Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

JOHN BRISTOW TAYLOR and EMELINE (EMMA) TAYLOR née DONALDSON

John Bristow Taylor was born on 20 March 1869 in Holstein Township, Grey, Ontario to James Taylor (1841-1911) and Mary Bristow (1841-1893). His siblings were: James David (1871-1962), Lachlan Alexander (1876-1947), Morris Reuben (b 1879), Charles Edward (b 1881), William Baxter (b 1882) and Christina Louisa (1885-1886). He was raised in Ontario and could be found in Egremont, Grey County in 1871 and Waterloo in 1881. He was ordained into the ministry at Victoria College, Toronto, Ontario in 1898 and married Emeline (Emma) Donaldson on 20 June 1898 in Silver Creek, Manitoba.

Emma was born on 28 April 1871 in Shakespeare, Perth County, Ontario to James Whittet Donaldson (1826-1907) and Maria McHaffie (1826-1900). Her siblings were: Mary E (1853-1922), George (b 1856), James Andrew (b 1858), Janet Blair (1860-1865), Elizabeth White (1862-1921), Maria Donaldson (b 1864) and Jessie (b 1866). Emma's obituary indicated that she taught for eight years in Elmira and then came West as a minister's bride in 1898. Their residences included: Pincher Creek, Alberta, Swan River, Manitoba, Sintaluta, Saskatchewan, Elgin, Manitoba, Elkhorn, Manitoba, Estevan, Saskatchewan, Moosomin, Saskatchewan and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

John & Emma had three children: Nelson Woodsworth (b 1899), Mary Margorie (b 1903) and Grace Elgin (1908-1993). The family lived in Saskatoon from 1915. Census record information and birth places for their children suggest that the places in the obituary were listed in chronological order. Census records were located for the following places: Swan River (1901), Souris, Manitoba (1906), Brandon, Manitoba (1911) and 412 Albert St, Saskatoon (1921). The family could not be found in the 1916 census records, but John B Taylor was listed in the 1916 - 1918 Saskatoon Henderson City Directories at 518 4th Ave N.

The names of both Emma and John appeared on the roll for 3rd Ave Methodist Church in Saskatoon in 1915 and their names were removed in the years of their deaths. John died on 16 August 1950 and Emma on 8 June 1954. Both died in Saskatoon and were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

The quilt was also signed by EMS Taylor and although the signature was not in the same location of the quilt, it is possible that this signer may have been part of the family of John's brother, James David Taylor. That family lived in Speers, Saskatchewan in 1916 and Hanley, Saskatchewan in 1921. These towns are 112 and 63 kms, respectively, from Saskatoon and so it was likely that the family used to come to Saskatoon occasionally.

James' wife's name was Mary Ethel Ingram (born on 2 January 1879 in Grand Bend, Huron County, Ontario - died on 29 September 1926, Regina, Saskatchewan). If we speculate that Mary Ethel’s names were reversed, a not uncommon occurrence, then here is a candidate for this signature.

James & Mary had a daughter, Ella "Mabel" who was born on 22 December 1901 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan and died in 1981 in Regina. Here we perhaps have a better candidate for the signature.

It is speculation that the EMS signature may have belonged to either of these two people. Only the E and M could be accounted for in the quilt signature - no document could be found with the initial S. No candidates could be found with names that included all three initials.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Taylor 1 Tree.

Candidate 1

Candidate 2