Robert E. Tapp Private Papers

Robert (Bob) Estworthy Tapp was born in Abbotsford, Somerset, England on February 19, 1880. He came to America at the age of 14. Bob lived near Chicago with his maternal aunt and her husband on their dairy farm until early manhood. He moved to Wilmington, NC on the advice of a salesman from that area in order to seek better opportunities. Initially, Bob worked for the J.S. Williams Towing Company and later for Bear Brothers' Dry Goods Company. For several years he was the shipping clerk for the McNair and Pearsall Company and later became associated with the Clayton Giles Insurance Agency. From 1920 until he retired, Bob was associated with the Broadfoot Iron Works, where he held the position of bookkeeper and finance officer. Tapp married Elizabeth Prentess Woodward of Wilmington on October 21, 1911. She worked for the Wilmington Public Library. The couple resided at 1920 Princess Street in Wilmington. Bob was very active in the church; at one time he served as superintendent of the Sunday School at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, though he was a communicant of St. James Episcopal Church. Elizabeth died on January 30, 1978. Bob died on June 23, 1979, and both are interred in Oakdale Cemetery.