Wednesday, February 15, 2023

The rose-colored settee in the parlor

This Victorian settee, dating from the later years of the 19th century, arrived during January at the Lucas County Historical Society Museum, courtesy of the family of the late David and Ruth M. (Grady) Taylor, who had treasured it during their long married lives.

I took this image yesterday to share with the society's board during a meeting last night and decided to air it here this morning --- even though we're still in the process of collecting its history. It's currently sitting in the back parlor of the A.J. Stephens House awaiting a rearrangement of furniture once the big Christmas tree in the front parlor bay has been packed away.

David Taylor, a career Des Moines and Centerville accountant and banker, was a native of Derby and we do know that the settee was related to his family --- his parents were Carl E. and Emma (McMains) Taylor.

David and Ruth had a long life together, moving from Des Moines to Centerville, where they lived for many years, then back to the greater Des Moines area to be nearer family in 2014. He died at age 94 on the 5th of December last year; Ruth followed at the age of 92 a few days later, on Dec. 12.

Their daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and John Benson, delivered the settee and told us that it always had been a centerpiece with family photographs were taken. We told them it can still be in its new home.


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