Downtown Houston in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Horace Dickinson Taylor

(1821-1890)

Photographed by Brian Anderson, December 8, 2017

1. Horace Dickinson Taylor Marker

Inscription. At the age of 17 Horace Dickinson Taylor left his native Massachusetts with his brother, Edward, after the sudden death of their parents. They settled in Independence, Texas, in 1838, and in 1848 the Taylor brothers moved to Houston where they established a cotton business. Horace became sole owner of the business in 1850 and soon thereafter bought a warehouse near a steamboat landing on Buffalo Bayou. From this strategic location he could roll cotton down to boats waiting below and within a short time developed a thriving cotton brokerage enterprise.

Horace married Emily Baker in 1852. They reared three sons and two daughters here on their 3.5 acre wooded homesite. Taylor became one of the city's influential citizens, serving as alderman in 1861-1862, mayor in 1866, and as an elder of the First Presbyterian Church.

Buffalo Bayou, neglected during the Civil War, was dredged during Taylor's term as mayor, effectively re-establishing commerce to the Gulf. The bayou soon became the lifeline of Houston businesses, allowing the city to successfully compete with Galveston for trade. Taylor, who was one of the founders of

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the Board of Trade and Cotton Exchange in 1874, continued in the cotton business until his death.

Erected 1993 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 10787.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 29° 45.834′ N, 95° 21.905′ W. Marker is in Houston, Texas, in Harris County. It is in Downtown Houston. It is on Preston Street west of Smith Street, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located in Sesquicentennial Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Houston TX 77002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

A nearby tablet for the Sesquicentennial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, September 29, 2019

2. A nearby tablet for the Sesquicentennial Park

marker: Baker Common (a few steps from this marker); Hogg Building (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Auditorium Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Magnolia Brewery Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Kennedy Bakery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Market Square (approx. 0.2 miles away); W. L. Foley Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Houston Cotton Exchange and Board of Trade (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houston.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, September 29, 2019

3. Horace Dickinson Taylor Marker

A view east of the marker and surrounding area.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, September 29, 2019

4. Horace Dickinson Taylor Marker

This view is west of the marker and the nearby Baker memorial.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. This page has been viewed 528 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 25, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 29, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.