Calvin B. Taylor

Calvin Bowen Taylor
Born	Template:Birth date Trappe Creek Farm near Berlin, Maryland, U.S.
Died	May 31, 1932(1932-05-31) (aged 74)
Occupation(s)	Banker, politician, attorney, educator
Known for	Founder of Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company; Mayor of Berlin, Maryland; member of Maryland House of Delegates

Calvin Bowen Taylor (December 28, 1857 – May 31, 1932) was a multifaceted American figure known for his roles as a banker, politician, attorney, and educator. He contributed to local governance by serving on the Berlin, Maryland town council, held the office of mayor from 1914 until 1916, and completed two separate terms in the Maryland House of Delegates. Taylor established a banking enterprise that continues to operate in eastern Maryland and Delaware.

Early life and education

Calvin B. Taylor was born on December 28, 1857, at Trappe Creek Farm near Berlin, Maryland, to parents Arthur W. Taylor and Margaret Ellen Bowen Taylor. His early education included attendance at public schools and Old Buckingham Academy. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1882 and subsequently obtained a Master of Arts from Western Maryland College, now known as McDaniel College.

Career

Taylor initially pursued a career in education, teaching at Bishopville Academy before becoming the inaugural principal of Berlin High School (previously Buckingham Academy). While leading the school for six years, he studied law and gained admission to the bar around 1886 or 1887. He left his educational post in 1889 to focus entirely on legal practice.

In 1890, alongside his law partner Edward D. Martin, Taylor ventured into banking under the name Calvin B. Taylor, Banker. Following Martin's exit from the partnership, the firm was renamed Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company and formally incorporated in 1907 as the Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company of Berlin. This institution persists today as Taylor Bank, serving communities in Worcester County, Maryland, and Sussex County, Delaware. Additionally, Taylor held board positions at both the First National Bank in Snow Hill and the Bishopville Bank. Diversifying his business interests, he co-established Calvin B. Taylor & Co., an insurance firm with William L. Holloway that continues operations today as Smith, Cropper & Deeley Inc.

Capitalizing on his local influence, Taylor spent four years as a member of the Berlin Town Council before winning election to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1898 with the highest vote total among nine candidates. After completing one term, he returned for another stint between 1912 and 1913. He then served as Mayor of Berlin from 1914 through 1916 and was a longtime member of the Maryland Democratic State Central Committee for a quarter-century.

Throughout his career, Taylor balanced his legal work with executive leadership as president and chairman of the Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company until his passing on May 31, 1932. His final resting place is Buckingham Cemetery.

Personal life and family

While acting as principal at Berlin High School, Calvin B. Taylor married Martha "Mattie" Collins from Hannibal, Missouri on July 21, 1886. In September 1894, they acquired the property now recognized as the Calvin B. Taylor House. The couple had one son, Thomas Collins Taylor, who tragically died during infancy. Taylor was also a devoted member of Buckingham Presbyterian Church.

External links

• Calvin B. Taylor House Museum
• Taylor Bank History