John Taylor (paper manufacturer)
Encyclopedia
John Taylor was a Toronto
area businessman and a pioneer in the pulp and paper industry
.
from England
in 1821. By 1834, John Taylor and his brothers, Thomas and George, moved from the city of Vaughan, Ontario
to the Township of York, part of the newly created city of Toronto.The brothers set their sites on the banks of the Don river, an area with an already burgeoning pulp and paper industry.
on the West Don in 1846; in 1851 they purchased a water-powered saw mill, and also purchased the York Paper Mill (later named Todmorden Mills
) in 1855. The Taylor mills produced manila paper
, newsprint
and felt paper, a product used in roofing. The mills were extremely productive and employed 100 people by the 1900's. John, the oldest of the three brothers, was the manager of the mills.
In 1854, London
, England offered a reward of £1,000 to anyone who could find a cheaper and more abundant substitute for rags as a raw source for paper. A talented mechanic with a gift for invention, John Taylor tested several methods making paper out of wood pulp
. The use of wood as a cellulosic feedstock was the first major technological break-through in paper-making in 1,700 years. This advancement dramatically transformed the industry and earned Taylor a place as a pioneer in the technical development of Canada's paper industry
.
in 1889.
The Taylor name lives on in Toronto as the name of a tributary of the city's Don river, called Taylor Creek
.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
area businessman and a pioneer in the pulp and paper industry
Pulp and paper industry in Canada
The pulp and paper industry in Canada is one of the country's most important and profitable industries. It is especially concentrated in Ontario and Quebec but plays an important role in many other provinces.- Leading companies :...
.
Early life
The Taylor family immigrated to Upper CanadaUpper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1821. By 1834, John Taylor and his brothers, Thomas and George, moved from the city of Vaughan, Ontario
Vaughan, Ontario
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
to the Township of York, part of the newly created city of Toronto.The brothers set their sites on the banks of the Don river, an area with an already burgeoning pulp and paper industry.
Paper production
The 1850s brought a wave of expansion to the paper industry in Toronto. By this time, Toronto's population had grown to over thirty thousand and this growing community was also becoming more literate, increasing the demand for books and newspapers. The Taylor family business was also expanding: The brothers had already built their first paper millPaper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
on the West Don in 1846; in 1851 they purchased a water-powered saw mill, and also purchased the York Paper Mill (later named Todmorden Mills
Todmorden Mills
Todmorden Mills was a small settlement located in the Don River valley in Toronto, Ontario. It started out as a lumber mill in the 1790s. Originally known as "Don Mills", it grew into a small industrial complex and village before becoming part of East York in the 20th century...
) in 1855. The Taylor mills produced manila paper
Manila paper
Manila paper is a type of paper originally made from Manila hemp or abacá. It is buff in color and the fibers are usually visible to the naked eye. Because manila paper is generally inexpensive, it is commonly given to children for making child art....
, newsprint
Newsprint
Newsprint is a low-cost, non-archival paper most commonly used to print newspapers, and other publications and advertising material. It usually has an off-white cast and distinctive feel. It is designed for use in printing presses that employ a long web of paper rather than individual sheets of...
and felt paper, a product used in roofing. The mills were extremely productive and employed 100 people by the 1900's. John, the oldest of the three brothers, was the manager of the mills.
In 1854, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England offered a reward of £1,000 to anyone who could find a cheaper and more abundant substitute for rags as a raw source for paper. A talented mechanic with a gift for invention, John Taylor tested several methods making paper out of wood pulp
Wood pulp
Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
. The use of wood as a cellulosic feedstock was the first major technological break-through in paper-making in 1,700 years. This advancement dramatically transformed the industry and earned Taylor a place as a pioneer in the technical development of Canada's paper industry
Pulp and paper industry in Canada
The pulp and paper industry in Canada is one of the country's most important and profitable industries. It is especially concentrated in Ontario and Quebec but plays an important role in many other provinces.- Leading companies :...
.
Death and legacy
John Taylor died unexpectedly on May 13, 1871 at the age of sixty-two. His brothers went on to establish the Don Valley Brick WorksDon Valley Brick Works
The Don Valley Brick Works also known as Evergreen Brickworks is a former quarry and industrial site located in the Don River valley in Toronto, Ontario. Currently the buildings sit mostly unused while the quarry has been converted into a city park which includes a series of naturalized ponds...
in 1889.
The Taylor name lives on in Toronto as the name of a tributary of the city's Don river, called Taylor Creek
Taylor-Massey Creek (Don)
Taylor-Massey Creek is a tributary of the Don River in Toronto, Ontario. It flows through Scarborough and East York, where it enters the Don River. The creek is named after two prominent Toronto families. The Taylors were a wealthy family that owned and operated the Don Valley Brick Works...
.