b. 1890 Charleston, South Carolina
d. 1948 Detroit, Michigan
This handsome young man,Edward was born to John L. Taylor and Cordelia Reeder in 1890 in Charleston, South Carolina. Edward completed his third year of High School. His first recorded job was a Acid Phosphate Mill worker. The Bennett Mill He was a educated young man, and would more than likely have been a trust worthy person, to have held such a position for a young man of color.56. West Point Rice Mill
1900 census record
In 1900, Edward Taylor, was 11 years old and living in Charleston, Sc. on Maverick St. with his father, mother, 3 brothers and 2 sisters.
1910 census record
In 1910, Edward is still living on Maverick St. in Charleston, Sc with his Parents, 3 Brothers and now 5 Sisters.
- Father~John L. Taylor
- Mother~Cordelia Reeder
- John
- William
- Robert
- Ethel
- Hermea
- Cordelia
- May
- Earnest
1914 Charleston, South Carolina. City Directory
Here Edward is recorded along with is wife Hattie. His occupation is recorded as a carpenter, and appears to be living on 8 Jasper St. Give this address a quick Google search, and you'll see the lovely home still standing, a bit over grown, but use your imagination and go back a hundred years earlier, and Wow, what a fine house for that time, and in a colored community.
United States World War 1 Draft Reg.Card
I really enjoyed this draft card, because it gives so much information, to start of with he was 28 years of age during the draft, clearly gives his date of birth, and fun bit of information his coloring, a natural brown, and even his own signature!!! Please notice a few other facts where he was working at the time and a description of him, even.
1920 record census
In 1920 Edward Taylor was 29 years old living in Charleston, Sc. with his wife Hattie and 2 daughters, Harriett & Alethea. Edward is still living on Maverick street and only three houses down from his parents and two of his siblings, Earnest & May. The 1920 census enumerator has mistakenly put Cordelia as[Delia]. Delia may have been a nickname,though.1930 census record
In This 1930 census you'll notice the young family appears to have moved from Maverick St. Charleston, South Carolina to Jacob St. Hamtramck, Michigan. The move must have been sometime after 1920. I really need to look more into that, and see if I can discover the (why?)for the move. Also this is the first time my Father Ralph Bennett Taylor appears on a census.
There are a few noticeable mistakes, In this census. 1st The enumerator has mistakenly misspelled the name Taylor [tylor] and also put Harriett as a [male].
Can you imagine the risk and worry this 40 year old husband and father must have went through leaving the only area he has ever really known. Adventuring out for an unknown finical future and what appears to be a place that holds some new dreams and possibly family independence.
He appears to be unemployed at this time, but his line of work is (labor) Auto Factory worker. During this time the population of Hamtramck rapidly increased from 3,500 to almost 48,000. By the mid-1920s,the factory workers made up 85% of the Hamtramck's head of households. Of those factory workers, half were not skilled for the job. The newly founded Dodge Main assembly plant created many jobs;however, Edward was having difficulty during that time. At some point I'll explore the reasoning he was unemployed for that period of time.But for now, It seems he was out of his element and did not have seniority. It would be difficult to leave an area that he may very well have had vast connections in his mulatto community.
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| Dodge Main 1930's |
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| Dodge late 1920's~early 30's model |
Father~Edward Taylor
Mother~Hattie Taylor
Harriett
Alethea
Edward
Ralph
1940 census record
