Father Chauncey Taylor
Father Chauncey Taylor
"Another comfortable and well built cabin was built in the summer of '56 by Father Taylor. Here he lived, and from here, like the Master whom it was his delight to serve, he went about doing good, He gave time, money and comfort to the people among whom he had cast his lot." Emma Heckart
When Chauncey Taylor came to "Call's Grove" in April 19, 1856. There were only two homes/cabins in the town of Algona. One cabin belonged to a man named J.W. Moore. Father Taylor, as he was called, was a Congregationalist minister and the day after he arrived in Algona he conducted the first church services right there in Mr. Moore's cabin. Twenty-five people were in attendance. Father Taylor then stayed on with J.W, Moore and six other men in Moore's small until his own cabin could be built.
Father Taylor's wife, son and daughter joined him in June of 1856. They moved into a cabin of therir own. Father Taylor continued to conduct church services in cabins around the area. In 1857 a town hall was built so that the settlers would have a place to have dances, church services, conventions etc. Father Taylor was instrumental in getting the Town Hall built and he kept the key to the building. Anyone wanting to use the building would have to get the key from him. The young people in town would try to trick Father Taylor into opening the building s they could have dances. Father Taylor oversaw the building of the first (and now oldest) church in Algona -the First Congregational Church.
According to Florence Call Cowles, Father Tayor was a "deeply religious man with a thorough classic education. He had a kindly spirit, an abundance of tact and a keen sense of humor, appreciated by the rugged practical men of the settlement."
When Chauncey Taylor came to "Call's Grove" in April 19, 1856. There were only two homes/cabins in the town of Algona. One cabin belonged to a man named J.W. Moore. Father Taylor, as he was called, was a Congregationalist minister and the day after he arrived in Algona he conducted the first church services right there in Mr. Moore's cabin. Twenty-five people were in attendance. Father Taylor then stayed on with J.W, Moore and six other men in Moore's small until his own cabin could be built.
Father Taylor's wife, son and daughter joined him in June of 1856. They moved into a cabin of therir own. Father Taylor continued to conduct church services in cabins around the area. In 1857 a town hall was built so that the settlers would have a place to have dances, church services, conventions etc. Father Taylor was instrumental in getting the Town Hall built and he kept the key to the building. Anyone wanting to use the building would have to get the key from him. The young people in town would try to trick Father Taylor into opening the building s they could have dances. Father Taylor oversaw the building of the first (and now oldest) church in Algona -the First Congregational Church.
According to Florence Call Cowles, Father Tayor was a "deeply religious man with a thorough classic education. He had a kindly spirit, an abundance of tact and a keen sense of humor, appreciated by the rugged practical men of the settlement."
Listen to Effie Rickard Robinson's thoughts about Father Taylor.
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