Union County, SD Biographies.....Talcott, James M. 1839 - 
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Author: Geo. A. Ogle & Co. (1897)

JAMES M. TALCOTT, lumber merchant at Elk Point, and one of the leading and
prominent business men of South Dakota, is a native of Salisbury, Herkimer Co.,
N. Y., and was born November 3, 1839. He is a son of Samuel and Laura (Cole)
Talcott, who were natives of Herkimer county and Oneida county, N. Y.,
respectively. The Talcott family originally came from Essex county, England, to
America, in 1632, and settled in Massachuetts. Nathan and Laura (Hill) Cole, the
parents of Laura (Cole) Talcott, were natives of Hartford, Conn., Mr. Cole being
in early life a music teacher and later a dealer in furniture, which business he
continued till his death. Our subject's father was a contractor and builder, and
died May 4, 1873, in the same county in which he was born. He had been sheriff
and town collector during his life, and had held various other offices. Mrs.
Talcott died in Dodgeville, Herkimer Co., N. Y., December 2, 1894. Both Mr.
Talcott and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were
the parents of ten children, five of whom are now living, viz.: James M., Mrs.
Electa S. Brown, George S., Josiah S. and Frederick N.

   James received a good education in the schools of his native county and also
attended the Whitestown Seminary at Whites-boro, Oneida Co., N. Y. He learned
the carpenter trade of his father, and followed this vocation until 1860, and in
the spring of 1861 he enlisted in company K, Thirty-fourth regiment, New York
infantry as orderly sergeant. In the spring of 1862 the company was badly broken
up, three officers-captain, first and second lieutenants-being disabled. Our
subject was breveted lieutenant and took command of the company for a year until
the return of the captain. He was discharged with the regiment at Albany, N. Y.,
in July, 1863, and re-enlisted in the Second New York regiment heavy artillery,
as a private in company L, January 12, 1864. At the battle of Cold Harbor, Va.,
June 2, 1864, he was shot during the engagement through the left lung. He was
transferred to the hospital at Alexandria, Va., but after twenty days there was
taken away by friends. While an inmate of the hospital he was commissioned first
lieutenant of this company, but was unable to muster in on account of the wound.
He was discharged from service while yet in the hospital in January, 1865. Mr.
Talcott participated in all the engagements which the army of the Potomac
engaged in from that of Bull's Run to Cold Harbor, Va., and took part in
twenty-seven battles. After his return to civil life he accepted a position with
the Remington Agricultural Implement works as foreman for whom he worked two
years, and in 1869 he came to Elk Point, Dak. Ter., and started a furniture
store, he being the first one at Elk Point in that business, which he conducted
for about four years, during which time he was fairly successful. His present
business he engaged in after disposing of his furniture stock, and has continued
in it ever since. He has served his fellow townsmen in many ways and has held
the following city offices: Alderman, six terms; mayor, four terms. He was
appointed by Governor Mellette of Dakota territory as trustee of the Dakota
hospital for the insane during the years 1888-9, and was appointed by the same
governor of the state in 1890, as a member of the first board of charities and
corrections, having in charge the state hospital for the insane at Yankton and
the reformatory school at Plankinton; also the state penitentiary and deaf mute
school at Sioux Falls. He served during the years of 1890 and '91. He has also
been treasurer of the Elk Point high school since 1881 and still holds that
position, and he has been a trustee of the Yankton college for the past four
years. Besides his lumber business he has been extensively engaged in buying and
selling real estate, and is now a large owner of South Dakota lands.

   Mr. Talcott married Miss Hannah R. Chamberlain, of Elk Point, March 22, 1872.
She is a daughter of Rinaldo and Sally (Colville) Chamberlain, and was born in
Bradford county, Penn. They came to Elk Point in 1870, where Mrs. Chamberlain
died in 1882. Mr. Chamberlain died in November, 1894, in his native county,
Bradford, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Talcott are the parents of eight children, seven of
whom are living, viz.: Allie L., Myrtle M., Lillie L., Glennie M., Flossie L.,
James E. and Ethel B. The eldest, Genia M., is deceased. Our subject by a former
marriage has one daughter, Lizzie, now the wife of C. E. Hutton, superintendent
of the Pierce Flouring mills, at Pierce, Nebr. They have two children, Fay and Roy.

   Mr. Talcott is a stanch supporter of the Republican party's principles. His
wife and family are members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Talcott is a
regular attendant at and trustee of the same. He has taken an active interest in
the welfare of the community and has assisted materially in the construction of
various churches and schools of the city. He is generous, and heartily supports
any worthy enterprise that tends to promote the public welfare.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF 
Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties,
SOUTH DAKOTA.

Containing Biographical Sketches of Hundreds of Prominent Old Settlers and
Representative Citizens, with a Review of their Life Work; their Identity with
the Growth and Development of these Counties; Reminiscences of Personal History
and Pioneer Life; and other Interesting and Valuable Matter which should be
Preserved in History.

ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO.
GEO. A. OGLE & CO.
Publishers, Engravers and Book Manufacturers.
1897.


Biography is the only true history.—EMERSON.

A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
generations.—MACAULAY.


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