University of Virginia Library

ROBERT FRANCIS TAYLOR

The gentleman whose name captions this article has
been prominent in military and other affairs of this
city for the past two decades. Robert Francis Taylor
was born at Millerstown,
Perry County,
Pennsylvania, June 1st,
1869, and is a son of
Sampson and Sarah A.
(Hoffman) Taylor. He
was educated in the
schools of Altoona,
Pennsylvania, and when
quite a young man,
accepted a position with
the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad Company at
Shenandoah, Virginia,
and in 1892, came
to Roanoke and was
employed in the passenger
car shops of the
Norfolk & Western Railway
Company. Remaining
with the Norfolk & Western for a period of
six years, Mr. Taylor resigned and went to Monterey,
Mexico, where he accepted the management of the
Wood Working department of the Monterey Foundry
& Manufacturing Company.

Prior to going to Mexico, Mr. Taylor was the captain
of the Roanoke Machine Works Guards, a military
organization, which was perhaps better known as Company
F of the Second Virginia Regiment. At the
outbreak of the Spanish American War he resigned
his position in Mexico, returned to Roanoke and
assumed command of his company which had responded
to the President's call for volunteer troops. The company
was ordered to rendezvous at Richmond, afterwards
moving to Jacksonville, Florida, where the regiment
was assigned to the Seventh Army Corps under
the command of General Fitzhugh Lee. During the
time the Second Virginia Regiment was with the
Seventh Army Corps, Captain Taylor was in command
of the third battalion of the regiment and therefore
acquired a splendid knowledge of military affairs.
At the conclusion of the Spanish-American War his
company returned to Roanoke and was mustered out
of service December 15th, 1898. Captain Taylor remained
here and for the past eight years has been
foreman of the passenger car repairing department,
with offices east of the passenger station.

In 1901 he was married to Charlotte B. Carr, daughter
of Edward T. and Emma Carr of Roanoke, and as
a result of that union they have two children, Mavis
and Frances Taylor.

Fraternally he is a member of all the branches of
the Masonic Fraternity and is past Commander of
Bayard Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar, and
is at the present time Grand Captain General of the
Grand Commandery of Virginia. He is also a member
of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics
and is a Past Councilor of the Local Lodge.