Born 11 Dec. 1830 in Horsham, Sussex, England.[1] Son of George Edward Grove Taylor and Ann Wickes.[2] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Henry Beecroft, 11 Aug. 1848, at Hull, Yorkshire, England.[3] Served a mission in Lincolnshire, England, 1848–1851.[4] Emigrated to the U.S. aboard the ship Ellen, arriving in New Orleans 14 Mar. 1851.[5] Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley, arriving 6 Sept. 1852.[6] Married Louisa Rebecca Capener, 25 Sept. 1853, in Salt Lake City.[7] Participated in plural marriage.[8] Served as sexton of Salt Lake City, 1862–1864, and worked as an undertaker, by 1890.[9] Served a mission to Iowa, 1876.[10] Counselor in the presidency of the Salt Lake Stake, in which EBW lived, 1876–1904.[11] Representative in the Utah state legislature, 1897.[12] Frequent speaker at events attended by EBW.[13] Fundraiser for Latter-day Saint College; member of the board of trustees, 1901–1913.[14] Patriarch of the Ensign Stake, 1904–1913.[15] Died 18 Feb. 1913 at Salt Lake City.[16]
[1] “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. B, 1855–1857, p. 6, line 99, Joseph Edward Taylor, 24 Aug. 1855, microfilm 183404, DGS 5270327 (restricted access), FHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 17 Oct. 2019), Joseph Edward Taylor (KWCJ-8G7).
[2] “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. B, 1855–1857, p. 6, line 99, Joseph Edward Taylor, 24 Aug. 1855, microfilm 183404, DGS 5270327 (restricted access), FHL. Historian’s Office, Genealogical Record of Patriarchs, p. 129, CR 500 5 (restricted access), CHL. “J. E. Taylor, Pioneer of State, Dies,” Evening Telegram (Salt Lake City), 18 Feb. 1913, 12.
[3] “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. B, 1855–1857, p. 6, line 99, Joseph Edward Taylor, 24 Aug. 1855, microfilm 183404, DGS 5270327 (restricted access), FHL. Historian’s Office, Genealogical Record of Patriarchs, p. 129, CR 500 5 (restricted access), CHL. “Taylor, Joseph Edward,” in Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 1:295.
[4] “Taylor, Joseph Edward,” in Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 1:295. Joseph E. Taylor, “The Schoolmaster and his Pupils,” Improvement Era, Apr. 1913, 586.
[5] European Mission, Emigration Records, 1849–1885, 1899–1923, p. 104, Joseph E. Taylor, microfilm 25690, DGS 8087182, image 137/618, FHL. “Taylor, Joseph E.,” Saints by Sea (https://saintsbysea.lib.byu.edu/, accessed 18 Oct. 2019).
[6] “Joseph Edward Taylor,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/ accessed 21 Oct. 2019). Joseph E. Taylor, “The Schoolmaster and his Pupils,” Improvement Era, Apr. 1913, 586.
[7] “Married,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 15 Oct. 1853, 3.
[8] “Taylor and His Three Wives,” Salt Lake Times, 19 May 1890, 8.
[9] “Sexton’s Report,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 19 Oct. 1864, 18. Advertisement, Deseret Evening News, 10 Feb. 1890, 1.
[10] “Taylor, Joseph Edward,” in Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 1:295. Joseph E. Taylor, “The Schoolmaster and his Pupils,” Improvement Era, Apr. 1913, 586. “Joseph Edward Taylor,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/?land=eng, accessed 22 Oct. 2019).
[11] Joseph E. Taylor, “The Resurrection,” Deseret Weekly (Salt Lake City), 29 Dec. 1888, 19. Salt Lake Stake Presidency, Letter, to Elijah F. Sheets, 12 Dec. 1884, Salt Lake Stake Circular Letters, LR 604 30 folder 1, CHL. “Conditions of the Stakes of Zion,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 29 Aug. 1903, 15.
[12] Shipler’s Photography Studio, Utah’s Second State Legislature, PH 2714, CHL. “The Second State Legislature,” Salt Lake Herald, Supplement, 1897, p. 12, copy at CHL.
[13] EBW, Diary, 16 Feb. 1890 and 7 June 1896.
[14] “College Closing,” Deseret Weekly (Salt Lake City), 19 June 1897, 21–22. “Paul for President,” Salt Lake Herald, 29 July 1899, 5. “Salt Lake Notes,” Standard (Ogden, UT), 2 Nov. 1901, 3. “L. D. S. University Changes,” Salt Lake Tribune, 2 Nov. 1901, 3. “Grant Gives Scholarship,” Salt Lake Tribune, 23 July 1902, 5.
[15] Historian’s Office, Genealogical Record of Patriarchs, p. 129, CR 500 5 (restricted access), CHL.
[16] “Utah State Archives Indexes,” database and images, Utah State Archives (https://archives.utah.gov/, accessed 18 Oct. 2019); Utah Department of Health Office of Vital Records and Statistics Death Certificates, series 81448, file no. 257/460 (1913), Joseph Edward Taylor. “J. E. Taylor, Pioneer of State, Dies,” Evening Telegram (Salt Lake City), 18 Feb. 1913, 12. “Pioneer Settler Dies, Ends Church Work,” Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 19 Feb. 1913, 5. “Joseph E. Taylor Claimed by Death,” Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Feb. 1913, 7.