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Walter E. Talmadge

Walter E. Talmadge has been station agent at West Union, for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company since the road was completed to this place December 18, 1882. The long years of his service show that he is a trusted employee and that he has won the confidence of the company by faithfulness to duty. He was born in Rockton, Winnebago County, Ill., August 29, 1841, and is a son of Orromell G. and Harriet N. (Webster) Talmadge. The family is one of English origin, established in New England at an early day and the father of our subject was born near Waterbury, Conn., July 7, 1815. He wedded Miss Webster, who was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., July 15, 1818. Their union was celebrated in that county, in 1837, and the following year they removed to Winnebago County, Ill., where Mr. Talmadge Sr. was engaged in milling. In 1852, the family became residents of LaPorte County, Ind., where they continued to make their home until 1856, which year witnessed their arrival in Iowa. They settled in Howard County, where the death of the mother occurred November 2, 1862. Mr. Talmadge afterward returned to Indiana and coming again to Iowa, died in Clayton County, August 19, 1879.

Walter E. Talmadge, whose name heads this sketch, accompanied his parents from Illinois to Indiana and with them came to Iowa in 1856. In his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, but in 1863 laid aside business cares and on the 10th of December responded to his country's call for troops, enlisting in Company B, Seventh Iowa Infantry. He served until the close of the war, being mustered out July 15, 1865, and during his service participated in the Atlanta campaign and in Sherman's march to the sea. He also followed him in the march through the Carolinas and took part in the Grand Review at Washington on the close of the war.

After the surrender of the South when peace was once more restored, Mr. Talmadge returned to his home and resumed work at his trade. It was in 1868 that he began railroading on the Illinois Central, remaining with that company four years, when he entered the employ of the Chicago, Dubuque & Minneapolis Road, with which he remained until 1880, when the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company purchased the line of the last mentioned company, with which he has since continued, serving as operator and agent. As before stated, he has been located in West Union since December, 1882.

Mr. Talmadge was married in Howard County, Iowa, January 1, 1863, to Miss Aylia T. Thayer, daughter of Hiram Thayer Esq., and a native of Rockton, Ill. Their union has been blessed with three children, who are yet living and they have lost one daughter, Edna, the youngest, who was born September 30, 1876, and died November 16, 1879; Warren E., the eldest born March 2, 1867; Hattie M., May 29, 1868; and Charles M., May 15, 1873, are all yet at home with their parents.

In political sentiment, Mr. Talmadge is a supporter of Republican principles, having been connected with that party since attaining his majority. Socially, he is a member of West Union Lodge, No. 124, K. of P., also of Elkport Lodge, No. 104, A. O. U. W.; of West Union Council, No. 49, of the A. L. of H.; and of Abernethy Post, No. 48, G. A. R., of which post he has been Quartermaster for five years. Mr. Talmadge has proved competent and faithful in the discharge of all his duties and is a trusted and popular agent of the company he represents. He has made his home in West Union since coming here in December, 1882, and has won many warm friends.