'Ole Taylor Trunks

A recent appeal to our Taylor cousins for tales about the old trunks that have been passed down through generations produced a few pictures and stories.  Undoubtedly, there are more out there.  Other stories can easily be added. 

If you have a family heirloom such as a trunk, or know someone who has one,  you understand the sense of  history that is felt when you look at it.  Just thinking about our ancestors who opened the trunk to add their keepsakes gives us a sense of connection.  Old trunks were not decorator pieces in days gone by!  Indeed, they were important storage places, or used as luggage to carry things from one  place to another.



Trunk belonging to
Pachie Taylor Stevens

The first Taylor trunk is one that belonged to Pachie Taylor Stevens, daughter of William Carroll & Sarah Sephronia Taylor.  It was passed down to Pachie's younger son, Verbon Stevens.  The family story is told that Pachie and her husband, John, along with their two sons traveled in a covered wagon from Winston County to Lawrence County, Tennessee about 1920 where they made their home. This trunk, no doubt, made that trip.






When Verbon brought the trunk home from his parent's home place, the condition of the trunk was very rough.  Years of use left it in a very tattered condition. Verbon took the trunk to a local antique dealer in his hometown to inquire about restoration.  The shop owner sent it away for "renewal." The expert restored the exterior of the trunk, while the interior was relined by Verbon and his wife. 



Interior tray of Pachie's trunk

Today the trunk is in the possession of Pachie's granddaughter.  As her grandmother did so many years ago, she also keeps special items in it. Her granddaughter continued her own mother's tradition of saving the newspaper on the day her two children were born.  Among other special things, those newspapers along with the one saved by her mother on the day of her own birth are tucked away inside the trunk for safe-keeping. 




Trunk belonging to
Newman Oliver Taylor

The second trunk, belonging to Newman Oliver Taylor son of Alonzo & Margaret Taylor, was passed down to Newman's son.  This dome trunk contains several interior compartments and a tray system, including a drop down compartment.   These were designed for hats, shirts and perhaps documents. 







Interior Compartments of Taylor trunk

The type of trunks that were built varied over the years.  There were steamer, domed-top, flat-top, Jenny Lind, Saratoga trunks, as well as others.  Antique trunks were originally used as luggage for trips.  Surely this trunk has traveled!






A trunk kept by Margaret Stephens Taylor, wife of Alonzo, held a host of newspaper clippings Margaret collected about Winston County World War II soldiers.  Neatly cut out of the newspaper, Margaret saved the articles about the men from Winston who were serving their country.  Many articles included the soldier's picture in military uniform.  In October 2012, these treasured clippings were given to the Winston County Archives in Double Springs, Alabama so that others could enjoy the history.  Margaret never knew how her commitment to the soldiers would be seen by others...over 60 years later.

Another treasured item kept in Margaret's trunk was the original record book of Liberty Grove Baptist Church in Winston County.  Margaret's husband, Alonzo, was the son of William Carroll Taylor--a founding member of the church.  As church clerk, Carroll kept and used the book.  He passed it down to his son, Alonzo. The book held the handwritten church records beginning in 1881 through about 1919.  The files have been preserved by the Samford University Manuscripts Department in Birmingham, Alabama.  The original book has been returned to Liberty Grove. 

Trunks are special family treasures...they represent a connection to the rich history of our family!

War Hero's Reward and Deadly Choices

At the 2012 Taylor Family Reunion held in Double Springs, Alabama, the following story was shared.  It is a tragic story--one that details the too-soon ending of a young Taylor man's life.

Charles Washington Taylor, the son of David Vernon and Gertrude (Roberts) Taylor, was born in Polk County, Georgia in July, 1922  Charles's grandfather, George Washington Taylor, was the son of Francis Marion Taylor (Sr.)  His grandfather's family lived in Cherokee County, Alabama--right across the state line from Polk County, Georgia.  When Charles was 14 years old, his family moved to Rome, Georgia where he lived most of his life.

In 1942, Charles answered the call of service to his country and enlisted in the United States Army.  He was Private First Class with the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division.  After his induction into the army, he trained at Fort Hancock, N.J., Camp Upton, N.Y., and Camp Pickett, Va. Charles' unit served in the European Theater during World War II.  He was stationed in England until the invasion of France.  His unit participated in the invasion at Normandy and landed on Omaha Beach on June 7, 1944.  The soldiers continued the hard-fought battle, pushing inland over the next several weeks until they reached St-Lo, France where Charles received his battle wounds.
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PFC Charles Washington
Taylor

On August 9, his mother received a telegram informing her of her son's serious injury during the war.  The telegram stated he was evacuated to a hospital. Charles was seriously wounded at St. Lo, France.  His leg, shredded by shrapnel, had to be amputated above the right knee. For his wounds, Charles was awarded a Purple Heart.  A monument was erected in the town of St-Lo in honor of the American sacrifices that were made to liberate France from German Nazi occupation.

Charles was discharged from the Army on March 27, 1946.  When he returned to Georgia, he was the first amputee awarded a free 1947 Oldsmobile automobile by the Veterans Administration in Floyd County.  This wonderful tribute to a soldier who had given so much during the war would lead to his tragic death when a deadly choice was made.

On November 24, 1948 Charles and three friends were riding in his new car on U. S. Highway 27 about four miles north of Cedartown, Georgia.  Charles was not driving--a friend was.  His friends told State Troopers that a few seconds before the accident, Charles commented..."You are going 90 miles an hour, hope you know what you're doing--do you think you can hold it?" About the time the last word left his mouth, the car hit the shoulder and skidded 78 yards, finally hitting a guard rail.  Charles was thrown from the car and hurled 27 yards.  He was killed instantly.  His three friends were unhurt.

The driver faced three charges by troopers--reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding.  Indeed, this was a deadly mixture that ended in the tragic death of a friend.  Three choices resulted in the death of a man that survived the dreadful battles in World War II.

Charles was buried at East View Cemetery in Rome, Georgia.  He was survived by his mother, Gertrude, and brother Joe.  Sadly, two years prior to his death, Charles' father, David Vernon Taylor, was killed while walking on a road when he was struck by a pickup truck. His death was ruled unavoidable by authorities.  Ironically, David was also a World War I and World War II veteran.

What was true in 1948 is still  true today.  Driving while drinking is deadly.  May we all remember the lesson.   Friends don't let friends drive while drinking.  Never.