Archibald Boggs Taylor, known as Archie or Arch, was born in Salem in 1892. His father was William Barrett Taylor and his mother was Elizabeth McCaw Boggs Taylor. His father, known as “Old Man Bill,” founded Taylor Brothers Tobacco Company, manufacturers of plug and twist tobacco.
Arch graduated from the West End School and Davidson College, then returned to Winston-Salem to work at Taylor Brothers. In 1917 he joined the army and worked at a base hospital in France. He wrote a letter to his friends at Taylor Brothers when he was in service in 1918. The letter was printed in the Winston-Salem Journal, and in the letter Arch said that he missed his friends in the factory, their great songs, and the smell of tobacco.
After the war he worked for Chero Cola Bottling Company in Charlotte, then became a partner in Taylor-Long Company, manufacturer of bottlers’ syrup, extracts, and supplies.
He rejoined Taylor Brothers in 1933 and became president in 1947. Taylor Brothers was acquired as a subsidiary of American Snuff Company in the 1950s. Arch retired as president in 1957, and became a director of American Snuff.
During his career, he was a spokesman for the tobacco industry, and was affectionately called “Mr. Tobacco.”
Arch was married to Margaret Webb Taylor and he passed away in 1962.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
