WILLIAM T. TALBOTT. The possessors of this family name have been numbered among the best and most prominent citizens of the county during a number of years, and have been well known and highly honored. The gentleman of whom we write occupies a most attractive home on section 7, Gardner Township, the highly developed estate consisting of one hundred acres. The land is beautified with groves and orchards, and supplied with a complete line of farm buildings, together with a good cider mill. Ten acres are given up to fruit trees and the remaining of the acreage devoted to general farming. The land is well fenced, the buildings are kept in good repair and everywhere one sees evidences of good judgment, enterprise and progressive ideas.

Mr. Talbott is of English lineage, being descended from one of three brothers who came to America prior to the year 1700, making settlements in Virginia and Maryland. John Talbott located in the latter State, and in Baltimore County acquired a large estate known as My Lady's Manor. His son Edward, who was born April 6, 1764, was married in 1693 and died in Kentucky. Among the members of the family of this gentleman was a son David, who was born in Maryland in 1786 and was ten years of age when his parents went South. He became a farmer in Shelby County, Ky., and there reared twelve children. In 1835 he came to this State, bought land of William Davenport in Gardner Township and made it his home during the remnant of his days. He was Justice of the Peace for years. He belonged to the Methodist episcopal Church, held the position of Class Leader and during the time of Peter Cartwright threw open his house for religious services.

Following David Talbott in the ancestral line was Fletcher, the father of our subject, who was born in Shelby County, Ky., in March 1810. He studied medicine at Transylvania University in Lexington, then practiced in Spencer County for a short time. In the fall of 1836 he came to Springfield, traveling on horseback, and opening an office practiced here a year. In 1837 he returned to Lexington, Ky., continued his professional studies and was graduated in the spring of 1838. Returning to Springfield he resumed his practice there but in the fall located in Princeton, Morgan County, which was just starting and in which he was the first medical practitioner. Three years later Dr. Talbott returned to this county, locating in Curran Township on the Jacksonville State road, but three years later removed to a point six miles west of Springfield on the Beardstown road. He continued his professional labors until 1878 and also superintended the improvement of land he had purchased.

At the date last mentioned Dr. Talbott retired, bought and improved property on North Fifth Street, Springfield, and made his home there until called hence May 19, 1890. He had been successful not only in acquiring an honorable reputation as a physician and a citizen, but in accumulating property, owning over three hundred acres of land. He gave a site for the schoolhouse near his rural home and helped to build the structure which was named in his honor. He also gave the right of way to the railroad and took an active part in all matters which would tend to build up the country. For several years he belonged to the Board of County Supervisors and he was active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, being Sunday school Superintendent, etc. In politics, he was a Democrat.

At the laying of the corner stone of the old Capitol, Dr. Talbott made the acquaintance of Miss Ruth Gatton, whose many fine qualities so won upon him that he wooed her for his wife. The marriage rites were celebrated at the bride's home near Princeton, Morgan County, June 18, 1839. Mrs. Talbott was born in Scottville, Allen County, Ky., her father, Thomas Gatton followed the business of a merchant until 1824, when he located in Morgan now Cass County, this State, bought land and combined farming with mercantile pursuits. The mother of our subject attended school in Springfield in 1830-31. She died in that city October 13, 1886, strong in the faith of the Methodist episcopal Church with which she had been identified many years. Dr. Talbott and his good wife were the parents of seven children, our subject being the first-born. The others are David C., a practical and extensive farmer living in Woodside, this county: James L., a commission merchant who died in Chicago; Fletcher H., a farmer near Glenarm, Ill.; Mary R., wife of W. I. Evans living in Springfield; Edward R., of the Elevator Milling Company; and Charles R., with S.E. Prather & Co., the two last named being in Springfield.

Our subject was born in Princeton, Morgan County, July 6, 1841, and accompanying his parents in their removals, became a resident of Gardner Township when six years old. The schools which he attended were conducted on the subscription plan until he was fifteen years old. The schoolhouse was built of logs and furnished in the primitive fashion of which we have all heard. He learned the details of agricultural life and adopted the vocation of a farmer, making his home under the parental roof until he was twenty-two years old, with the exception of the winter of 1863-64 which he spent in Kentucky. After he became of age he farmed for himself and after his marriage, November 2, 1864, took a position in the Recorder's office in Bloomington under col. E. R. Roe. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Talbott returned to Gardner Township and bought an improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres, nine miles from Springfield. Locating upon it he continued its improvement, and superintended the various departments of the work carried on, while suffering from dyspepsia which for some years incapacitated him for physical labor.

Mr. Talbott has an ardent love for books and during the years of his enforced idleness as to physical labor, he improved his time in reading so thoroughly that it is a pleasure to converse with him, as one can always learn much from his conversation. He has one of the largest libraries in the county outside of the cities and takes great pleasure in loaning his books to those less fortunate than himself. His collection includes the standard works of history, science, biography, and poetry, and every taste can be supplied therefrom. Mr. Talbott has also several fine cabinets of curiosities, including a collection of fossils, Indian relics, marine and mineral specimens. Many of these have been obtained during his travels and by the opening of Indian mounds, and the entire collection is made the groundwork for the study of the various branches which they illustrate.

Mr. Talbott is a Democrat, believing in the principles advocated by Jackson and Douglas. His father was the first Collector of Taxes after the organization of the county into townships and he himself collected the first taxes thereafter. He has also been Assessor for two years. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church at Farmingdale, takes part in the Sunday school work, and manifests a deep interest in every worthy enterprise which is agitated by the people. Altogether he is following in the footsteps of his ancestors and is in nowise detracting from the lustre of the name.

The lady who became the wife of our subject in 1864 was Miss Sarah F. Gardner, who was born in St. Louis County, Mo., April 6, 1842. She was reared and educated in St. Louis, studying in the higher schools and Columbia College and Mrs. Tevise's at Shelbyville, Ky., acquiring a thorough education. Her parents, Thomas and Susan (Duncan) Gardner, were natives of Missouri and Kentucky respectively and resided upon a large farm near St. Louis. There her father died in 1888. Her grandfather Gardner was a native of the Blue Grass State and a pioneer farmer of St. Louis County, Mo., becoming the owner of one thousand acres of land near the metropolis. He was killed by the falling of the wall of a building in the city during the ‘50s. Mrs. Sarah (Gardner) Talbott, breathed her last September 27, 1881, leaving seven children - Thomas G., John F., Nettie E., Mabel C., Charles D., Leon M., and Lulu F. Thomas and John are engaged in farming and have homes of their own, but the others are still with their father.

In Putnam County, Ind., December 22, 1882, Mr. Talbott was married to Miss Melissa Dicks. This estimable lady was born near Greencastle, February 18, 1839, and reared there, having good advantages for education and home training. Her grandfather, James B. Dicks, was born in Maryland, made an early settlement in Kentucky and finally removed to Shelby County, Ind., where he continued farming until his demise. Reason Dicks, the father of Mrs. Talbott, was born in mason County, Ky., and became a resident in Putnam County, Ind., in 1832. His death took place in 1875. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He had married Nancy Hulett, a native of Mason County, Ky., whose father, John Hulett, was also born in that State and was the son of a Revolutionary soldier. Mrs. Dicks breathed her last in 1870. She was the mother of nine children, Mrs. Talbott being the fifth.

The brothers and sisters of the present Mrs. Talbott are Charles W., a farmer in Putnam Co., Ind.; William a mechanic in the same county; Hiram B., who died there; John S., who gave his life for his country; Francis M., a miller in Montgomery County, Ind.; Matthew M., a mechanic in Kansas; Bascom, a farmer in Montgomery County, Ind.; Stacey R., who died in the Hoosier State. John and Francis enlisted in the same company, the former was wounded at Uniontown Ky., and died in Evansville, Ind., three weeks later. Both had been taken prisoners, but Francis made his escape. Matthew was also a soldier, belonging to a regiment of one hundred day men.