Randolph County, West Virginia Biography of ELAM DOWDEN TALBOTT This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 585-586 ELAM DOWDEN TALBOTT. No profession or calling has ever presented such opportunities for the really capable man as that of the law, and from its ranks have come the ablest men of the country. It has always been im- possible for any man to rise to distinction in the law with- out a thorough preparation, even if it be self-earned, and this study and thought naturally develop the reasoning faculties and broaden the brain and character so that other problems are more easily solved as they arise for disposal by every public-spirited citizen. Randolph County is proud of the fact that it has given to West Virginia some very able lawyers, and among them one who has gained a reputa- tion not by any means confined to local lines is Elam Dowden Talbott, of Elkins. Elam Dowden Talbott is a, native son of Barbour County, West Virginia, in which he was born on a farm, near Berryburg, November 8, 1857. His parents were William Woodford and Sarah (Simon) Talbott, both of whom were born and reared in Barbour County, and there they spent their useful lives, the father dying at the advanced age of eighty-five years. The mother was over sixty when she died. By occupation the father was a farmer, and he was success- ful in it and as a citizen. He and his wife had the fol- lowing children born to them: Salathiel, Lewis W., Elam Dowden. Abram I., Mary Florence, Pitzhugh Lee, Waitman T., William Floyd, Virginia Belle, Robert D. and Rosa M., all of whom are living but Rosa M. The parents were members of the Baptist Church, in which both were zealous workers, and they reared their children in a Christian home and to habits of industry and right living. The father was a democrat, but did not care for a public life. He was a son of Robert and Polly (Woodford) Talbott, who were also born and reared in Barbour County, where Richard Talbott, the father of Robert Talbott, was a pioneer set- tler, and the founder of the Barbour County branch of the Talbott family. Richard Talbott came to Barbour County from Fairfax County, Virginia, where he was born and where he was reared. He was a son of William Talbott, an Englishman, who was the progenitor of the Talbott family of Virginia. On the mother's side Elam Dowden Talbott is of English and German lineage. Elam Dowden Talbott grew to manhood on his father's farm, where he did all of the various work of it, and learned the dignity of labor and the importance of thrift and perseverance, which lessons, then grounded by watch- ful parents, have remained with him through his profes- sional career and been largely instrumental in securing his success as a lawyer. He gained his early educational train- ing in the free schools, and later taught in them for two terms, following in this respect in the footsteps of many of the illustrious men of the country who, while learning themselves, taught others. For three years he was a stu- dent in the West Virginia State University, where he furthered his literary education and also studied law, and he completed his legal studies in the University of Vir- ginia. Subsequent to his graduation Mr. Talbott was ad- mitted to practice at the bar of his native state, in 1883, and established himself in active practice at Beverly, then the county seat of .Randolph County, and immediately began to make his influence felt in his profession and as a citizen. When the county seat was removed to Elkins Mr. Talbott followed, and has been a resident of Elkins since January, 1900. He has long enjoyed a large and lucrative practice in both the state and federal courts, and is recognized as one of the ablest and most resourceful men practicing at the bar of West Virginia. He has always been a democrat in politics, but, while he has always been zealous in behalf of his party, he has never sacrificed the interests of his profession to that of politics, nor has he aspired to public honors. Yet, he was a delegate to the democratic conven- tion in 1896, held at Chicago, Illinois, which nominated Wil- liam Jennings Bryan for the presidency, and accepted the latter's "free and unlimited coinage of silver" doctrine. In 1912 he was elected a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, in which he served for one term with credit to himself and benefit to the state. It is worthy of note that in young manhood Mr. Talbott, inspired by the sug- gestion of Horace Greeley, who so often advised the young men of his day to go West and grow up with the country, left West Virginia for Southwestern Missouri, and there spent two years. However, while there he decided that he preferred the surroundings and opportunities of his native state to those of any other section, and returned, continued his studies, and carried out his original plan of entering the profession of the law. His gratifying success in it proves most conclusively the wisdom of his choice, although there is no doubt but that if he had remained in Missouri the same qualities which have advanced him in West Virginia would have made him a man of note there. Following the teachings of his boyhood and youth Mr. Talbott is a Baptist in religious faith. For more than thirty years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also well-known in Masonry, in which he has been advanced to the Knight Templar degree, and he is also a noble of the Mystic Shrine. In 1886 Mr. Talbott was united in marriage with Miss Lutie Lee Bosworth, and they have five children, namely: Evalyn B., Margarite, Eugenia, Winnifred and William Donald Talbott. As a man Mr. Talbott hag always stood for the highest principles. During a long and very active career he has been the companion and co-worker of those eminent in his profession. His friends are numbered by legions, and are to be found in all ranks of life, those of long years stand- ing and even strangers feeling the genial personality of the man. An incalculable influence, a wonderful life lived to its fullest attainment in the service of others, is an inspira- tion and appeal to every young man to do his best. Mr. Talbott has never been content to rest upon the work of the past when good judgment and counsel have been such a power for good, but his interests continue keenly alive to current happenings and the needs and ambitions of his fellow citizens. His various acts in connection with his civic responsibilities are characteristic of him and but serve to cement the bonds of affection and gratitude in which he is held by the entire community, and extend the scope of his influence throughout the state.