Leading up to St. Paul’s 150th anniversary, let’s take a look at some of the former church members. Looking around the church we see many plaques that name former members of the congregation who are memorialized by their gifts to the glory of God and in remembrance of loved ones.
Dr. Alfred W. Taliaferro is memorialized in a stained glass window over the organ. The window depicts the scene of “The Good Samaritan”. This is very appropriate for Dr. Talliaferro who was known in his practice of medicine to treat all regardless of their ability to pay.
Dr. Taliaferro (pronounced Toliver) came from Virginia on the ship “Glenmore” in 1849. He was a true “49-er” sailing to California to join the gold rush. He was part of the Virginia Company, a group of young men from Richmond who formed a company to make it rich in California. The ship arrived in San Francisco on October 6, 1849. The company was so eager to take off for the mines that they sold their cargo at a loss and hurried off to become rich. Dr. Taliaferro was one of the few who decided to go into farming and came to San Rafael with some other members of the company for that purpose.
Dr. Taliaferro was not much of a farmer but he opened the first drug store in San Rafael on Fourth street. When San Quentin Prison opened in in 1852, Dr. Taliaferro became the first prison doctor. He was elected to the California State Assembly and served in 1853 and 1854. Later he served in the State Senate until 1858.
But Dr. Taliaferro was not all business. He loved to hunt in the hills of Marin on his fine horse and pack of hounds. Roaming over the hills he came into a lovely spot on the land grant of Domingo Sais. When Dr. Taliaferro asked Don Domingo Sais if he could buy 40 acres, the land owner said he would gift the land to the doctor to have such a good neighbor . Dr. Taliaferro built a home on this property in 1856. His good friend, Charles Fairfax arrived in Marin County and Dr. Taliaferro passed the property to Charles Fairfax and his wife. Thus the town of Fairfax was named after Charles Fairfax instead of Dr. Taliaferro.
Dr. Taliaferro would ride out over the countryside at any hour to tend the sick and injured. He often collected no fee but would later would bill those patients he felt could afford it. He was once shot by robbers on a late night sick call. He was a wonderful story teller and was known as a local character , loved by everyone.
Dr. Taliaferro was a member of St. Paul’s Church and passed the collection plate on Sunday morning. If the well-to-do did not put what he thought was a sufficient amount in the plate, he would stand in the aisle and motion with his hand to tell the embarrassed man to fork over more.
Dr. Taliaferro died of pneumonia in Dec., 1885 after a wet night medical visit. After his death he lay in state at the San Rafael Opera House. His funeral was held at St. Paul’s Church. The flag at the Marin County Courthouse hung at half-mast and the businesses in San Rafael closed for the funeral. The church was packed with all the good doctor’s friends and patients. The priest, Rev. William Story said, “We all feel that a great and good man has fallen in our midst.
~Joy Moss
Photo Courtesy of the California Room of the Marin County Library