In continuing our sketches of prominent men. whose lives and characters fitly exemplify the honorable traits of the class to which they belong, we have chosen for our subject a man who, in many respects stands foremost among the active and intelligent business men who have aided in developing this Northern Coal region, and the lesson of whose life is full of interest and instruction.

There are few men connected with the coal, and interests of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, or the growth and prosperity of Scranton to whom so much is due for energy, enterprise and wealth as Moses Taylor, for he is now, and always has been the largest stockholder in the varied enterprises which have developed this teeming section.

He is now the President of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, which position was urged upon him on the decease of the late Joseph H. Scranton, and the local interests and institutions of this city have ever found him a willing friend, always ready to invest his money with them. He became identified with the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Co., as Director, Aug. 4th, 1858; as Vice-President, August 4th, 1865; Treasurer, May 27th, 1869; President, August 7th, 1872.

Moses Taylor was born in New York City, January 11th, 1806. He is descended, to the third generation, from an Englishman of the same name, who emigrated to this country from London in 1736. Upon the occupation of New York City by the British forces the grandfather

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of our subject took up his residence in New Jersey. During his residence here the father of Mr. Taylor was born. He was named Jacob B. Taylor, and, true to the predominant instinct which has indicated itself in each succeeding generation of his family, he cast his lot in the city, and spent his entire life there. Many persons now living remember Mr. Jacob B. Taylor. His spare and erect figure, his grave but open countenance, were as well known in the walks of business as the excellent qualities of his character were appreciated there. He was distinguished through life for his entire faithfulness, his scrupulous honesty, his unswerving truthfulness, and his untiring activity. Whatever he did was done conscientiously, whatever he asserted was absolute verity, and his zeal and industry were such that, it may be truly said of him, that, in whatever he undertook, he knew no such word as fail. These qualities attracted, as was natural, the notice and respect of the community in which he lived; and for many successive years, during a period when civic distinctions were conferred upon the worthiest and not upon the basest citizens. A reference to the records of those days will show with what fidelity he discharged his public trusts, and how well in him appeared "The constant service of the antique world

When service sweat for duty, not for meed."

It is no wonder, then, that Mr. Taylor feels, as he does, an honest pride in his progenitors; and that the inheritance of a good name, which he has received from them, is esteemed by him as of more worth than untold material riches.

The house in which Mr. Taylor was born stood at the corner of Broadway and Morris Street, and here he passed his earlier childhood; but in 1813 his father removed his residence to a house in Broadway, nearly opposite to what is now the New York Hotel, and continued to reside there until long after his son had taken his departure from the paternal roof. Doubtless the remoteness of this residence from the compact portion of the city-for it was then quite out of townwas the occasion of a habit which is still conspicuous in Mr. Taylor, and to the constant practice of which, during half a century, his vigorous health, notwithstanding his exhausting labors, is mainly to be attributed. We refer to his invariable habit of using his own legs for the purposes of locomotion. That practice has made him perfect in this respect may be readily seen by any one who will observe him, even at this day, as with quick and elastic step he darts through the crowds of Wall and South Streets; and is often experienced by some stiffer limbed acquaintance, who believes in omnibuses, but who sometimes vainly endeavors to accompany him in his daily walk down or up Broadway. The schools which he successively attended, during his boyhood, were those of Pickett in Chamber Street, Forrest & Slocum in Church Street, and Kellogg in Thames Street, and, as these were all nearly two miles distant from his father's house, and as his undeviating custom was to go to and return from them on foot, the habit of rapid walking, which he still keeps up, was then commenced. His school days were marked by the same energy and punctuality which characterized his subsequent life; he was never a truant; he shirked no duty; he left no work unperformed; but was ever prompt in his attendance, diligent in his studies, and faithful and thorough in the work which was imposed upon him at school. Although the character of his mind is practical rather than reflective, and exercises itself with the methods by which tical results are educed, rather than with speculations upon any mere abstract subjects, yet he possesses so vigorous an understanding that there is no reason to doubt that if his inclinations had led him toward the paths of scholarship, he

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would have attained to the same distinction in them as he has gained in the course of life which he actually pursued. But either his own choice, or those other potent influences which exercise a directing control over the purposes of men, determined that he should be a merchant and not a bookworm; and accordingly, at the age of fifteen, with such an education as the training of a common school affords to a boy of that age, he threw aside his satchel, abandoned the sports of boyhood, and, bidding adieu to his schoolmates, entered at once upon the serious business of his life.

At first he entered the house of J. D. Brown, but he remained there but a short time, and then became a clerk in the mercantile establishment of Messrs. G. G. & S. Howland. At this time, and indeed during the whole period in which Mr. Taylor remained in their service, the Messrs. Howlands were engaged in a very extensive and varied foreign commerce. Their correspondence and business relations extended to every part of the world; and the head of the house, Mr. Gardiner G. Howland, a very energetic and intelligent merchant, was ever ready to enter upon new fields of commercial enterprise. They owned and employed many vessels, which sailed upon every sea and visited every shore. Freighted with assorted cargoes, made up of every variety of domestic and foreign article, they went forth upon their distant voyages and returned laden with the products of the countries which they had visited. To all parts of Europe, to India, China, the Mediterranean, to the West Indies, South America, the West Coast, to every quarter of the globe in fact, to which American enter prise had pushed its commerce, these mercantile adventures were carried; and the system of credits prevailing in those days, both in reference to the purchase of outward cargoes and to the payment of duties upon importations, helped to enlarge and amplify them, so that young Taylor set to work. His industry and intelligence soon attracted the notice of his employers. Always cheerful, ready and zealous, quick, active and vigilant, it was perceived that he brought to the performance of his duties not only that steady application to the routine and details of business