TAYLOR, CHARLES H.

TAYLOR, WILKINS, WARD, BANKSON, ROSWELL

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/15/2003 at 20:24:26

Biography reproduced from page 670 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Charles H. Taylor, manager and secretary of the Algona Ice Cream & Candy Factory, was born December 25, 1872, in Algona, where he has ever made his home. His parents are Joel G. and Ellen May (Wilkins) Taylor. The father came to Kossuth county, Iowa, before his marriage, and here followed farming but some years ago took up his abode in Algona and is now president of the Algona Ice Cream & Candy Factory. Our subject was the first born in a family of four children, the others being: Edwin, who is the proprietor of a lumberyard at Curlew, Iowa; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of H. C. Ward, of Curlew; and Nettie, who gave her hand in marriage to J. R. Bankson, of Sioux City, Iowa.

Charles H. Taylor was educated in the common schools of Algona, later pursuing a normal course. He then followed the profession of school teaching, acting in the capacity of an instructor for six consecutive years. At the end of that period he entered the United States military service and for eleven months was quartermaster sergeant at Chickamauga Park, after which he taught one term of school. He next conducted a restaurant for C. H. Hudson, for six months, and in March, 1898, embarked in the manufacture of ice cream and candy. The capital stock of the corporation is ten thousand dollars, of which he holds fifty-two shares. This well known concern made thirty thousand gallons of ice cream in 1911 and did sixty thousand dollars worth of business that year. The excellence of its products and the promptness and business courtesy with which its orders are handled have made it a popular institution, with a constantly increasing business. Its products are sold not only by the dealers of Algona but by a large number of those in adjoining towns and cities. The concern was incorporated in March, 1911, with the following officers: Joel G. Taylor, president; J. T. Belmer, vice president; Charles H. Taylor, secretary and manager; E. E. Conner, treasurer; and E. A. Wolcott, director. Charles H. Taylor is also connected with various other enterprises of Algona in the capacity of a stockholder.

In 1900 Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Edith E. Roswell, whose home was near Bancroft, Iowa. One child, Grace E., now six years old, has been born to them. Both Charles H. Taylor and his father are republicans and have rendered their party efficient services, although they have not aspired to any of the lucrative places which have been within its power to bestow. His support is given to the Baptist congregation of Algona. He is a member of the local lodges of the Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Mystic Workers, and American Nobles, and both he and his wife belong to the Rebekahs. Mr. Taylor early began taking an active interest in all the meritorious enterprises of Algona and in social, educational and fraternal circles, as well as in the business life of his city, he has been an energetic, efficient and popular figure since boyhood. Not many of Algona’s sons have been more successful or have been able to render the city more valuable services than he. He is one of the popular young men of his home town and among its most valued citizens.

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