TAYLOR, Rev. W. Y., Beeville Bee, Friday, 28 Nov 1902:

Rev. W. Y. TAYLOR.
After a long life of useful and unselfish labor is the cause of the spiritual elevation 
of his fellow men, the work of Rev. William Yeary TAYLOR was ended by his death 
in this city on the morning of the 26th inst., after an illness of several weeks duration. 
His remains were interred in the new cemetery on Thursday morning, the funeral 
taking place in the Christian church and the body followed to the grave by members 
of the Masonic fraternity to which he belonged for many years.

The deceased was a native of Virginia and in the 61st year of his age. In 1864 he 
married in Kentucky to Miss Mattie A. SURBER, who with two sons, S. H. TAYLOR, 
of Fort Worth and R. B. TAYLOR of Beeville, survive him. Almost his entire life since 
maturity was devoted to the cause of religion and education. His first work in the 
ministry in Texas was in Hallville in 1874. Moving to Fort Worth in 1876 he became 
pastor of the First Christian church in that city, dedicating the first church building 
of that denomination to be erected there. 

Moving to Weatherford, he was made superintendent of the public schools of that city, 
noted for the efficiency of its educational facilities, and was also pastor of the Christian 
church there. Ill health requiring a warmer climate, in the early 1880's he moved to 
Lagarto, founded the Lagarto College, which was in a flourishing condition until the 
building of the railways in the southwest made other points more accessible. In 1887 
he moved to Beeville to take charge of the public schools here, declining a re-election 
to enter more actively in ministerial work, and since then has served the Christian 
churches at Hallettsville, Eagle Lake, Blush, Georgetown, Mason, Llano, Liberty Hill, 
Brenham and San Marcos, the latter being his last charge.