Freeport in Stephenson County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Oscar Taylor Home

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 17, 2023

1. Oscar Taylor Home Marker

Inscription. This house has been placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States Department
of the Interior
Built 1857

Erected by United States Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 42° 17.098′ N, 89° 36.905′ W. Marker is in Freeport, Illinois, in Stephenson County. It can be reached from South Carrol Avenue south of East Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is to the left of the main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1440 S Carroll Ave, Freeport IL 61032, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker,

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measured as the crow flies: 1843 Log House (within shouting distance of this marker); Stephenson County Vietnam Memorial (approx. one mile away); Soldiers' Monument (approx. one mile away); The Debates and the Media (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Legacy Remains (approx. 1.1 miles away); Richard F. Sokup (approx. 1.1 miles away); Welcome to Debate Square (approx. 1.1 miles away); Robert J. Schmelzle (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Freeport.

More about this marker. The Oscar Taylor Home is the current site of the Stephenson County Historical Society.

Regarding Oscar Taylor Home. Excerpts from the Oscar Taylor Home nomination form:

This is an Italianate stone house built by Oscar Taylor, a banker and practicing attorney in Freeport. The house was built in 1857, is typical of the pre-Civil War period, and was the center of much of the cultural life of the city at that time. The architect was Otis Wheelock of the Chicago firm of Boyington and Wheelock...

Oscar Taylor was the son of John W. Taylor who succeeded Henry Clay as speaker of the House of Representatives in Washington. Oscar Taylor

Full view of the Oscar Taylor Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 17, 2023

2. Full view of the Oscar Taylor Home

was an abolitionist and his daughter, Mrs. Charissa (Frank) Bass said runaway slaves were hidden in the basement during the Civil War. This was done by means of a separately walled small basement room which had a door hidden by shelves for fruit jars attached to it. The door as described is still there. On the wall near the window in the cupola is the inscription: "Geo. W. Bradley, 2nd Lt. Ellis Rifles, June 17, 1661, Gone to Was - Killed June 9th, 1863, near Vicksburg." Military record show that he enlisted in Rockford in May 1861, but his connection with the Taylors is not known...

In the Taylor Room, which contains many of the family's articles, is a plaque which reads: "Distinguished guests: The Hutchinson family. In 1857 these famous Abolitionist singers dedicated the house one Sunday night singing Home Sweet Home'."...

The Postscript to the 1970 Stephenson County History reads: "He (Mr. Taylor) supported Lincoln and helped prepare the town for the Lincoln/Douglas Debate held August 27, 1858 Mrs. Taylor headed a group of women called the Soldiers' Aid Society who helped by raising money for soldiers and their families — for almost

Boxwood Knot Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 17, 2023

3. Boxwood Knot Garden

One of the features of the property is the Boxwood Knot Garden

four years they raised $100. per week by all kinds of entertainment.

Also see . . . Oscar Taylor House Nomination Form (pdf). Prepared by Fern Ditzler and Glenn Schwendiman, president of Stephenson County Historical Society, 1984 (Submitted on December 6, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 17, 2023

4. Boxwood Knot Garden

Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 177 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 6, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.