Biographical Sketch (1893):1316, p. 292. "James Franklin Taylor was about twelve years old when the family moved to Washington, at the public schools of which place he received a liberal English education. He then entered the preparatory department of Washington and Jefferson College, and continued until the end of the junior year, when he ceased study for a year for recuperation, intending to return the following year, but changed his mind when his old classmates had graduated and gone forth. Having decided to take up the legal profession, Mr. Taylor, in 1876, commenced the study of law in the office of Boyd Crumrine, and November 10, 1879, was admitted to the bar of the county. He at once opened an office in Washington and commenced practice; but later returned to Mr. Crumrine's office, where he remained until 1883, in which year he was elected district attorney, and after serving three years was re-elected for another term. There was no opposition to his nomination, as he was very popular with the people, having served with full satisfaction to his constituents in previous offices. In 1882 he was chairman of the Republican County Committee, prior to which he had served as secretary of the same; was also assistant burgess of the borough of Washington for one term. On January 1, 1891, our subject entered into the present partnership with Winfield McIlvaine, making a strong team in the general practice of law. Mr. Taylor's success as a lawyer has been such that has been prominently mentioned for the position of judge of the several courts of his native county, the position twice filled by his great-grandfather, the Hon. Henry Taylor.

In September 1884, Mr. Taylor married Annie Walton, eldest daughter of Rev. Richard L. Miller, D.D., pastor of an M.E. Church in Pittsburgh, and of this union have been born three children: Alice, Woodward and Virginia, all at the parental home on East Maiden street immediately outside the eastern limits of the borough, the house being of brick, comfortable and commodious. Mr. Taylor is a director (was one of the first directors) of the Citizens National Bank, of which he was an original stockholder; and was also one of the three serving as a committee on the erection of a building for the same bank. While a student at college he was a prominent member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. "

Biographical Sketch (1902):1677, p. 177. "Hon. James Franklin Taylor was born in South Strabane township on January 15, 1854, of William H. and Jane (Jones) Taylor; attended Washington and Jefferson College through the junior year; studied law with Mr. Boyd Crumrine, and was admitted to the Washington County bar in 1879; district attorney, 1884-1889; appointed additional law judge in 1895, and the same year was elected and commissioned for the full term of ten years."