David Smith Talbot (November 19, 1841 – March 5, 1915) was an American politician and lawyer from Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing Chester County from 1889 to 1896.

D. Smith Talbot
Talbot in a 1893 publication
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the Chester County district
In office
1889–1896
Preceded byTheodore K. Stubbs, William Wayne, Levi Fetters, Levi B. Kaler
Succeeded byJ. H. Marshall, Thomas J. Philips, Daniel Foulke Moore, Plummer E. Jefferis
Personal details
Born
David Smith Talbot

(1841-11-19)November 19, 1841
Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 5, 1915(1915-03-05) (aged 73)
Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting placeSaint Mark's Episcopal Church Cemetery
Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Rebecca Wills
(m. 1876)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer
  • educator

Early life and education edit

David Smith Talbot[1] was born on November 19, 1841, in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, to Elizabeth (née Buchanan) and Caleb P. Talbot. His father served in the War of 1812 and held township political offices. Talbot grew up on the farm. He was educated in public schools, Morgantown Academy, Waynesburg Academy and Parkesburg Academy.[2] Later in life, Talbot read law in West Chester and was admitted to the bar in Chester County on April 16, 1870. He was also admitted to the bar in Delaware, Mifflin, Schuylkill and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania.[2]

Career edit

Talbot worked as a teacher and taught in public schools for eight years.[2]

In August 1862, Talbot enlisted in Company C of the 42nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. He served as a private until he was honorably discharged in Harrisburg.[1][2] After serving, Talbot worked as a lawyer in West Chester and adjoining counties from 1870 to 1915.[1][2] In 1883, he became counsel of the Delaware River and Lancaster Railroad.[3]

Talbot was a Republican. In 1885, he was elected a senatorial delegate at the state convention. In 1887, he was elected borough solicitor of West Chester. He was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He represented Chester County in that body for four terms, from 1889 to 1896.[1][2][4][5] In 1891, he was nominated to replace state senator Abram D. Harlan after his resignation, but lost the election. In the sessions of 1891 and 1893, he served as chairman of the committee on elections.[2] In 1900, he was census supervisor of the second census district of Pennsylvania.[1]

Personal life edit

Talbot married Rebecca Wills, daughter of Dr. Andrew Wills, of West Chester on May 25, 1876. They had no children.[2][6] He was a member of the Holy Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church of West Chester and was superintendent of the Sabbath School for 10 years.[2]

Around 1904, Talbot moved to a sanatorium. He died on March 5, 1915, at a hospital in Norristown.[7] He was interred at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Honey Brook.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "D. Smith Talbot". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiley, Samuel T. (1893). Garner, Winfield Scott (ed.). Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Comprising A Historical Sketch of the County. Gresham Publishing Company. pp. 747–748. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via Archive.org. 
  3. ^ "Delaware River and Lancaster Railroad". The New Era. November 17, 1883. p. 7. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  4. ^ Thomson, W. W., ed. (1898). Chester County and Its People. The Union History Company. pp. 441–442. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via Archive.org. 
  5. ^ McAtee, William (1895). Portraits and Biographies of the Members of the Legislature of Pennsylvania and Heads of Departments - Session of 1895. The Roshon Portrait Company. p. 229. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via Archive.org. 
  6. ^ Cope, Gilbert; Ashmead, Henry Graham, eds. (1904). Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania. Vol. 1. The Lewis Publishing Company. p. 36. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via Archive.org. 
  7. ^ "D. Smith Talbot Dead". Evening Ledger. March 8, 1915. p. 2. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 

External links edit