Preston Taylor

Preston Taylor (1849 – 1931) was an African American businessman, minister and philanthropist. In the early 20th century he was considered one of the most influential leaders of Nashville, Tennessee's black community. He created Greenwood Cemetery, which is the second oldest African American cemetery in Nashville, and Greenwood Park, which was the first park for African-American communities in Nashville. A later public housing project was named in his honor.

Biography

Early life

Taylor was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on November 7, 1849 to slave parents, and was thus a slave himself.^[1] As a teenager he was employed as a drummer boy in the Union Army during the siege of Richmond, Virginia; he was granted his freedom for his services.^[2]

Mt. Sterling

Following the Civil War he traveled throughout the North. He became a minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and settled in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky about 1870.^[3] In 1874 he founded the High Street Christian Church, "the finest brick building as a place for the worship of God in the state", which became "the largest congregation in the state among those of his faith".^[2]

Even though blacks were largely excluded from Reconstruction Era business opportunities, he was able to get a contract to build sections of railroad track from Mt. Sterling to Richmond,^[1] This became the foundation of his successful business career.

Nashville

In 1884, Taylor arrived in Nashville, Tennessee.^[1] He "soon emerged as one of the city's most influential African American business and religious leaders."^[3]

He married one of the original Fisk Jubilee Singers, Georgia Gordon Taylor (1855–1913), better known as Georgia Taylor.^[2] She was the daughter of George Gordon, who was a slave, and a mulatto mother, Mercy Duke Gordon. At the age of 18, Georgia was in the group of vocalists from Fisk University who toured Europe and the U. S. during 1872 and 1873.^[4] After her return from the tour she married Taylor. They had a son in 1891, who died as an infant.^[1] She continued singing until her death in 1913, and was Taylor’s closest companion.^[4] After her death, Taylor married his second wife, Ida D. Mallory.^[2][3]

Taylor was appointed minister of Gay Street Christian Church, which was the "colored" congregation associated with the Vine Street First Christian Church.^[3] In 1891 he and a breakaway group left the Gay Street church and established a congregation in an office building on Spruce (Eighth) Street; in 1903 the congregation completed its own church building on Lea Avenue near Lafayette Street. Taylor was pastor of the church for 40 years, until his death in 1931. After Taylor's death the two congregations reunited to form Gay-Lea Christian Church, now called the New Covenant Christian Church and located on Osage Street.^[5]

In 1917 Taylor took the lead in creating the National Christian Missionary Convention, a nationwide organization of African American Disciples of Christ churches; he served as president of the Convention from its founding until his death.^[5]

Taylor was involved in multiple business ventures. He became a wealthy man through his business activities and was considered one of the most powerful and influential African-American businessmen in Nashville in the early years of the twentieth century.^[2] The first black bank, One Cent (Citizen's) Savings and Trust Company Banks, was organized with Taylor’s help.^[6] In 1909 he was a prime mover in the foundation of Tennessee State Agricultural and Industrial State Normal College, a state-sponsored college for African Americans, which later became Tennessee State University.^[6]

In 1887 he purchased 37 acres (15 ha) of dairy land for $30,000 at Elm Hill Pike Road near Buttermilk Ridge. There he established Greenwood Cemetery in 1888, declaring it to be a low cost, first class cemetery for African-Americans.^[7] Greenwood Cemetery is the second oldest cemetery for black communities in Nashville.^[3] Also in 1888 he founded the Taylor Funeral Company, a mortuary, at 449 North Cherry Street (now Fourth Avenue). (Not related to today's Taylor Funeral Home in Nashville.)

Philanthropy

In 1905 he developed Greenwood Park, a recreational park for the African American communities, covering about 37.5 acres (15.2 ha) at Lebanon road near Spence Lane.^[1] It was the first park for Nashville’s African American residents, who at the time were not allowed to utilize public parks.^[8][9] The park included gardens, fountains, a bandstand, and a baseball park. The annual "State Colored Fair" was held there. He even arranged for horse-drawn wagons to transport patrons from the streetcar to the park.^[1] The park remained open until 1949.^[8]

Upon his death he bequeathed Greenwood Cemetery to the National Christian Missionary Convention of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and it remains a nonprofit organization to this day.

Death

Until his death on April 13, 1931, Taylor was the best known African American citizen in Nashville.^[3][9] Taylor was buried in Greenwood Cemetery after a week-long interment ceremony.^[2]

Recognition

Preston Taylor Housing, a public housing project in Nashville, was named in 1951 in his honor.^{[1][2][6][10]} It is located at 3900 Clifton Road and is now known as the Historic Preston Taylor Apartments.^[11] That part of Nashville also houses the Preston Taylor YMCA and Preston Taylor Ministries.^[9]

References