John H. Taylor (1857 or 1858 New York City - February 25, 1911 idem), nurseryman in Bayside, Long Island
[From The American Florist, November 19, 1898, p. 493:] John H. Taylor, Bayside, N. Y.
[From The American Florist, August 19, 1899, p. 91-92:] John H. Taylor was bom in New York City in 1857 and from 1867 to 1877 was in Europe acquiring an education. On his return home he attended the Bussey Institution, Boston, graduating in 1881 with the degree of Bachelor of Agricultural Sqience, his being the first degree ever conferred there. In 1863 Mr. Taylor's father and the late John Henderson went into partnership in flower and fruit growing, Mr. Henderson subsequently retiring with $10,000 as his share. On emerging from college Mr. Taylor became the manager of his father's place and eventually its owner. A diverse stock was at first grown but was gradually narrowed to roses and chrysanthemums, the latter serving as an alternate crop with forced hybrid roses. Mr. Taylor was the first in the New York market to disbud chrysanthemums, getting phenomenal prices for the single blooms the very first season. In 889 he had 116 varieties under cultivation. Another specialty which Mr. Taylor turned to good account was the old Hinsdale carnation. Some fifteen years ago he had a sash lean-to 10x250 with 8x10 glass and solid beds from which in June he cut 75,000 blooms, which averaged $1.50 per hundred. The establishment now consists ot 75,000 feet of glass under which are cut some of the finest roses which reach the New York market. Here originated the Admiral Dewey rose introduced this year.
[From Florists' Review, April 14, 1910, p. 14:] Thursday and Friday, April 14 and 15, John H. Taylor, the veteran rose grower of Bayside, will sell his entire stock of household furniture, prior to a European trip.
[From The American Florist, March 4, 1911, p. 249:] His many friends, throughout the trade, will be shocked to hear of the sudden death of John H. Taylor, which occurred at the Hotel Martinique February 25. Mr. Taylor had returned from Europe, evidently enjoying his usual health, on the Wednesday previous. The cause of death was bronchitis and tonsilitis. Formerly Mr. Taylor was well known as a rose grower at Bayside, L. I. Last June he leased his growing establishment to a realty company and on June 11, 1910, he sailed for Europe, where he remained until last week. Mr. Taylor was born in New York City in 1858. Ten years of his younger life was spent in Switzerland, Italy and Germany. He graduated from Harvard in 1881 with degree of bachelor of agricultural science. Soon after his graduation he became associated with his father as nurserymen and florists. The elder Mr. Taylor died soon afterward, and John H. Taylor bought out the interests of the other heirs in the Oakland Tree Nursery at Bayside, of which has father had been the owner. In 1883 Mr. Taylor married Miss Julia Armstrong. She died ten years ago, and five years later he married Miss Mary Stow, of New York. Mr. Taylor maintained the Oakland Nursery until about six years ago, when he sold it. He was prominent among and favorably known by the florists of the country, being an attendant at the conventions of the Society of American Florists and serving on the executive board of that society in the years 1898-99 and 1900.
As the organizer and first president of the Oakland Golf Club Mr. Taylor gave a part of his estate at Bayside, which was known as the Oaks, to the club to be used as part of the course. He was also one of the organizers of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Flushing. Besides he was a member of the University, Lawyers", New York Florists', Niantic and New York Athletic clubs, Cornucopia Lodge, F. and A. M., and the New York Horticultural Society.
Mr. Taylor was a nephew of Mr. William Taylor, proprietor of the St. Denis Hotel, and a cousin of Mr. Charles Leigh Taylor, proprietor of the Hotel Martinique. He is survived by a widow and two children of his first wife, Mrs. Adele A. Manning and Reginald Taylor.
Funeral services were held at Bayside Monday afternoon, interment being private at Flushing cemetery, Flushing, L. I.
[From Florists Exchange and Horticultural Trade World, 1941, p. 21:] New York Florists Club ...1889 John H. Taylor - Grower.
