Taliaferro served as an enlisted man in the artillery for seven years before being commissioned as an officer in the 21st infantry in 1908. He did surveying work in the Philippine Islands and in 1913 was detailed to the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps for pilot training. Taliaferro was married to Leicester Sehon shortly before his death. He was buried in San Diego at the Mount Hope Cemetery. Camp Taliaferro in Texas was named in his honor, as was Camp Taliaferro in San Diego.