HAWKINS TAYLOR, one of the earliest pioneer lawmakers of Iowa, was born in Barren County, Kentucky, November 11, 1811. He came to the “Black Hawk Purchase” in 1836 and located at West Point in Lee County. When the Territory of Iowa was created in 1838 Mr. Taylor was elected to the House of the First Legislative Assembly. He was one of the leaders in driving the Mormons from the city of Nauvoo and arrested Hyram, the brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith. In 1857 Mr. Taylor was mayor of the city of Keokuk. In 1860 he was a delegate to the National Republican Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for President. In 1863 he was appointed Post-Office Inspector of Kansas where he served two years. In 1868 he removed to Washington, D. C., which became his home. He was a frequent contributor to the historical publications of Iowa, having an intimate knowledge of men and events of the early pioneer period. He died on the 15th of November, 1893.
WILLIAM H. TEDFORD, was born in Blount County, Tennessee, November 8, 1844. The family removed to Iowa in 1851, locating on a farm where the young man acquired his education. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in Company F, Eleventh Iowa Volunteers, serving in the army four years and taking part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta and Sherman's march to the sea with its numerous minor engagements. After his return from the war Mr. Tedford entered the State University, graduating from the Law Department. In 1869 he began to practice at Corydon, where he has since resided. In 1884 he was chosen on the Republican ticket one of the presidential electors. He was elected judge of the Third Judicial District and was reëlected in 1894 and 1898.
JOHN TEESDALE, one of the early and notable journalists of Iowa, was born in York, England, November 25, 1816. His father emigrated to America when the son was but two years old, locating at Philadelphia. When John was twelve years of age he entered a printing office and learned the trade. When a young man he went to Wheeling, Virginia, and became editor of the Wheeling Gazette. He was afterwards editor of the Times. For seven years he had editorial charge of the Ohio Standard. In 1843 he removed to Columbus and became editor of the Ohio State Journal which he conducted for five years. He served as private secretary to Governor Bartley and in 1848 purchased the Akron Beacon which he published eight years. In 1856 he removed to Iowa City, purchased the Iowa City Republican and was elected State Printer. When the Capital was removed to Des Moines in 1857, Mr. Teesdale made that city his home and purchased the Citizen. Soon after he changed the name to the Iowa State Register and converted it into a daily. He was an able editor and a radical antislavery man. His paper became the leading Republican paper of the new party in that State. Mr. Teesdale was a friend of John
