The death took place at St. Margaret's Hospital, Launceston, Tasmania, in his 65th year, on 2nd September, of Mr. John Stewart Taylor, of "Valley Field," Epping. The deceased, who was one of the best known and most successful breeders of Merino sheep during the Tasmanian boom times, was born at "Valley Field," Macquarie River, in 1850, and was the 5th son of the late Mr. Robert Taylor, who with his father, the late Mr. George Taylor (the original owner of "Valley Field"), and several brothers came to Tasmania in 1823. He was educated at the High School, Hobart, under the then rector, Rev. R. D. Powlett Harris. On leaving school in the early seventies, he joined the Bank of Australasia, Launceston, with which institution he remained for several years, when he went into business with Mr. S. E. Wilmot as general commission agents for a short term. The firm of Taylor Bros. was then formed in conjunction with his brother Thomas, which business was taken over by the Tasmanian Woolgrowers' Agency Company Limited in 1886. He then returned to "Valley Field," and turned his attention to sheepfarming, in the shape of Merino flockbreeding, and subsequently went in for studbreeding, chiefly for the purpose of breeding rams for use in the flock, and also sent small drafts of rams for sale in the other States. Of late years he was engaged in breeding crossbreds, Leicester-Merino, and the flock at the present time is largely composed of crossbreds and comebacks, although the Merino portion is still kept distinct. He married Miss Boyes, daughter of the late Mr. E. T. Boyes, Collector of Customs, Tasmania. He was a keen follower of hounds in his younger days, very fond of coursing, and was a fine horseman.
'Taylor, John Stewart (1850–1915)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/taylor-john-stewart-962/text963, accessed 9 November 2024.
from Pastoral Review, 16 October 1915
1850
Macquarie River,
New South Wales,
Australia
2 September,
1915
(aged ~ 65)
Launceston,
Tasmania,
Australia