Descended from two pioneer families of the Mount Barker district, she was the daughter of Charles Morris Russell Dumas, founder and proprietor of the Mount Barker Courier, and his wife Amelia (Paltridge). She was one of 5 children. She married Jack Gleeson Taylor of Strathalbyn, an inspector in the State Lands Department. They had one son. She had some experience of journalism and managed the family newspaper business from 1935 when her father became ill until 1938 when it was sold to Mr & Mrs T. Monger. She lived for many years on South Australia's west coast, and did much outback travelling. She wrote her first and only book at the age of 73.
