History

G. F. Taylor began practicing law in Effingham, Illinois in the late 1880's. He began his legal career by reading the law under Mr. Benson Wood, one of the first graduates of the University of Chicago Law School. Benson Wood was a former mayor of the City of Effingham, a United States Congressman, and a veteran of the American Civil War. His diploma from the University of Chicago School of Law dated June 30, 1864, hangs in the Benson Wood conference room in our Effingham office.

G.F. Taylor's son, Harold J. Taylor graduated from the University of Illinois School of Law in 1925, and joined his father in the practice of law in Effingham, Illinois, under the firm name of Taylor & Taylor.  G.F. Taylor died in 1945. Under the leadership of Harold J. Taylor, the law firm of Taylor & Taylor grew to a four lawyer firm, which included A. Leonard Anderson, George Dehn, and Carl Becker, who later became circuit judge in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Chester, Illinois.

In 1961, Harold J. Taylor's son, Thomas F. Taylor, a graduate of the University of Illinois School of Law, joined the firm. In 1974, Michael R. Weber joined the firm of Taylor & Taylor. Harold J. Taylor died in 1975. In 1983, Mr. Weber was appointed Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit.

Dale F. Wolff, Bruce A. Burkey and James J. Eder practicing under the firm name of Dale F. Wolff & Associates, P.C. merged with Taylor & Taylor in 1983 following the untimely death of Thomas F. Taylor at the age of 48 years. The new firm was incorporated as Taylor and Wolff P.C., and later changed its name to Taylor, Wolff, Burkey & Eder P.C. The firm added Lou J. Viverito in 1985 and Henry J. Stephens in 1987. Thereafter, the firm has been known as Taylor Law Offices, P.C.

David A. McDevitt joined Taylor Law Offices in 1991 (retired in 2009) while Matthew R. Hortenstine and Christopher A. Koester became affiliated with the firm in 1995 and 2001, respectively. In 2001, James J. Eder was appointed as Associate Judge for the Fourth Judicial Circuit and Henry J. Stephens retired in 2003. Tracy A. Berberich was hired in 2003, Kirsten W. Osteen in 2006, Chad E. Chojnicki in 2008, Aaron C. Jones in 2009, and Aaron K. Leonard in 2010. Currently Taylor Law Offices has offices in Effingham, Altamont, Flora, and Springfield, Illinois.