TAYLOR, Alma and Cyrus (Fredonia, NY)

 

Alma & Cyrus Taylor

IDENTIFIED AS: "Alma E. Taylor & Cyrus B. Taylor, grandparents of Paul Taylor"

PHOTO TAKEN: unknown location (likely Fredonia NY), circa 1876

PURCHASED: April 2026, Green Olde Deal Antique Mall, Sevierville, TN

Although the back of the photograph has a label stating "Circa 1890 couple", it is evident this photo was taken well before that, as the woman's dress appears like one might see in the mid-late 1870s, and not 1890.

This couple was married in April 1876, when the bride was around 20 years old. This may very well be a photo taken on the day of that wedding, as the woman could easily be 20 in this image.

Cyrus Benajah Taylor was born 26 Aug 1850, in Hanover, Chatauqua County, New York to parents John Samuel Taylor (1823-1891) and Mary Jane Walters (1827-1864).

1880 Census > New York > Cattaraugus > Perrysburg

• TAYLOR, Cyrus B, wh, 29, Farmer, born in NY to VT & NY parents
• TAYLOR, Alma E., wh, 24, Keeping house, born in NY to NY parents

Cyrus died at the age of 41 when his son Walter was just 6 years old. I have not yet found the cause of his early passing. (The other man mentioned in the obit above is Alma's grandfather.)

Alma E. Wheeler was born 21 July 1856, in Hanover, Chatauqua County, New York to parents Dan Wheeler (1830-1900) and Mary A. Kirkland (1831-1915).

When Cyrus died, Alma and her son Walter returned to Fredonia suburb Pomfret and lived with her mother who was also a widow by the time of the 1900 Census.

1900 Census > New York > Chatauqua > Pomfret

• WHEELER, Mary, head, Jan 1831, 69yo, widow
• TAYLOR, Alma E., daughter, July 1856, 43yo, widow
• TAYLOR, Walter W., grandson, July 1885, 14yo single, at school

(click for larger)

Alma lived to age 77, passing on Dec 31 1933.

Her son Walter married Emma Gollnitz and they had two children. The first was an infant that died in 1913. The second was Paul Henry Taylor (1915-2013), who is the grandson of Cyrus mentioned on the back of the photo.