Bio: John B. Talbert, Bienville Parish Louisiana
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

Submitted by Kay Thompson Brown



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    John B. Talbert is the newly elected cashier of the Arcadia State Bank
of Arcadia, La.  He was born in Louisiana, May 15, 1856, but during the
war was with his mother in Drew County, Ark being the eldest of five children
born to his parents The next in order of birth was A. A., who was married but
died at the age of twenty-eight years, a widower; he was a merchant in
Simsboro, La, being the junior member of Hays, Trussell & Co, which was a
well-known firm.  The next member or the family was Laura A., wife of John
Ponder, a cotton planter of Simsboro, La.  Then followed Liller; wife of W. M.
Smith, an extensive agriculturalist of Vienna, La., and Franklin D., who is
telegrapher in the employ of the V. S. & P. R. R at Shreveport, La.; he was at
one time professor of telegraphy and typewriting in Mount Lebanon College. 
The father of this family was born in Alabama, and for the past twenty-five
years has been a Baptist minister.  He resides at present in Simsboro.  He was
married in 1869 to Mrs. Steward, his second wife, a native of Louisiana, who
still lives.  

The early education of Mr. Talbert was sadly neglected, principally on account
of the Civil War, but at the age of sixteen years he commenced to climb the
hill of knowledge, and as he always made it a point to post himself thoroughly
on the general topics of the day, is now a well informed and intelligent man. 
He was largely assisted by his devoted mother, whom Mr. Talbert  remembers
with love and respect.  At the above mentioned age (sixteen), he began going
to school, and by persistent effort he received a sufficient amount of
learning to enable him to teach school, finally entering the State
University of Louisiana, at Baton Rouge in 1877, taking the scientific -
course.  He remained in this institution two sessions, but during all his
previous study he had also been a devoted student, and is now reaping his
just reward for his many years of pains taking labor.  When be left the
University of Louisiana, be took Horace Greeley's advice and went to seek his
fortune in the far West, and during a five years' residence in the  'Wilds''
was engaged in civil engineering and teaching school. He visited Western
Texas, Colorado, Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada. Oregon, Utah, Kansas
arid Nebraska, after which he returned home.  He was during his
thirteen months of consecutive travel engaged in civil engineering, his
experience during this time being of great benefit to him, for be obtained a
knowledge of human nature which no books could give him.  

After his return to Louisiana in 1884, he began clerking in a store in Monroe,
but at the end of two and a half year's he came to Arcadia and became a clerk
in the extensive mercantile business of A. L. Atkins, while there receiving
the position of traveling salesman for the extensive dry goods house of
Hargadine & McKittrick, to represent them throughout the State at a large
salary, which position he accepted. 

He was married on November 17, 1889, to Mrs. Ruth Gladney, she being a
talented and highly educated lady, a graduate of Female Seminary of New
Orleans, and of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. 


Mr. Talbert is a stanch Democrat, and socially is a member of the Blue Lodge
of the A. F, & A. M. of Arcadia, and the K.of P  He is a Missionary Baptist
and his wife is a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church, she as well as
her husband, being an earnest worker in the Sunday-school.  

This short sketch of the career of Mr. Talbert will be read with much interest
from the simple fact that he commenced the journey of life at the lowest round
of the ]adder, without a dollar and scarcely any education, and by his own
perseverance has attained a high social as well as business position.  The
positions of honor and trust which he now fills, are symbols of his
persistency in reaching the desired goal, that of honor and sincerity of
purpose.  He is interested in merchandising in Arcadia, and is treasurer of
the Louisiana State Land Company, which has a capital of $100,000, and he is
the honored cashier of the Arcadia State Bank.  He and his wife have a
beautiful home, and are surrounded with everything to make him comfortable and
happy.  He was largely instrumental in organizing the above mentioned bank,
and through his individual efforts the $30,000 was subscribed, the bank
opening its doors to the public September 15, 1890, for which the thanks of
the public is due to Mr. Talbert.