anstis e. shepard was born in middlefield, new york to david spaulding shepard and rosella bailey. she was the oldest of their two daughters. her parents were devout members of the methodist episcopal church. she attended the harwick academy, and following her graduation she left home in 1854 to teach school in haverstraw, new york, where she met john druce, a member of the lds church. she was taught by druce and baptized into the church on july 5, 1856. on august 31, 1856, she married george hamilton taylor, another convert, in haverstraw. they left new york for utah on april 15, 1859. she met with the edward stevenson company that left from quincy, illinois, in june 1859 and arrived in salt lake city on september 16.