Joseph Taylor was born in Somersetshire, England. His family came to America when Joseph was just 14 years old.  They settled in Chicago, Illinois.  In 1858 he and Anne Ede wed in that city and a few years afterwards they made their way to a new home in Waterloo, Iowa.  There they adopted Ellen M. "Nellie", who was possibly the daughter of one of Joseph's brothers.

In about 1865 Taylor established a cream ale brewery in Waterloo.  It was by accounts the first establishment of its kind in town.  It was a successful venture and it netted John a tidy  estate.  Then on January 22nd, 1877, at age 49, he was converted at the First Baptist Church and suddenly found his line of work inconsistent with his newfound faith.  Taylor gave up his brewery business instantly, refusing even to sell it or his on-hand stock of ale.  Thereafter he was a hardware man and a gardner, and an "active temperance man".  Joseph Taylor died on March 23rd, 1890 at age 62 years.