spring will be found on another page of this work.

Mr. Taylor is a Republican. In 1900 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of county commissioner of Colfax County for a term of two years; was re-elected in 1902, and again in 1904, the last time for four years, the term of office having been extended to that length of time. A public-spirited citizen, with the best interests of the county at heart, as county commissioner he is the right man in the right place.

Fraternally Mr. Taylor is an Elk and a Knight of Pythias. He was initiated into the mysteries of the B. P. O. E. in Las Vegas Lodge No. 408, and is one of the charter members of the Elks organization at Raton. His membership in the K. of P. is at Springer. February 5, 1885, Mr. Taylor married Miss Ella Black, a native of Oakland, Cole County, Illinois. They have four children: Ethel, Jacob. Nellie and Ruby.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.

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