Martin Digital History

Josephine Kitching Taylor Writings

Title

Josephine Kitching Taylor Writings

Description

Sarah Josephine Kitching Taylor (1895–1987) was a native and early pioneer of Stuart, Florida. Deeply involved in her community, she was a charter member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood chapter, an active participant in the Historical Society of Martin County, and a devoted member of the Methodist Church. A dedicated local historian, Taylor wrote numerous short histories documenting the people and events of early Stuart.

The only child of Walter Kitching (1846–1932) and Emma Jane Michael Kitching (1870–1951), Josephine came from one of Stuart’s earliest families. Her father, Walter Kitching, was an early resident who opened a general store in 1897 following a long career as a merchant along Florida’s coast. Josephine married John E. Taylor (1892–1972), who had worked for her father prior to their marriage. John later became a banker and businessman, establishing an insurance and real estate firm in 1957. The company, later known as Taylor-Ashley Insurance and Real Estate, continues to operate as a family business on Colorado Avenue in Stuart as of 2025.

This collection includes typewritten short histories authored by Josephine Taylor, as well as handwritten notes that may have served as drafts or source material for her completed writings.

Creator

Sarah Josephine Kitching Taylor (1895-1987)

Source

Scan gift of Josephine Paradise and the Taylor-Ashley Agency.

Contributor

Josephine Paradise

Language

English

Type

Text

Coverage

Florida-Stuart

Collection Items

  • A memoir focusing chiefly on the lives of Walter Kitching (1846-1932) and John E. Taylor (1892-1972), and Josephine Kitching Taylor. Details John E. Taylor's career, including his time as mayor, bank president, builder, and realtor; the lives of Josephine and John's children; and activities of Sarah Josephine Kitching Taylor, including the local organizations she was part of: P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter P (erroneously noted as PEG), Stuart Woman's Club, and the Ladies Bible Class.

  • Copy of handwritten notes of Josephine Kitching Taylor (1895-1987) on Stuart history and the activities of her father, Walter Kitching; her own experiences; and genealogical information about the Kitching family, the Michael family, the Taylor family, and the Ashley family.

    These notes may have been chiefly written in the 1970s, with later additions made in the 1980s.

    Index of topics. (SKT refers to Sarah Josephine Kitching Taylor)

    PDF page:
    002-004 - Joseph and Sarah Kitching genealogy
    005 - Walter Kitching
    007 - 1883 came to Florida
    008 - purchased and homesteaded land
    010 - ran a "floating store"
    017 - performed marriages
    021 - met his wife Emma Michael
    023 - SKT born
    024 - William and Willis Bessey early settler of Stuart area, but there was an earlier settler in the Palm City area named Mullihan, whose son was named Leroy S. Mullihan
    026 - Michael family- mother Emma's older brothers John and Stephen lived in Wabasso and Orchid. Stephen's son Alfred B. ran Walter's boats
    029 - Memories of SKT's childhood
    041 - Mother Emma Michael
    043 - SKT describes attending Guilford College in N.C.
    044 - Mother Emma Michael
    045 - Broster Kitching background detailed
    046 - Mangoes, cocoanuts, pineapples in Stuart area
    048 - Kitching home built, first home with running water, bathroom, and a windmill
    051 - Walter Kitching's family in England
    053 - Kitching home described. Eliza and Tom Gardner [Gorden in 1910 census] staffed.
    059 - Describes pioneer life including eating mostly canned goods
    061 - Railroad came in 1894, details Walter Kitching selling the boat, Alfred B. Michael captained under new owner
    062 - Walter Kitching opened store about 1896, then large store in 1897
    063 - "Soap Bubble Club" detailed (this was a Larkin Soap Company promotion, with Avon or Tupperware style sales)
    064 - Seminole shoppers
    070 - Billy Bowlegs III (1862-1965)
    071 - Lumber for house hauled from north of Stuart, called "Wa-Wa" (Wild Goose) at that time, name later changed to Gosling
    072 - Hobe Sound settlers, including Snyder the catsup man [this must refer to the Snider house on Jupiter Island. Snider Catsup was a popular product]
    073 - SKT took music lessons with Mamie Hancock
    075 - SKT schooling. Went to Stuart School, but Professor James R. Pomeroy was so rough with the students it made her nervous so she went to WPB for one year (1908), then returned to attend Stuart High School in 1909. Attended Guilford College for 3 years, starting in 1910
    077 - SKT came home from college for xmas, met John Edwin Taylor. Married on shared birthday March 10th, 1914.
    080 - SKT describes dress, trousseau, flowers
    082 - SKT and husband snuck out from wedding to honeymoon at Gilbert's Bar.
    085 - Description of their first house, later second story added.
    089 - SKT's children and their spouses outlined
    090 - Emma Elizabeth Taylor and her children's histories. Emma married in SKT's wedding dress
    091 - Record of Emma's daughters' marriages and children. Notes that they wore SKT's wedding dress
    092 - John Edwin Taylor III's family
    096 - F.E.C. plan to cross river at Sewall's Point and Walter Kitching's efforts to convince them to come to Stuart instead
    101 - Story of name change from Potsdam to Stuart 1895
    104 - Picnics
    108 - Walter Kitching's second store built, later bought by SKT's husband. Sold in 1922 to Raulerson General Merchandise
    111 - The first small railroad station, across from now Stuart Feed Store, was moved to Salerno. [Notes that new railroad station built in 1916 or 1918, but it was 1913]
    112 - Walter Kitching owned an orange grove in PSL
    115 - Details husband John E. Taylor's involvement with the establishment of new county. He was elected first state rep in 13 Oct 1925 and built El Bit-Lor in 1925.
    116 - SKT's family moved to Little Rock during depression 1931-1937 where husband became a bank examiner. Returned to Stuart and opened real estate and insurance business 4 Nov 1937.
    118 - Historical information on Celestial Railroad
    121 - Danforth Hotel, Grover Cleveland
    132 - Seminole Bank, Bank of Stuart
    135 - Sylvanus Kitching family
    136 - Our Pets
    143 - List of great-grandchildren
    147 - Methodist Church involvement
    154 - Emma and Dick Ashley histories
    159 - P.E.O. sisterhood history and involvement
    165 - Garden Club
    168 - Other organizations, including Lively Arts Society, HSMC, Animal Rescue League, Woman's Aglow Fellowship, Stuart Woman's Club
    170 - Hobbies and collections of SKT
    171 - Clippings, programs, mailings
    189 - Vacations
    193 - Note from SKT written in 1982
    195 - Notes on her children and grandchildren
    197 - First United Methodist Church programs and copies of clippings
    206 - Photo of Women's Club

  • Handwritten outline of the history of the Woman's Society of the Methodist Church from 1904 to 1950.
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  • Typed history of the Methodist Church. Pages 1-4 up to 1969, pages 5 & 6 are draft pages concerning 1968-1974.
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  • Handwritten notes review life in early Stuart, including Methodist church events, ice cream socials, funerals, and the Christian Endeavor Society. Also includes a memoir of her meeting and marrying John E. Taylor, and records of her children and extended family.
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  • Handwritten notes chiefly detailing the history of the Methodist Church.
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  • Handwritten notes detailing the early life of her husband, John E. Taylor, to 1929.
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  • Preprinted family record book, with room for births, deaths, and other information. Completed for John and Josephine Taylor and their children.

  • Josephine Kitching Taylor (1895-1987) was a native and early pioneer of Stuart, Florida. The only child of Walter Kitching (1846-1932) and Emma Jane Michael Kitching (1870–1951), Josephine came from one of Stuart’s earliest families. Deeply involved in her community, she was a charter member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood chapter, an active participant in the Historical Society of Martin County, and a devoted member of the Methodist Church. A dedicated local historian, Taylor wrote numerous short histories documenting the people and events of early Stuart.

    This book contains both handwritten recipes, many of which indicate from whom she received the recipe, and several clippings. The recipes include chiefly desserts and salads. The cookies, cakes, and pies look delicious while the "salads" reflect food preferences that have changed over time. An index and table of contents has been created, located at the end of the PDF.
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  • Includes notes on: Our Bungalow, Walter Kitching's stores, Grove House, and John Taylor's career as mayor and commissioner.

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