Clatsop County OR Archives Biographies.....Tallant, E. W. March 28, 1841 - 
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Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com July 4, 2010, 3:57 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 467 - 469
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     E. W. TALLANT, one of Astoria's honored pioneers, has had an adventurous 
and picturesque career, replete with interesting and thrilling experiences, 
and on the stage of life he has played well his part. For nearly a half 
century he has resided in the Columbia River valley, becoming widely and 
favorably known as a salmon packer, and is now enjoying the ease and comfort 
that result from tasks well done and years of rightly directed industry. He 
was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, March 28, 1841, and his parents, 
Nathaniel and Lydia (Scudder) Tallant, were members of old and distinguished 
families of that state. His father was born in Pelham, Massachusetts, December 
27, 1794, and the mother was born on Cape Cod, November 7, 1806. Both were of 
English lineage and descendants of men of courage and valor who participated 
in the struggle for American independence. Amos Otis, a great-uncle of E. W. 
Tallant, not only established an enviable military record during his service 
in the Revolutionary war but was also an outstanding figure in political 
affairs. Thomas Scudder was the first representative of his family in America. 
He was followed by John Scudder, who was born in London, England, in 1619 and 
in 1635 came to this country on the ship James. For a few years he resided in 
Charlestown, Massachusetts, and in 1640 settled in Barnstable. His wife's name 
was Hannah and among their descendants was Zeno Scudder, who was born in 1807. 
He was a lawyer of pronounced ability and became a member of the Massachusetts 
senate, later representing his state in congress. Henry A. Scudder, who also 
contributed toward the prestige of the family, was born in 1819. He was 
likewise a talented attorney and was selected for judicial honors, becoming a 
judge of the superior court of Massachusetts. David Scudder, another member of 
the family, chose the career of a missionary and died in India. Nathaniel 
Tallant was a prosperous merchant and throughout his active commercial career 
engaged in business in Nantucket. There he passed away in 1871 and his wife's 
demise occurred in that city on the 9th of September, 1890.

     E. W. Tallant was reared and educated in his native city, completing his 
high school course in 1858, and a week after his graduation joined the crew of 
the Dragoon, a clipper ship, which made the voyage from Boston bay to the port 
of San Francisco, California, with a miscellaneous cargo of freight. When the 
vessel reached Calcutta, India, it was loaded with jute consigned to New 
Orleans, Louisiana, and arrived in the harbor of the Crescent city on the day 
Fort Sumter was captured by the Confederate forces. Leaving the ship in New 
Orleans, Mr. Tallant went to Cairo, Illinois, by boat and thence by rail to 
Nantucket. He spent a few weeks at home and then shipped as second mate on the 
Golden State, bound for San Francisco, California. The first mate was drowned 
in a shipwreck and Mr. Tallant was promoted to that position. In 1869 he left 
the Golden State at a port in China and shipped as first officer on the John 
Bright, a passenger vessel plying between Shanghai and Hongkong. For two years 
he acted in that capacity and then went to the Hawaiian islands, becoming 
connected with the management of a sugar plantation. In 1870, while thus 
engaged, he participated in the funeral obsequies of King Kmaiha Maiu, who was 
buried with Masonic honors, and also assisted at the coronation of the new 
king, who was a graduate of Oxford University.

     Mr. Tallant went to Los Angeles, California, in 1871 and after a short 
stay in that city he located near San Gabriel, purchasing a tract of land. 
There he planted an orange grove and devoted his attention to its cultivation 
until 1880, when he sold the property. He next went to Eaglecliff, Washington, 
and formed a partnership with his brother, Nathaniel Tallant, who had 
established a salmon cannery on the Columbia river. They conducted the 
business at that point until 1883, when fire destroyed the plant, and they 
then rebuilt on a larger scale, transferring their activities to Astoria. As 
the years passed they continued to prosper, changing old methods to suit new 
conditions and not only keeping in line but also ahead of their competitors. 
They maintained a high standard of production and were leading factors in the 
development of the great salmon-canning industry, which has become one of the 
chief sources of the wealth of this region. E. W. Tallant was a dominant 
figure in the control of the business until a few years ago and at the time of 
his retirement was the dean of all the salmon canners on the Columbia river. 
He turned the business over to his son, William Easton Tallant, who is now at 
the head of the Tallant Packing Company of Astoria. George Hume, who founded 
the business about the year 1863, was the builder of the first salmon cannery 
on the Columbia river. Previous to that time the fish were dry salted and 
packed in barrels. The plant of the Tallant Packing Company is a model 
institution and for nearly a half century the firm has supplied the market 
with a product which in quality and flavor is unexcelled.

     In 1869 E. W. Tallant married Miss Mary Elizabeth Easton, also a native 
of Nantucket. Mrs. Tallant was a member of a pioneer family of Newport, Rhode 
Island, and passed away March 10, 1926, in Astoria. She had become the mother 
of four children. The eldest, William Easton, was born in Nantucket and has 
inherited his father's business acumen and executive force. On December 12, 
1892, he married Miss Clara Starbuck, a native of New York state and a member 
of a family that has produced some notable shipbuilders. Mrs. Tallant's uncle, 
William H. Starbuck, built the first iron sailing ship in the United States 
and many of the Starbuck vessels were in operation on the Columbia river when 
steamboating was at its zenith. Mr. and Mrs. William E. Tallant have a 
daughter, Laura Elizabeth, who is a student at the University of Oregon in 
Eugene. Mrs. R. E. Carruthers is a native of San Gabriel, California. Her 
husband died July 22, 1922, leaving two sons: Richard Tallant, who is engaged 
in business at Astoria; and Eben Hunter, who is taking a course in electrical 
and mechanical engineering at Cornell University. Mrs. Carruthers is one of 
the Daughters of the American Revolution and takes a keen interest in the 
activities of the organization. Nathaniel W. Tallant was born in Astoria and 
operates a salmon cannery at Megler, Washington. Harriett Easton, also a 
native of San Gabriel, has become the wife of Frank Greenough, of Coquille, 
Oregon, and they have two children, Tallant G. and Harrison.

     Mr. Tallant has one great-grandson, Richard T. Carruthers, Jr., in whom 
he renews his youth. Although eighty-seven years of age, he is alert and 
vigorous and greatly enjoys his long daily walks in Astoria. For many years he 
was a member of the local school and library boards and now acts as chairman 
of the board of park commissioners. He was pilot commissioner at Astoria for 
many years and his public service has always been characterized by efficient, 
conscientious work. He was identified with the Masonic order more than sixty-
five years ago and instituted the local lodge at Maui, Hawaii, and he is also 
connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, while his religious views 
are indicated by his affiliation with the Unitarian church of Portland. Time 
has wrought many changes in Astoria during the forty-five years of his 
residence in the city and he has contributed in notable measure toward the 
work of upbuilding and advancement, evincing that keen interest in progressive 
movements and that eagerness to promote civic development which are embodied 
in the truest and highest ideals of public service. His life has been well 
spent, and a generous, sympathetic and kindly nature has endeared him to a 
host of friends.

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