Cortney Bartley Taylor was one of seven children of Bart T. and Matilda Taylor. Cortney was born on August 14, 1886 in Grand Saline, Van Zandt County, Texas. Mr. Taylor's birth certificate (114 KB) shows the first name to be spelled 'Courtney'. However, nearly all other documents indicate the spelling to be 'Cortney'.

View Cortney's family ancestory chart

Katherine "Katie" Taylor was one of fourteen children of William Lee and Rebecca Taylor. Katie was born on September 11, 1881 in Texas (possibly Van Zandt County).

View Katie's family ancestory chart

Cortney and Katie were married on July 19, 1904 in Van Zandt County, Texas. Cortney would have been about 18 and Katie about 23. They were to eventually have a total of eight children: Melvin U. , Coy Nolen, Noble D. , Robert, Raymond Odell 'Jack', Carrie Bell, Bertha May and a baby girl who died at birth. Bertha was to die at the young age of 20.

Cortney apparently was a farmer his entire life and at one time he also raised some cattle. Poll Tax receipts from 1924, 1929, 1930 and 1941 confirm this fact by listing his occupation as farmer. Katie was housewife and mom. 1924 and 1930 Poll Tax receipts for her show her occupation as "housing".

We know from his 1935 drivers license that Cortney was 6' tall, weighed 174 pounds, had blue eyes and brown hair.

While I feel almost certain that Mr. Taylor's middle name was 'Bartley', there are some other documents that indicate a different middle name. Both his certificate of birth (114 KB), which I place the most validity on, and a SUGAR PURCHASE CERTIFICATE dated 6/20/1942, lists the middle name of 'Bartley'. His death certificate (80 KB) , however, indicates a middle name of 'Bartney' which I feel was probably just a typo. A copy of his Social Security Card (42 KB) shows a middle name of 'Borten'.

Cortney and Katie appear to have spent much of their life together in a little community called Pruitt, which is located a few miles north of Van, Texas. On a recent visit to the area, my step father, who was a childhood friend of the Taylor children, showed me the general area near Pruitt where Cortney and Katie raised several of their young children. No buildings remained in the area. Only trees, grass and shrubs were to be seen. The small four room school which had been a mile or so from the old home had also been torn down. The main intersection in Pruitt, which once had a couple of stores and a church on it's corners, now has only residential homes. Sadly, the stores, churches, schools and homes that stood back then only remain standing in the memories of those few who are still living.

Times were not easy for these Taylor's. Katie worked as hard as Cortney. According to her daughter, Bell, Katie would "go to the fields" after she had finished her housework. All of the children were also expected to help with the chores and to work in the fields. And speaking of children, apparently none of the Taylor children were born in a hospital. All were born at home.

Cortney died on May 23, 1959 in Grand Saline, Van Zandt County, Texas. (Note: His tombstone shows the date of death as May 22, 1959, however, his death certificate and obituary show the May 23 date). Katie was to die on March 19, 1964. Both Cortney and Katie are buried in the Union Chapel Cemetery which is a few miles east of Van, Texas on Highway 110. They are in a white rock bed section. On their gravemarker is:

" Taylor
Cortney B. - Aug 14, 1886 - May 22, 1959
Katie - Sep 11, 1881 - Mar 19, 1964"

Also in the same rock bed section is:

"Bertha May Taylor - May 9, 1909 - May 30, 1929"
and
"Baby"