Elisabeth Walton Robert

Who was Mrs Elisabeth Walton Robert?

Mrs Elisabeth Walton Robert was a prominent American socialite and philanthropist who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on August 5, 1868, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she lived a life of privilege and adventure, marked by her charitable work and her remarkable experience as a Titanic survivor.

Early Life and Family

Elisabeth Walton McMillan was born into a respectable family in Pittsburgh. Her parents were:

Father: John Quincy McMillan (1826-1882), a clergyman
Mother: Elisabeth Catherine Walton (1832-1923), from Virginia

Elisabeth was the youngest of three children:

Lydia Jeanette (born 1853)
Daniel Walton (1859-1901)
Elisabeth Walton (1868-1956)

The 1870 census shows the family residing in Pittsburgh. After her father’s death in 1882, Elisabeth’s mother never remarried and lived with Elisabeth until her passing in 1923.

Marriages and Family Life

First Marriage

On February 13, 1895, Elisabeth married George Alexander Madill, a distinguished Pennsylvanian-born jurist of Irish parentage. Interesting facts about this union include:

George was born on June 29, 1838, making him 30 years Elisabeth’s senior
He was a widower, having previously been married to Julia Peck (1840-1893)
George had two sons from his first marriage: George (1867-1889) and Charles (1873-1916)

The couple settled in St. Louis, Missouri, and had one daughter:

Georgette Alexandra (born 1896)

They lived at 4140 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis, as recorded in the 1900 census.

Second Marriage

After George Madill’s death on December 11, 1901, Elisabeth remarried. Her second husband was Edward Scott Robert, whom she wed on January 3, 1904. Notable points about this marriage:

Edward was born on October 31, 1858, in Albemarle, Virginia
He was a lawyer and a close associate of Elisabeth’s first husband
The couple continued to reside at 4140 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis

Tragically, Elisabeth was widowed for a second time when Edward passed away on December 13, 1911.

The Titanic Voyage

Why did Elisabeth board the Titanic?

Following the death of her second husband, Elisabeth and her daughter decided to take a vacation to Europe to assuage their grief. For their return journey to America, they booked passage on the RMS Titanic.

Titanic Journey Details

Embarked: Southampton
Ticket Number: 24160
Ticket Cost: £211, 6s, 9d
Cabin: B3
Class: 1st Class

Elisabeth was accompanied by:

Her maid, Emilie Kreuchen
Her niece, Elisabeth Walton Allen (daughter of her sister Lydia)

Rescue

The four ladies were fortunate to be rescued in lifeboat 2 during the Titanic’s sinking.

Life After the Titanic

Travels and Appearance

Elisabeth never remarried after her Titanic experience but continued to be an avid traveler well into her later years. Her 1917 passport provides a vivid description of her appearance:

Height: 5'6"
Hair: Light-brown/grey
Eyes: Hazel
Forehead: Medium
Complexion: Fair

Notable Voyages

Elisabeth’s passion for travel never waned. Some of her noteworthy journeys include:

Visits to Japan and China
Two voyages aboard the Olympic (August 1930 and September 1932)
A journey on the Queen Mary in 1939
A trip on the second Mauretania in October 1953 with her daughter Georgette Mattei

Philanthropic Work and Legacy

Elisabeth Robert was deeply committed to charitable causes, particularly those benefiting young people and children. Her notable contributions include:

Organizing the YWCA in 1892
Establishing the Underage Free Kindergarten in St. Louis
Helping to establish a school for African-American children

Final Years and Death

In her later years, Elisabeth resided in Clarkesville, Missouri, where she owned an estate. She passed away on January 15, 1956, at the age of 87 (eighty-seven) in the Jewish Hospital in St. Louis following a heart attack.

A Unique Testament to Kindness

Perhaps one of the most touching aspects of Elisabeth’s legacy was her treatment of her household staff. In an unusual and compassionate gesture, she arranged for three of her African-American servants to be buried with the Madill family in Bellefontaine Cemetery upon their deaths:

Katherine Harris (died 1937)
Laura Belle Harris (1863-1942)
Viola Harris Douglas (died 1945)

This act of kindness and equality was highly uncommon for the time and speaks volumes about Elisabeth’s character and her deep respect for those who worked for her family.