Taylor was born 19 June 1909 at Bryce, Graham, Arizona. He had three brothers: Dwight Bently Sessions born 8 September 1906 in Lowell, Cochise, Arizona; Henry (Hard Rock) Messenger Sessions born 9 September 1914 in Bisbee, Cochise, Az.; James Clyde Sessions born 15 January 1919 in Warren, Cochise, Arizona.
Taylor has many happy memories of his youth in Bisbee, Arizona. When he was 8 or 9 years of age he would visit his grandparents in Thatcher. They lived on the same street as the Kimballs and they had boys around the same age.
His life was not easy, as he was required early to help support his mother and brothers after his dad was killed at the Copper Queen Mine on 13 October 1921. Although he had taken college prep courses, his lot fell to mine work. Later he drove truck and then completed his working years as a supervisor with the U.S. Postal Service.
He married Ora Pearl Brown on 24 April 1926 in Sturgis, Kentucky. They had three children. Their first two children were Robert Warren Sessions born 20 August 1927 in Lowell, Cochise, Arizona and Pearl Louise Sessions born in 1930 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
After the depression years, he moved to Los Angeles, Ca. where their third child,Taylor Kenneth Sessions Jr., was born on 14 July 1932 in Belevedere, Los Angeles Co., California. The name "Taylor" comes from Taylor’s Grandfather, Edgar, naming them after John Taylor, President of the LDS Church.
Like his father, he was a “man of men”. He taught the younger ones that “A man’s word is his bond”, to be honest in your dealings and how to work.
He wrote in a letter to President Kimball on January 7, 1974, the following which is only part of the letter:
“Memories” The Moody home, the first house west of my Grandparents. As a member of the family Edward was just my age and as my pal we played together many times. The day he begged my older brother, Dwight and I to go out to the Moody farm to ride horses sounded wonderful and when our mother, Edna, rebelled at letting us go because of the danger, we thought she was cruel at the time. You will remember he was dragged to death by a gentle horse, started by a wild young colt, as he had the reins wrapped around his waist.
Another incident back in memory lane that brought headlines to all the newspapers, that I well remember was the “shoot-out” at the Powers Ranch up at Aravaipa. As I remember it was caused when deputies from the valley went after the 2 Powers boys on draft evasion (WW I). I remember 2 of the officers killed were Kemptonh and Mc Bride.
Remember the swimming Bees the mothers and kids of Thatcher would have when they’d head-gate the canal along where the trees were heavy and very shady near my grandparents home. It didn’t take much in those days to have a good time.
My maternal grandparents were Sumner and Sarah Messinger. You might remember my Uncle, their youngest son, Miles. Grandmother moved to town (Thatcher) from their farm at Bryce, after Grandpa’s death and Miles ran the farm. Uncle Miles was in the Posse after the Powers boys who were headed for Mexico down through the Chincahuas.
I was born over on Lizzard Bump (Bryce) the only one of the boys not born in Bisbee. Dad, I guess was trying his hand at farming and also running that small creamery in Thatcher, (I still remember the big churn vat turning), but it was short-lived because we were back in Bisbee by 1912.
I transferred to Salt Lake City in 1946 as a Railroad Postal Clerk on the SLK to Butte mail run and was there until 1952 when I transferred to Pocatello in a supervisory position. You probably know some of the old time clerks, John Johnson, John Lattimer, to name a couple. There were about 62 clerks on the line at that time. The PO Department did away with that job in the 60s. The job that did give the public some real mail service.
I retired July 1, 1973, after 30 years of service and this life is wonderful as my life always has been. I’d like to get back to Cochise County in Arizona now that I can and get away from these winters. (Down by the Huachucas).
Brother Kimball, I know you are a busy man and would appreciate a reply very much in one of your spare moments if possible. With love and best wishes at the head of our church, I remain,
Respectfully yours,
Taylor Kenneth Sessions.”
Taylor Kenneth died in February 1987 in Pocatello, Idaho. He is
buried next to his father and brother at Thatcher Cemetery in Thatcher,
Arizona. Also buried there are Sarah Haws Sessions, wife of Thomas
Broady Sessions and son’s John and Solomon.