Born on November 26, 1852,[1] in Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio,[2] Tayler attended the public schools, received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1872 from Western Reserve College (now Case Western Reserve University) and read law in 1877.

[2] Tayler was elected as a Republican from Ohio's 18th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 54th United States Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1903.

[2] Tayler was nominated by President Theodore Roosevelt on January 6, 1905, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio vacated by Judge Francis Joseph Wing.

[2] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 10, 1905, and received his commission the same day.

[2] His service terminated on November 25, 1910, due to his death in Cleveland, Ohio, where he had moved following his appointment to the federal bench.