TALBOTT, BENJAMIN
, was born June 19, 1798, in Fairfax county, Virginia. He went to Kentucky, where he was married Jan. 21, 1808, to Mrs. Frances Lumsford, whose maiden name was Johnson. Her former husband, Mr. Lumsford, was an overseer and was poisoned by negroes in Kentucky. They had three children in Kentucky, and Mrs. Frances Talbott died Nov. 17, 1817. Benjamin Talbott was married April 8, 1818, to Elizabeth Johnson, sister of his first wife, and a native of North Carolina. They had two children. Benjamin Talbott moved to Springfield, Illinois in 1826. Of their children -Hannah, born Dec. 14, 1808, in Kentucky, was married there to Alexander Harrower. She died April 28, 1859. Mr. H. resides in Athens, Illinois.
Harvey, born March 14, 1810, in Kentucky, died in Springfield Oct. 8, 1832.
William H., born August 10, 1817, in Kentucky, was married Dec. 3, 1838, in Sangamon county to Matilda Enyart. They had six children, Charles H., born May 13, 1845, in Springfield, is a merchant in Burton View, Logan county, Illinois. Benjamin F., born Feb. 10, 1848, in Springfield, is a printer and stockholder in the Springfield Printing Company. He is also superintendent in the job department, and resides in Springfield. Mrs. Matilda Talbott died March 16, 1855, and William H. Talbott was married Oct. 2, 1856, to Mary Winters, who was born August 2, 1824, in Franklin county, Penn. They had two children, Mary E. and William H., Jun. The latter died March 14, 1871, aged 11 years. William H. Talbott, Sen., died Jan. 21, 1874, and his widow resides in Springfield, Illinois. He was at the time of his death engaged in the business of carriage and wagon making and had been for many years.
Martha, born March 8, 1824, in Kentucky, was married in Springfield Oct. 27, 1842, to Daniel W. Witmer. They have one child, Mary E., born July 21, 1843, was married May 11, 1863, to Reuben M. Huckey. They have two children, Mattie R. and Daniel W., and reside in Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Witmer reside in Springfield, Illinois.
Robert A., born Nov. 5, 1826, in Springfield. He was married December, 1851, in Menard county, to Eveline Robinson. They had five living children, J. Harvey, Benjamin S., Clara W., Bettie N. and Robert W., reside with their parents in Logan county, six miles west of Lincoln, Illinois.
Benjamin Talbott died April 29, 1858, and Mrs. Elizabeth Talbott died March 29, 1870, both in Springfield, Illinois.
Soon after Benjamin Talbott came to Springfield, in 1826, he acted as deputy sheriff and assessor, and filled other minor offices until 1836, when he was elected county recorder, which office he held until 1848, when, under the constitution adopted that year, the office of recorder was merged into that of circuit clerk. He was elected to the latter office four years, and after that had charge of the recorder's branch until his death.