Biographical Sketch of Hon. D. Smith TALBOT (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Penn- sylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp. 747-8. "HON. D. SMITH TALBOT, a prominent lawyer of West Chester, and a member of the house of representatives of Pennsylvania, is one whose integrity, talents and public services have made him eminent in civil affairs. He is the eldest son of Caleb P. and Elizabeth (Buchanan) Talbot, and was born in Honeybrook township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1841. He was reared on the farm, received his education in the public schools, Morgantown, Waynesburg and Parkesburg academies, and then en- gaged in teaching, which he followed successfully for eight years in the public schools. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 42d Penn- sylvania infantry, and served as a private until he was honorably dis- charged from the Federal service at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Return- ing from the army, he read law in West Chester, and was admitted to the bar of Chester county April 16, 1870. He was afterward admitted to the bar of Delaware, Mifflin, Schuylkill and Philadelphia counties, and has practiced successfully ever since at West Chester and in adjoining counties. "On May 25, 1876, Mr. Talbot was united in marriage with Rebecca Wills, of West Chester, a daughter of Dr. Andrew Wills. Mr. Talbot is a stanch republican in politics and a member of the Holy Trinity Protestant Episcopal church of West Chester. He was also superintendent of the Sabbath school for ten years. He is a member of General McCall Post, No. 31, Grand Army of the Republic; Pocahontas Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Kenawa Lodge, Junior Order of United American Mech- anics; and Washington Camp, Patriotic Order Sons of America. "The active political career of Mr. Talbot commenced in 1885, when he was elected senatorial delegate to the State convention to nominate a State treasurer. In 1887 he was elected borough solicitor for the borough of West Chester, and was elected as a member of the house of representatives of Pennsylvania in 1888. His services in the house were so satisfactory to his party and his constituents that in 1890 he was re-elected and while serving his second term was nominated as State senator to fill out the unexpired term of Senator A. D. Harlan, who resigned in 1891, but he was defeated by a small majority, on account of the general indifference of the party, because the election was but a formal matter, the incumbent being called upon to perform no public duties, as the senate would not be in session until another election would take place. In 1892 he received his fourth nomination at the hands of the Republican party in Chester county for member of the house of representatives of Pennsylvania, to which honorable body he was elected at the November election. His legislative record shows his disinterested course of public action in behalf of his constituents, irrespective of party. His successive and consecutive elections are evidence of his strength with his party, and his continued popularity with the people. Mr. Talbot took an active part in legislation from his entrance in the halls of the legislature, and was placed upon some of the most important committees in the house. In the sessions of 1891 and 1893 he was made chairman of the committee on elections. In the latter session a number of contested claims for seats were made, which Mr. Talbot conducted with great ability and fairness. One who knows him well says: 'His party has always received active and effec- tive service at his hands, in every campaign, both upon the stump and by the pen, since he attained his majority.' "The first mention of the Talbot family in Chester county was in 1718, when John Talbot purchased land in Middletown township, where he died three years later. His son, Benjamin Talbot, married Elizabeth Ball in 1734, and their grandson, Benjamin Perry Talbot (grandfather), was a native of Chester county, and died in Honeybrook township. Benjamin P. Talbot was a farmer and an Episcopalian, and served as justice of the peace for many years. He married and reared a family of six children: William; Ruth Ann, wife of Jacob Bruner; Mary, who married Robert Rattem; Caleb P., father of Hon. D. Smith Talbot; Ann, who married George Bailey, and after his death wedded William Rogers; and Eliza, who married John Hughes. "Caleb P. Talbot (father) was born November 19, 1791, and died on his farm in Honeybrook township, September 19, 1870, when well advanced in his seventy-ninth year of his age. He was a whig and republican in politics, had held several township offices, and always took an active part in political affairs. Mr. Talbot was one of the founders of St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church, Honeybrook township, in which he served as vestryman for half a century. He served as a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and was twice married. For his first wife he married Eliza Jones, who died and left four children: John J., Reese H., of Baxter Springs, Kansas; Sergeant Benjamin P., who served in the 2d Minnesota infantry and was killed at Missionary Ridge, November 23, 1863; and Elizabeth, wife of Jesse H. Layton. For his second wife Caleb P. Talbot married Elizabeth Buchanan, who is a daughter of John Buchanan. By the last marriage he had eight children: Hon. D. Smith; Corporal James B. of the 175th Pennsylvania infantry, who died with fever at New Berne, North Carolina, in 1863; Jacob B., of Warwick township, who served in the 97th Pennsylvania infantry from 1861 to 1865; C. Morgan, who lives on the old homestead; C. Wesley, a lawyer; Franklin L., engaged in farming and teaching; Joseph, now in the mercantile business; Warren, a lawyer of Philadel- phia; and Dr. Ashton B., a practicing physician of the Quaker City."