Captain John Taylor Was One-Time Writer For Daily Signal

Golden Anniversary Edition of the Crowley Daily Signal Pub. 1949, page 32

Captain John M. Taylor, veteran soldier, educator, and writer, was born in Richland, Holmes County, Mississippi, Oct 31, 1839 of English parents, Dr. Job Taylor and Matilda Cotton Taylor, who had come from Corolina. He attended Franklin College at Rusk, Texas, and the Marshall, Texas Military School where he graduated in 1860.

He enlisted under the Confederate service as a member of the "Marshall Guards" in 1861 prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. These famed "Guards" surrendered with General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox with only a few survivors. Captain Taylor participated in the battles of Second Manassas, Seven Pines and others. He served later with the First Texas Rangers under Colonel W. P. Lane, serving as captain and at post duty the last six months of the war at Opelousas. Following the war he turned to journalism and teaching. During Governor Nicholls' first administration he was elected superintendent of instruction for St. Landry Parish which thenincluded what is now Acadia Parish.

He was active in later years as correspondent for the Daily Signal and was married in January, 1865, to Delia Garrigues, daughter of Judge Garrigues and Delia Webb Garrigues of Opelousas and to this union were born the following children: George Taylor, Delia Mary Taylor (Clark), John M. Taylor, Jr., Helen Taylor (Dupre), Leso Taylor (McKnight), Henry Taylor, Cecilia Taylor (Fremaux), Paul Taylor, and Mary Lou Taylor (Cox). The mother died in 1887.

When he died on June 18, 1928, honorary guard were several Civil War veterans who served by his side in the conflict; Homer J.; Daigle, Victor Ramoin, James and Henry Cachere.

Captain John M. Taylor