ALONG THE WAY

About the Book

This book was written to provide a genealogical account of my family history. There was a driving need to tell this story for the benefit of all of my family, but mostly for my children, Megan, Nicole, Natalie & Robbie, my two step-sons, Marc and Paul and all of those who will come after them.

Many hours, weeks, months and years searching the genealogical archives of the Mormon Temple, countless interviews, many trips to grave sites, monuments, and travels to far away places, went into this writing. To give an account of a family's genealogy can be a most complex and daunting task. The research alone can be overwhelming. I have tried to provide the reader with as much detail and accuracy as possible. My intent was to structure this book in a manner that will serve as a reference for those family members, and others as well, who might have the need and interest in knowing the ancestry of those denoted in this writing. The major portion of this book is based on written documentation. However, some of its content is based on verbal accounts and may be subject to some error. For this I sincerely apologize and welcome any and all corrections.

Many thanks and great appreciation to my mother, (Rev. Dr. Allie Mae Bellar-Allen), my stepfather, (Lloyd Christopher Allen), my uncle, (Clarence Knox Taylor), my brother in law, Dale Bonzo Etrata and all the other, for sharing their wealth of knowledge concerning the family histories represented in this book. Thanks for taking the time to share it with me. Above all, I must thank my wife, (Rita Teresa) for her support and understanding; the years and years of listening to me pour over data and digging up the past. She has heard me go over data from my research, recalling events names and places so much that she knows them better than I do.
My deepest gratitude to you all, and to you all I dedicate this book.
Many thanks to Dr. Allen for the many stories and accounts of her pass that inspired me to write this book. Without her I would never have begin the research that led to this writing.

About the Author

Robert Taylor was born in Ashdown Arkansas, where he was reared by his grandparents. He, along with his brother, joined his mother and stepfather in Santa Monica, California; where he enrolled in the Santa Monica school system, culminating in graduating from Santa Monica College. Robert served in the Navy. He is a retired quality engineer from the microelectronics and the aerospace industries; in the Los Angeles area of California. After retiring he moved to Louisiana where he continues to pursue his 30 year genealogical research. Mr. Taylor is an avid tennis player, rosarian, fisherman, and now, an Author. He has always had fond memories of his early childhood in Arkansas; contributing to him becoming a nostalgist. He has always been somewhat of a history buff, longing to know the things of the past. These things helped to fuel his passion and drive that lead to the writing of this book.