Levi James Taylor was born 20 May 1851 at Kaysville, Utah Territory. He spent most of his life in Harrisville, Utah. He was a farmer and also taught school for a time. In 1873 he went to Arizona on a colonizing mission, returning after four months. In 1882-1884 he served a Latter-day Saint mission to the Southern States (Virginia and West Virginia). From 1895 to 1909 he served as bishop of the Harrisville Ward, and served as stake patriarch beginning in 1910. From May to October 1887, and again from October to December 1892, he served terms in the Utah Penitentiary for "unlawful cohabitation."

Levi James Taylor was born 20 May 1851 at Kaysville, Utah Territory. His parents were Pleasant Green Taylor and Clara Lake. He was baptized 20 May 1859 and spent most of his life in Harrisville, a community just north of Ogden, Utah. He was a farmer and taught school for about ten years.

In 1873 he went to Arizona on a colonizing mission, returning after four months. In 1882-1884 he served an LDS mission to the Southern States (Virginia and West Virginia). From 1884 to 1893 he was president of the 60th Quorum of the Seventy. In 1895 he was called to be the bishop of the Harrisville Ward, in which capacity he served until 1909. In 1910 he was ordained to be a stake patriarch.

In 1871 he married Nancy Jane Gates (b. 29 December 1850). She died 26 October 1872 along with her newly born daughter. He married Flora G. Bingham 3 February 1873, and her sister, Josephine Bingham, in plural marriage, 30 November 1875. From May to October 1887, and again from October to December 1892, he served terms in the Utah Penitentiary for "unlawful cohabitation." He fathered twenty-three children by his last two wives.

He died 24 December 1935.