Daniel Gilman Taylor

Born: December 6, 1819
Died: November 16, 1878
Occupation: Merchant, civic leader, politician
City: St. Louis
Office: Mayor of St. Louis (Civil War era, 1860–1861)

Taylor, Daniel Gilman , mayor of St. Louis during the years 1861-2, and for many years prominently identified with the river and other interests of the city, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1819, and died in this city in 1878. His father was James Taylor, and his mother was a Miss McLean before her marriage. Both were natives of Scotland, who came to this country about the year 1810, and both were orthodox Scotch Presbyterians, who looked carefully after the religious training of their son during the earliest years of his life. 

His educational advantages were limited to a somewhat irregular attendance at the public schools until he was old enough to begin earning his own living. While still very young he found employment in various capacities on Ohio and Mississippi River steam-boats, and may be said to have grown up in that business. In due course of time he became master of a boat, and while filling that position had many of the interesting and thrilling experiences of the old-time river captains, and a fair share also of the favors showered upon them by fortune during the golden period of "steamboating" on Western rivers.

He was master of the steamer "Clermont," which, in 1845, went up the Yellowstone River on a trading expedition under the auspices of Pierre Chouteau and his associates, who had succeeded to the business of the American Fur Company in St. Louis and throughout the vast region which the fur traders had made tributary to this city.

The "Clermont" was probably the first large steamboat which ever navigated the Yellowstone River, and its voyage on this occasion marked an epoch in the history of Western navigation. Captain Taylor continued to be identified with the river interests as master of a boat until 1849, in which year he left the river to engage in a kindred business in St. Louis, where he had previously established his home.

He had just completed the purchase of the ship-chandlery business of Shaw & Zuntz when the great fire of 1849 swept away his newly acquired possesions, and seriously crippled him financially, as a result of his having no insurance on his goods. He then established the steamboat agency of Taylor & Hopkins, and some time later became also head of the wholesale liquor house of Taylor & Horrington.

From that time until 1861 he was prominent in the wholesale trade of the city, and at the same time was interested to a considerable extent in steamboats and steamboat securities, retaining. through these investments, his connection with the river interests to the end of his life. 

Public duties engrossed a considerable share of his connection with the river interests to the end of his life. Public duties engrossed a considerable share of his attention after 1861, and the private business to which he gave most of his time was that of the Real Estate Saving Institution, of which he was president. From the time he became a resident of St. Louis until the end of his  life he took an active interest in the government of the city and the conduce of municipal affairs, and served as a member of the city council in 1852. In 1861 he was elected mayor of the city.entering upon his term of service at a most critical period in the history of the city, when the municipality was torn by the dissensions of the Civil War, threatened with invasion from without, and by turbulent elements within.

The responsibility for putting the city on a war footing, adjusting its financial affairs to the new order of things and preserving its credit devolved largely upon the mayor during this period-trusts which were faithfully and ably executed by Mr. Taylor. At a later date he was elected city treasurer of St. Louis, and rendered valuable services to the city as its chief financial officer. He was always a Democrat in his political affiliations, and believed fully and firmly in the principles of his party, but as a public official he was the impartial servant of the people, performing all his duties faithfully and conscientiously, without regard for partisan considerations.

His religious affiliations were with the Roman Catholic Church, into which he was baptized shortly before his death. Mr. Taylor was twice married-first, to Miss Angelique Henrie, whose early home was at Prairie du Rocher, Illinois.

Accompanied by his wife and two children, Mr. Taylor was aboard the steamboat "Crossman" when it blew up on the Mississippi River, in the spring of 1858. Mrs. Taylor and one of the children lost their lives in this disaster, Mr. Taylor and the other child escaping unhurt. In 1860 he married for his second wife Miss Emilie Lebeau, a daughter of Chauvin V. Lebeau, of St. Louis. Mrs. Taylor survived her husband, dying in this city six years later. His surviving children are: Zoe Taylor, born of his first marriage, and now Mrs. Walter B. Hill, of San Jose, California; Angelique Taylor, Grace Taylor and Daniel G. 'Taylor, Jr., born of his second marriage. His son is a resident of St. Louis, and a well known member of the bar of this city. Encyclopedia of the History of St. Louis.