[2] She was one of eight children born to Merrick Edson (1804–1850) and Lucretia Waring;[3] her father owned a flour mill and died when she was 12 years old, leaving enough money to provide a comfortable living for the family.

Having always associated with "the best class of people, the cultured and the refined," Taylor believed that she needed money to hold her place in the world.

Contrary to rumors at the time, the cat survived the plunge and seventeen minutes later, after she was found with a bleeding head, posed with Taylor in photographs.

[8] On October 24, 1901, her 63rd birthday, the barrel was put over the side of a rowboat, and Taylor climbed in, along with her lucky heart-shaped pillow.

The hole used for this was plugged with a cork, and Taylor was set adrift near the American shore, south of Goat Island.

I would sooner walk up to the mouth of a cannon, knowing it was going to blow me to pieces than make another trip over the Fall.She briefly earned money speaking about her experience but was never able to build much wealth.

[citation needed] She spent her final years posing for photographs with tourists at her souvenir stand, attempting to earn money from the New York Stock Exchange, briefly talking about taking a second plunge over the cataracts in 1906, attempting to write a novel, re-constructing her 1901 plunge on film (which was never seen), working as a clairvoyant, and providing magnetic therapeutic treatments to local residents.

[12] She died on April 29, 1921, aged 82 and was interred next to her friend and fellow daredevil Carlisle Graham,[13] in the "Stunter's Rest" section [14] of Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York.