Person Record

Metadata

Name

Taylor, W. H.

Othernames

William Henry Taylor

Born

01/29/1863

Birthplace

Grey County, Canada West

Places of residence

Owen Sound, Grey County
Stratford, Ontario (for five years)

Father

Henry Taylor

Mother

Dorothy Taylor (neé ______ )

Nationality

Canadian

Education

Ontario College of Pharmacy, 1884-85

Notes

W. H. Taylor established his drugstore at Owen Sound, Grey County, c. 1890.

The drugstore in Owen Sound was located on Poulett St. (the main street). It was known as "The Palace Drugstore". He also did optometry work and was described as a "Refractionist" .

From the Owen Sound Advertiser of October 5, 1894:
"Mr. W. H. Taylor is the proprietor of the Palace Drug Store at Nos. 69 and 71 Poulett Street. He deals in general drug supplies, druggists' sundries, patent medicines, optical goods, artist's materials and seeds. He occupies the first and second floors of the fine brick building at the numbers mentioned. Mr. Taylor passed the examination as a pharmacist at the Ontario College of Pharmacy, season 1884-85, obtaining the chemistry gold medal of his year. He is a native of Owen Sound and is satisfied that his own town offers better advantages for building up a business than can be obtained elsewhere. Mr. Taylor for some years has made a study of refraction and three years ago took a course in optics in the City of New York and by doing has obtained a thoroughly practical knowledge of the fitting of spectacles to relieve eye strain. As the hundreds he fits from week to week testify, Mr. Taylor has become quite proficient in this undertaking. The above cut illustrates the front portion of the drugstore, the optical parlour being in the rear, where the most complete line of optical goods may be found, careful attention being paid to every department by the aid of two competent assistants. Mr. Taylor purchased his present business four years ago, it having been started originally by Mr. V.H. Chantler three years previous to that time. Mr. Taylor, however, did not begin as a stranger, he having lived here nearly all his life, with the exception of five years which he spent in Stratford following the same profession."

W.H. Taylor was listed in the 1895 Bell telephone directory of Owen Sound, as well as the 1906 one.

In the 1901 census, he was mentioned as William Henry Taylor, b. Jan. 29, 1863, age 38, Druggist. His wife Alberta was b. Nov. 26, 1867 (age 33). Their oldest child, Grayson S. Taylor, was b. April 22, 1893 (he was 7), their daughter Dorothy I. Taylor (also known as Dora) was b. March 22, 1896 (she was 5). The youngest daughter was Jean Taylor (b. June 11, 1899). Their grandmother "Jane Alexander" (b. Aug. 13, 1843) resided with them. The family resided at Russell Street North at that time (Russell St. became 12th St. East in 1909). They also had a domestic servant, Sarah McMillan (b. 1872).

Mrs. Taylor became very ill and anaemic, and passed away in 1909. Her mother was staying with them still and was able to help take care of the three children. At that time, the Taylors resided at 46 West Street. She was buried at Greenwood Cemetery.

In 1913, W. H. Taylor sold his drugstore business to Jury & Leslie.

In a 1917 directory he is not identified as having a drugstore anymore, but is listed as an Optician at 225 9th St. East. He was still there in a 1937 directory. A 1946 telephone directory doesn't list his name, but does list the "W. H. Taylor Optical Co."

Archival Items at Grey Roots:
Scrapbook 1974.049.003 has an image of the interior of W. H. Taylor's drugstore, c. 1894. There is also a reproduction of this image in the archival collection.