 Elizabeth “Libbie” H. Taylor, about 1850-1897 Immigrant from Canada Buried in Porter Cemetery, Block 22, Space H (Photo of grave marker courtesy of Pioneers’ Cemetery Association, Inc.) Libbie (maiden name unknown) was born in Canada about 1850. At some point, she came to the United States and married Arthur W. Taylor, born around 1845 in New York state. There is no evidence that the two ever had any children.
In 1880, Libbie and her husband were living in Denver, Arapaho County, Colorado, where Arthur was a molder at the Colorado Iron Works. The Taylors were in Phoenix by 1894, but thereafter it appears that Libbie and her husband separated, with Arthur moving to Los Angeles. Though estranged, they nevertheless did not divorce. Apparently Libbie had enough money to be self-sufficient, as she bought several lots in the Churchill addition for $3,000, intending to use them as rental properties. Libbie developed a case of pneumonia and died December 22, 1897, at her home at 27 South Fourth Avenue in Phoenix. Her funeral was postponed until after Christmas as friends sought to reach her husband in California by telegraph. She was buried in Loosley Cemetery, Block 5, Lot 11. One obituary gave her full name as Libbie H. Y. Taylor, possibly indicating she had been previously married. Shortly after Libbie’s funeral, her husband returned to Phoenix to take over her affairs. Mr. Taylor had his late wife’s remains moved to Porter Cemetery and a large marble monument erected. The plot Libbie is buried in has plenty of room for other burials, so perhaps he was planning to be buried next to her. Since Libbie had died intestate, a special administrator was appointed to handle her estate. Notice was given and several creditors came forward: James M. Creighton was one of them. Keystone Pharmacy submitted an unpaid bill for quinine tablets and laudanum, and there were also bills for nursing and final expenses. After all of Libbie’s debts had been settled, her husband A. W. Taylor inherited $4,666 in cash and real estate. Arthur was last known to be residing in Los Angeles, California, with a family named Riley and working as a teamster in 1900. © 2020 by Patricia Gault. Last revised 14 March 2020. This December, we will commemorate 12 pioneers from our historic cemetery who passed away during this month. Through this countdown, we honor their contributions to our community, reflect on the challenges they faced, and remember the impact they had during their time. While some of their stories are somber, they are an important part of our history, reminding us of the resilience and humanity of those who came before us. If you would like assistance researching our interred, you can find more information on our website. You can contact us at [email protected] at any time. Thank you for your interest to preserve the history of Arizona's pioneers!
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