St. Louis experienced "increasing prosperity and continued happiness" at the time of the election of Taylor and his new Republican faction.

Taylor, however, did not have time to congratulate the victories of the Union Anti-Black Republican party because of the tensions that arose due to the war.

The new Republican mayor had positions that perplexed and embarrassed the populace in the midst of the prevailing excitement.

The mayor could not save the city from the devastation: factories closed, the steamboat interest was protracted, real estate depreciated, rents diminished, and construction halted.

Taylor urged the Union and Confederacy "to interpose and restore the blessings of peace, order, and good government."

[1] He led an expedition to recover bodies from the burning on 28 October 1869 of the steamer, Stonewall at Neely's Landing, Missouri, on the Mississippi.

Taylor was considered a generous man and contributed to the success of young businessmen in St. Louis.

His wife, despite wearing a life preserver, was found dead about fifty miles below the point where the steamer burned.

Taylor spoke an admirable address as mayor in 1861 in regards to the savior of the municipal government from domination of military influence.