Representative Arthur Herbert Taylor

Arthur Herbert Taylor (February 29, 1852 – February 20, 1922) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1893 to 1895. His congressional service took place during a significant period in American history marked by economic and political change in the late nineteenth century, and he participated in the legislative process as a member of the House of Representatives, representing the interests of his Indiana constituents.

Taylor was born at Caldonia Springs, Canada West (now part of Ontario, Canada), on February 29, 1852. In 1856 he moved with his parents to Yates County, New York. He was educated in the local schools there, receiving the basic education that prepared him for both teaching and later legal study. As a young man, he taught school for several years, gaining early experience in public service and community life.

In 1869 Taylor moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he undertook the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1873 and commenced the practice of law in Indianapolis. The following year, in 1874, he relocated to Petersburg, Indiana, in Pike County, where he continued his legal practice. His growing reputation as an attorney led to his selection for public office, and he served as prosecuting attorney for the eleventh judicial circuit of Indiana from 1880 to 1884, handling criminal prosecutions and representing the state in court.

Building on his legal and prosecutorial experience, Taylor entered national politics as a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third Congress and served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from March 4, 1893, to March 3, 1895. During his single term in Congress, he contributed to the legislative process at a time when the nation was grappling with issues such as economic depression, tariff policy, and monetary reform. As a member of the House of Representatives, Arthur Herbert Taylor participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents in Indiana.

Taylor sought to continue his congressional career but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1894 to the Fifty-fourth Congress. After leaving Congress in March 1895, he returned to Petersburg, Indiana, and resumed the practice of law. He remained engaged in his profession and community for the rest of his life, maintaining his standing as a respected member of the local bar.

Arthur Herbert Taylor practiced law in Petersburg until his death on February 20, 1922. He was interred in Walnut Hill Cemetery in Petersburg, Indiana. His career reflected a progression from educator to lawyer, local prosecutor, and finally national legislator, with his term in Congress marking the peak of his public service during a transformative era in American political and economic history.