E. Sumter Taylor, assessor of St. Landry parish, is a native of the parish, born 1841. He was educated at the Military Institute, formerly located at Alexandria, Louisiana, and was at this institution at the beginning of the war. This cut short his schooling, and he entered the Confederate service in 1861, enlisting in the Opelousas Guards, which belonged to the Eighth Louisiana Regiment, of which Governor Francis T. Nicholls was lieutenant colonel. This regiment was assigned to duty in the Army of Northern Virginia, and Mr. Taylor was here in active service for four years, with the exception of the period when he was a prisoner at Johnson's Island. Here he suffered untold hardships. Many of his companions died of starvation while in prison. After the war Mr. Taylor located in Marksville, Louisiana, where he engaged in the drug business. He married there Miss Ellen S. Taylor. To this union has been born one child, Constance. Mrs. Taylor died in 1872, and Mr. Taylor subsequently married Miss Allice E. Satterfield. To them have been born five children, Mary, Estelle, Margery, Helen and Edward S.
Mr. Taylor returned to St. Landry parish in 1873, locating in Washington, where he engaged in a drug business. He subsequently came to Opelousas, and was for some time employed as a clerk in a drug store. He was appointed clerk of the Supreme Court at Opelousas in 1881, and served three years, when he was appointed parish assessor, and is the present efficient incumbent of that office.
