(below) Former residence of Dr. Robert and Mrs. Letta Taylor once owned by G.K. Goetz (Rader: pg. 85).
“Dr. Robert Hobbs Taylor was born in London [Ontario], December 20, 1893. His father was William Taylor, his mother Alicia Jane Hobbs.
He was educated in London schools and graduated from Central Collegiate. In 1916 he was the youngest student to have graduated from the University of Western Ontario Medical School. Later he took post-graduate courses in surgery and medicine at New York Poly-clinic,Philadelphia and Chicago hospitals.
In October, 1916, he came to Dashwood to practice medicine and continued this practice for 29 years. For several years he operated a small hospital in what is the Gulen’s building.
Dr. Taylor was chairman of the Dashwood Public School Board for 15 years. He was also village trustee and past president of the Exeter District War Service Board and the Huron Medical Society. He was a member of the Conservative Party and was elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1943 and for a second term in 1945. During his years as a member he never failed to keep the interests of his riding at heart. It was through his efforts that the Bayfield bridge and the permanent road from Dashwood to Exeter were built.
He was influential in obtaining a Public Library for Dashwood and at the time of his death was working on bringing new industries to our town.
On September 10, 1928 he was married to Letta Ruth Guenther of Dashwood. They had one daughter, Anne Kathryn. They lived in the house formerly owned by J.K. Goetz.
On his death Premier of Ontario, Hon. George Drew said “No member of the Legislature [has] given more unselfish and devoted service. He has worked hard and faithfully for the people of his own riding and for the welfare of the whole province. We have lost a close personal friend and the people of Ontario a great public servant.”
extracted from “Friedsburg-Dashwood 1860-1985” by Mary (Patterson) Rader, 1985; pg. 85, ISBN 0-9692115-0-3