Elmer Zebley Taylor

Who was Mr Elmer Zebley Taylor?

Mr Elmer Zebley Taylor was an American manufacturer and Titanic survivor, known for his pioneering work in the paper container industry. Born on March 13, 1864, in Smyrna, Delaware, Taylor lived a remarkable life spanning 85 (eighty-five) years, during which he survived one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters and built a successful business empire in paper food containers.

Early Life and Family

Elmer Zebley Taylor was born into a family of Delaware natives. His parents were:

Father: George Washington Taylor (1836-1910), a machinist
Mother: Mary Elizabeth Dady (1841-1929)

Taylor grew up in a large family, with several siblings:

Gilbert Beebe (1860-1939)
Evelyn (1862-1942, later Mrs Henry Denney Boyer)
Gove Salisbury (b. 1866)
Lucy (1868-1908)
Frank Jefferson (1870-1882)
George Dady (1872-1916)
Mary (1874-1875)
Nellie Collins (1877-1971, later Rowland)
Cyrus (1883-1957)

Education and Early Career

By the time of the 1880 census, Elmer had already left school and was following in his father’s footsteps, working as a machinist. This early exposure to mechanical work would later prove invaluable in his future endeavors.

Marriage and Move to England

In 1886, at the age of 22 (twenty-two), Elmer married Juliet Cummings Wright, who was also from Smyrna, Delaware. The couple, who remained childless, moved to England in the 1890s. They developed a passion for travel, becoming avid globe-trotters.

Entrepreneurial Success

How did Elmer Taylor become a pioneer in the paper container industry?

Elmer Taylor’s ingenuity and mechanical skills led him to design and manufacture automatic machinery for moisture-proof paper food containers. His entrepreneurial journey in this field began in 1906 when he started manufacturing paper cups in England under the name Mono Containers Ltd. The company was highly successful, eventually expanding to have factories in ten countries.

In 1910, Taylor expanded his business to the United States, opening Mono Service Co. in Newark, New Jersey. His business partner in this venture was Fletcher Lambert-Williams, who would later perish on the Titanic.

The Titanic Journey

What were the details of the Taylors’ Titanic voyage?

The Taylors boarded the Titanic at Southampton as first-class passengers, embarking on what was supposed to be a routine trip to their summer residence in East Orange, New Jersey. Their ticket details were:

Ticket Number: 19996
Ticket Cost: £52
Cabin: C-126

On the fateful night of April 14, 1912, Elmer Taylor was awakened by the impact of the ship hitting the iceberg. He and his wife quickly dressed and left their stateroom. On their way to the boat deck, they passed the cabin of their travel companion, Fletcher Lambert-Williams. Despite their warning, Lambert-Williams didn’t believe it was necessary to get up, a decision that would cost him his life.

How did the Taylors survive the Titanic disaster?

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were among the fortunate survivors of the Titanic disaster. They were rescued, likely in either lifeboat 5 or 7. According to a report in the Camden Daily Courier on May 16, 1912:

“When the second boat was lowered there were only two men remaining on the deck, Taylor and another person. After the boat was lowered slightly it was discovered that there was room for two more and they were ordered in. Therefore both were saved.”

Life After the Titanic

The Titanic disaster did not deter Elmer Taylor from sea travel. In fact, he continued to be an avid traveler well into his old age. Some of the ships he traveled on post-Titanic included:

Paris
Bremen
Majestic
Homeric
Mauretania
Queen Elizabeth
Olympic (several voyages)

In 1914, Elmer and Juliet resettled in East Orange, New Jersey. Sadly, Juliet passed away in 1927. Taylor remarried twice more:

Katherine Elizabeth Guthrie (b. 1871 in Cleveland, Ohio)
Beatrice Swann (b. 1896 in Charlestown, West Virginia)

Later Career and Retirement

In 1945, at the age of 81 (eighty-one), Taylor sold Mono Service Co. to Continental Can Co., Inc. However, he didn’t fully retire, continuing to serve as a consultant engineer. His expertise in the field remained valuable even in his later years.

Legacy and Final Years

Elmer Zebley Taylor left a lasting impact on the paper container industry. His innovations in moisture-proof food containers and automatic machinery for their production helped shape the modern packaging industry.

Taylor spent his final years at 67 South Munn Avenue, East Orange. He passed away on May 20, 1949, at the age of 85 (eighty-five). He was laid to rest alongside his first wife, Juliet, in St Peter’s Cemetery, Smyrna, Delaware.

Elmer Taylor’s life story is a testament to the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of the early 20th century. From his humble beginnings as a machinist to becoming a pioneering industrialist, and surviving one of history’s greatest maritime disasters, Taylor’s journey embodies the American dream of his era.