SWEDISH COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS

TAYLOR

(Severin)

Biographies Alf. L. Scott and T. J. Westerberg

Taylor, located in the eastern part of Williamson County, a community which we can say, borders in the north to Circleville, in the south to the Brushy River, in the east to Thrall, and in the west to Hutto. It encompasses one of the richest areas in Williamson County. The town with this name is one of the youngest in Williamson County, but it is also one of the largest with 8000 inhabitants. In 1870, Taylor was not on the map, and when the first railroad was built through the area, the land was considered of little value and was used only as grazing-land for cattle. This land could then be bought for $ 1.00 to $5.00 per acre, but now can not be bought for $200.00. The wide prairie is now divided into beautiful, well-kept farms. The inhabitants are mostly Germans, Bohemians and Swedes.

The Swedes have mostly moved there from older neighboring communities. The first Swedes in the area were Cornelius Johnson and his neighbor, Mr. Anderson. Johnson arrived as early as 1878, Olof Swenson in 1888, and S. Nelson, the same year. The brothers, Axel and Anton Carlson, came in 1894 and around the same time, Charles Lundell, K. J. Peterson opened a store in the town in 1896. Most people have moved there since 1900. A beautiful church has been built there, which belongs to the Methodists. Taylor is a busy business-center with large, modern stores, beautifully surfaced, tree-lined streets. Two railroads go through the town, giving it good communication and transportation. The town has the largest inland cotton market in the world. There are three cotton oil factories; one of them the largest in the state; seven cotton-gins, large enough to handle the entire cotton-harvest; one mill with a capacity of 225 barrels a day; there are three national banks and a state bank. Considering the size, Taylor has one of the finest and most modern hotels in the state and two new well-equipped hospitals. The school system is one of the best, and beautiful churches and palace-like homes are proof of the rich and progressive nature of the community.

Extracted from: Swedes In Texas In Words and Pictures,

English Translation, 1838 - 1918