U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Talbot, William Damron (1850-1907) ------------------------------------------------------------------- The History of Upshur County West Virginia From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time by W. B. Cutright Buckhannon, W. Va., July 1, 1907 Page 581 WILLIAM DAMRON TALBOT: William Damron Talbot was born in what is now Banks district, Upshur county, West Virginia, on the 5th of September, 1850, a son of David and Mary Reger (Hall) Talbot. Choosing the law for a profession he studied at the University of Michigan, and graduated at that famous school in 1878, with the degree of L. L. B., and was at once admitted to practice in his native state. He first located at Webster Springs, but in 1883 he returned to Upshur county, where he practiced continually with distinguished success until his death. He found his profession congenial to his tastes and profitable from a business standpoint, and it was an open door to numerous official positions and political honors. From 1884 until his death he was Secretary of the Board of Education, which brought him at all times in touch with the public schools, the teachers, the pupils and their parents; from 1899 to 1901, inclusive, he was Prosecuting Attorney, and was an able but fair and just prosecutor of the pleas of the State: he represented his county in the Legislature in 1901 and 1902, and in 1904 he was elected to the Senate from the Thirteenth district, and served during the sessions of 1905-1907, until during his attendance at the late session of that body at Charleston, he was stricken with typhoid pneumonia, and after a short illness died on the 21st of February 1907. His services as a lawmaker for the State rounded out and perfected the work of a well-nigh perfect life. He regarded first what was right, then the interests of his constituents, and he enforced these principles with ability and forensic power. Mr. Talbot held numerous other positions of honor and trust of a less important character. He was several times a member of the Town Council, attorney for the municipal corporation. Commissioner of Accounts, an officer in the National Guard, a director in the Traders' National Bank. etc., etc. On the 23rd of December, 1891. Mr. Talbot was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Dean, daughter of Solomon and Ruth Dean. His married life was most felicitous, and those who knew him at his home and in the family circle knew him at his best. His wife survives him. and has lived to enjoy with him his career of honor, and to learn from the lips of others the esteem in which he was held. In February, 1903, he entered into partnership for the practice of the law with his cousin and nearest friend. William S. O'Brien, an association which was at all times mutually agreeable. During all the years of his mature life, Mr. Talbot was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was prominent in its councils. He was an ardent Free Mason, and for several years was Master of his lodge. He was a Republican in politics, and held straight to his party's tenets from principles. In the private as well as the public walks of life he was true to what he believed to be right, and there was never any doubt as to where he was to be found on moral questions and business propositions. He did the right as God gave him to know the right. ------------------------------------------------------------------- There are tombstones in Heavner Cemetery, Buckhannon, Upshur Co., WV W. D. Talbot Sept. 5, 1850 Feb. 21, 1907 Jennie B. Talbot Aug. 12, 1852 Apr. 14, 1941 ------------------------------------------------------------------- (wife of William D. Talbott) From Death Certificate, Upshur County, WV #5915 FULL-NAME: Jeannie Deane Talbott BIRTH-DATE: August 12, 1852 BIRTH-PLACE: Upshur Co. DEATH-DATE: April 14, 1941 (at age 88y-8m-2d) DEATH-PLACE: Locust St., Buckhannon, Upshur County, WV USUAL-RESIDENCE: Locust St., Buckhannon, Upshur County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widowed (William D. Talbott) OCCUPATION: Housekeeper FATHER: Solomon Deane (born in Sand Run, W.Va.) MOTHER: Ruth Kesling (born in Sand Run, W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Myocarditis / Influenza and old age INFORMANT: Daisy Reeder (of Buckhannon) BURIAL: Heavner Cemetery, Buckhannon, W.Va. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Upshur County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/upshur/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------