In the 1830s settlers began arriving in Iowa from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia. Iowa became a state in 1846.
Sarah Branstiter Taylor was born on May 28, 1827 in German Township, Clark County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Daniel Branstiter and Elizabeth Baker.
She married Jacob Taylor in 1845 when she was eighteen years old. Their children and life together are described in the section on the Jacob and Sarah Taylor family.
She was left a widow when Jacob died in 1884.
Sarah appeared in the 1900 census when she was 72 years old. She was living in the East Half of Lincoln in Warren County, Iowa with her son Jacob Taylor and daughter Sarah Burgett. She was a carpet weaver. The census indicated that she had given birth to ten children, seven of whom were living. She lived next door to her granddaughter Sarah Alice (Allie) Stringfield Schooler.
At the time of the 1900 census, Sarah was living with her daughters, Louisa Long, Leathy Gilman and Sarah Jane Burgett in Lincoln Township in the Village of Summerset, Warren County, Iowa. Her cousin, Rebecca Ellen Branstiter Welty, who was her father’s brother John Branstetter’s daughter also lived in Warren County.
At the time of the 1910 census Sarah was with three of her daughters in Lincoln Township, Warren County, Iowa. The household consisted of Leathy A. Gilman age 59, Sarah Taylor age 82, Sarah Jane Burgett age 51 and Louisa Long age 61.
Sarah died at the age of 85 on November 13, 1912 in Pilot Mound, Boone County, Iowa at the home of her daughter Mary Campbell. She is buried in Pilot Mound Cemetery with Mary.
Clark County, Ohio was formed March 1, 1817, from Champaign, Madison and Greene Counties. The first settlement was in 1796. The inhabitants of German Township were German Lutherans who came from Virginia.
Sarah Bransted was born in Shelby county [sic], Ohio, May 28, 1827. She died at Pilot Mound Iowa, November 13, 1912, aged 85 years, 5 months and 10 days.
She was united in marriage to Jacob Taylor in 1844. She came to McLane [sic] county, Illinois in 1865. Coming to Iowa in 1875, settling in Warren county near Somerset, which was her home until her death. Mr. Taylor died in 1884. She was the mother of five sons and five daughters, four having preceded her to the other world. Those remaining to mourn her death are Daniel Taylor of Pilot Mound, Iowa, Mrs. L.A. Gilman, Somerset, Iowa. Mary E. Campbell, Pilot Mound, Iowa, Sarah Burget, Clarinda, Iowa; Jacob Taylor, Spokane, Washington, Abraham Taylor at Alteopa, Washington.
She united with the Christian church at Carlisle, Iowa in 1872. Mrs. Taylor has been an invalid for over two years. She was brought to her daughter, Mrs. Campbell about two months ago where she passed away. The funeral was held Friday at 2:00 o’clock from the M.E. church, Rev. J. O. Howard conducting the services. Interment in the Pilot Mound Cemetery.
Buildings in Clark County, Ohio ranged from simple log cabins to sophisticated Italianate and Gothic Revival structures.
Yesterday morning Mrs. Sarah Taylor died at the home of her daughter Mrs. D.C. Campbell, east of town. Death was due to old age and a complication of diseases. She formerly lived at Summerville, Iowa, but has been making her home with her daughter for the past few months. She was the mother of Dan Taylor of this place and John Taylor who formerly lived here, but now lives in South Dakota.
Sarah Branstiter Taylor’s
Tombstone in Pilot Mound Cemetery Photo courtesy of D. Kennedy
