Archives West Finding Aid

George John Taylor (1834-1914) was born in Toronto, Canada, to John and Leonora Taylor. After George's father converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the family left Canada and moved to Kirtland, Ohio. George would make two more moves within a decade with the Latter-day Saints, first to Nauvoo, Illinois, and then to the Salt Lake Valley. After seven short years in Salt Lake City, George once again followed his father to New York City. It was here that John Taylor published the newspaper The Mormon to counter popular notions about the LDS Church. George helped his father in the editorial office and did missionary work in the New York area before returning to Salt Lake in 1857. In 1860, he left Salt Lake City again, this time to serve a mission in England. When he returned, he became involved in various business ventures. Among these were the first bicycle shop in Utah as well as a nail factory, a glass factory, a shoe shop, and contracting for the Union Pacific railroad. In 1859, George became a regent of the University of Deseret (now University of Utah) and was also an instructor. When George's father died in 1887, George became the executor of the estate. George never married and spent most of the rest of his life in mining interests. He died in Salt Lake City.