HENRY H. TAYLOR, Deputy Inspector of Customs for the District of Superior, stationed at Sault de Ste. Marie, and for many years a leading contractor and builder of this city, was born in Ontario, Canada, on the 26th of January, 1852.  In his early boyhood he lived upon the farm, becoming acquainted with all the features of rural life in that region.  His father, Henry Taylor, was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, born in 1818, and in that country married Jessie Johnson.  In 1842 he emigrated to Canada and throughout his active business life he followed farming.  He is now a resident of Brussels, Ontario, where he is living retired.  In the family are four sons, Henry H., of Sault Ste. Marie; William, Brussels; George, of Sault Ste. Marie, and Joseph of Brussels.

At the age of fourteen our subject left the old home farm and began learning the carpenter’s trade, serving a regular three years’ apprenticeship in Seaforth, Ontario, and when he had completed it he made his way to Pennsylvania, for the oil excitement was then at its height in that State.  There he first engaged in business as a journeyman and later did contract work.  For three years he remained in the Keystone State, making his home in Oil City and in Franklin.  During the year 1873 he was located in Dallas, Texas, and as the city was then growing rapidly he found plenty of remunerative employment.  In 1874 he returned to the Queen’s domain and engaged in business in London, Ontario.  There he remained for five years, and in his undertaking was successful.

While in Clinton, Ontario, he was married, on the 21st of July, 1879, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary McKay, daughter of Angus McKay, whose family numbers five children-Christine, who is now Mrs. Frazier, of Portage, of the Northwest Territory; High, who is living in Washington; George, who resides near Kippen, Ontario; and Daniel, who makes his home in this State.  To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born the following children: Henry James, fourteen years of age; Olive Jessie, aged twelve; Florence, aged seven; Orin, who died in 1890, at the age of six years; and Leora, who is now a maiden of five summers.

Mr. Taylor came to the West on his wedding journey, and in July, 1879, arrived in Sault de Ste. Marie, stopping at the McAvoy Hotel until he could make arrangements to secure a home of his own.  He built his first residence on property owned by Rev. T. R. Easterday and has since erected four dwellings.  His present home is a commodious and comfortable one, one of the fine houses of the city.  Mr. Taylor began business here as a contractor and builder, and has put up many of the vest homes in the city; also he has been the architect and builder of the Gage-Wait Block, the first News office, the Episcopal church, and the Board of Trade building, the first three-story structure in the city.  He afterward entered the real-estate business, buying and selling property on both sides of the river.  He made some money in this way, for he judiciously invested his capital and exercised sagacity and wisdom in his purchases and sales.  He now owns, besides him home, the Knights of the Maccabees building on Ashmun Street.

Mr. Taylor holds membership in several civic societies, belonging to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.  Since becoming a citizen of this country, he warmly advocates the principles of the Democracy, and has frequently been solicited to become a candidate for the Council, but as frequently declines.  In December, 1893, he was appointed to this present position as Deputy Inspector of Customs, and has a high reputation for efficiency.