An American Family History

Ethel Edith Smith was born on August 20, 1894 in Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa. Her parents were Josiah Smith and Eliza Fox. The Wind in the Willow has some written memories of Ethel.

When the family moved to Minnesota, Ethel stayed in Red Oak and worked and lived in a boarding house. Afterthat she lived with her sister Bertha, in Wyoming for a year and met her future husband, Eil, there.

She married Joseph Eil Taylor on November 22, 1922 in Hot Springs, South Dakota. He was born April 20, 1884 in Arkansas. When he filled out his draft registration, his nearest relative was Joseph Taylor who lived in Norris, Coleman, Texas. He and his brother came from Texas and he drove a supply wagon for sheepherders.

After their marriage they ranched on his homestead in Arch Creek, east of Moorcroft, Crook County, Wyoming.

They had five children: Doris Dean Montegna, John Edward Taylor, Marjorie Ann Taylor, James Luther Taylor, and Ruth Louise McPhillips (Ruthie).

Maryon White wrote

The early years at the ranch were good ones. Plenty of rain, plenty of hard work and good results.  Twyla told of the fabulous gardens Ethel raised, their cellar house full of hams and slabs of bacon, and a very rosy future was anticipated . . . and then came the bad years!  grasshoppers, more drought, really bad times for everyone and the Taylors lost the ranch.

They moved to Moorcroft in 1939 and operated the Skelley Station. Ethel was always a cheerful and courageous person in spite of many family tragedies. In the thirties they lost their home and Marjorie Ann developed a malignant brain tumor and died as a young woman. In the forties, Eil died and later Jim died of a heart attack. Ruth developed multiple sclerosis and John lung cancer. Doris died of a cerebral hemorrhage. Ethel died on August 26, 1998.

Casper Star-Tribune
Ethel Taylor dies at 104
SUNDANCE-Services for Ethel Taylor, 104, will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian church in Moorcroft. Interment will follow at the Moorcroft Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Fidler-Roberts Funeral chapel in Sundance.

She died Aug. 26. 1998, at the Crook county Nursing Home in Sundance. She was born Aug. 20, 1894 in Chariton, Iowa, to Josiah A. and Eliza Fox Smith. She was the middle of nine children.

She resided in Red Oaks, Iowa, until 1922, when she moved to Wyoming. She married J. Eil Taylor of Moorcroft on Nov. 22, 1922 in Hot Springs. SD. After their marriage, they engaged in ranching on his homestead in the Arch Creek area east of Moorcroft for a number of years.They had five children.

They moved to Moorcroft in 1939 and operated the Skelley Station. After his death in 1949, she operated the station with her son until 1954. She moved to Sheridan and worked at the Sheridan Girls School until her retirement in 1959. After her retirement, she traveled to California, Washington, iowa and Wyoming helping whichever relative needed her help at the time.

She kept a home in Moorcroft and lived there off and on until December, 1988, when she entered the nursing home in Sundance.

She is survived by one son, John, of Lamar, Mo.; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, James Taylor, three daughters, Marjorie Taylor as a young girl, Doris Montegna and Ruth McPhillips; one grandson, one great-granddaughter and all eight of her brothers and sisters.

Arrangements are with Fidler-Roberts Funeral chapel.

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