In 1839, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Trumbull County, serving four years.

[2] In 1855 and 1857, Tayler was elected to represent the 23rd district in the Ohio Senate for the 52nd and 53rd General Assemblies (1856–1859).

[3] In 1859, he defeated Democrat Godwin Volney Dorsey for Ohio State Auditor, taking office in 1860.

[4] He resigned when, in 1863, he was appointed First Comptroller of the United States Treasury by President Lincoln.

They had seven children, including Wick Tayler of the Ohio House of Representatives.