Part owner and manager, New York City's Fifth Avenue Hotel. Benefactor, Lyndon Institute, Cobleigh Library and other civic institutions. Attended local schools, worked on family farm. Gifted scholar, studied architecture and graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Entered hotel business, eventually making fortune as part owner and manager of Fifth Avenue Hotel. Never married. Purchased East Burke dairy farm in 1883 and increased holdings by buying adjoining farms along the ridge south of his. Brother Lucius managed enterprise, which Elmer named Mountain View Farms. Milk from farm processed at central creamery, with most of the dairy products, including 70 pounds of cheese per day, shipped daily to Fifth Avenue Hotel. Designed and oversaw construction of 35-room mansion called Burklyn Hall because it straddled the Burke-Lyndon town line, 1908. Retired and lived in Vermont full time. Founder and president, Morgan Horse Club. President, Lyndonville Savings Bank. President, Lyndon Institute Board of Trustees. Led 600 citizens in campaign to raise funds for replacing Institute's building after it was destroyed by 1922 fire. Elected to head building committee after fire destroyed Hotel Lyndon. Donated land on which new Hotel Darling was built. Undertook many civic efforts in conjunction with neighbor Theodore N. Vail, head of AT&T. Darling State Park including Burke Mountain was created from land donated by Darling family. Burklyn Hall donated to state, 1957. Listed on National Register of Historical Places, home to Burklyn Arts Council, non-profit foundation that provides art instruction and activities to Burke, Lyndon and surrounding communities. Inn at Mountain View Farm and Mountain View Farm Animal Sanctuary occupy site of his Mountain View Farms.