TALBOTT, W. A. - The records of Springfield show that the city is the home of a number of reliable, industrious men, engaged in various lines of activity, who realize the advantages offered by residence in the Capital City. Those who have families often choose it as a home because of the excellent schools, where their children can secure a good education. Among those who are helping to make the city better in every way, by living upright lives and exerting well meant influence in the right direction, may be numbered W. A. Talbott. He was born at Curran, Ill., September 2, 1871, a son of David C. Talbott and his wife Elizabeth, farming people. They located in Woodside Township in 1879, and since then have made that locality their home, developing and operating a farm that has become valuable.
W. A. Talbott supplemented his common school education with a course at the Springfield business college, after which he went into the service of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. Later he engaged with the buffalo & Ohio Railroad, and proved himself so efficient that he was made conductor. He is careful and conscientious, and no man has done more in his way than Mr. Talbott to make his road as near perfect as possible.
On January 29, 1896, Mr. Talbott was united in marriage with Frankie E. Gattan, born in Sangamon County, July 25, 1874. Her father was a farmer and stockman, who accumulated considerable property in this work. Two little ones have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Talbott, Dorothy Jane, on October 2, 1898, and Georgetta E., on March 10, 1901. Mr. Talbott is a Republican, but has never sought to come before the people in any public capacity. His fraternal relations are with the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and they are pleasant ones. The Methodist Church holds his membership, and he has always given liberally of his means towards its support. Taking him all in all, Mr. Talbott is a man whom any community might well be proud to claim as a citizen, for he belongs to that class which forms the backbone of the nation.