Talcott, J. Parker

TALCOTT, SKINNER, LAUDE

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 1/17/2010 at 16:46:28

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, vol. II, 1912, p.100-104

J. Parker Talcott, who for more than twenty years has been engaged in the hardware business in Williams, is a worthy representative of the commercial interests of Hamilton county, where he has achieved the success that invariably rewards earnest and intelligent effort in the honorable pursuit of a definite purpose. He was born in Williston, Vermont, on the 8th of January, 1860, and is a son of Grove G. and Sylvia A. (Skinner) Talcott, also natives of the Green Mountain state. They removed to Illinois in 1869, settling
in Cook county, whence they later removed to Hamilton county, Iowa. The father passed away in Rose Grove township in 1892, at the age of fifty-eight years. He is survived by the mother, who is now seventy four and makes her home in Cook County, Illinois.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Talcott, three of whom died in infancy. Of the six who are living our subject is the second in order of birth, the others being as follows: Fred M., who is residing in Rose Grove township, Hamilton County; Frances S., who is librarian in the Lewis Institute of Chicago; Mary B., who was a nurse at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, during the Spanish-American war, going from there to the Philippines, where she remained for two years, and was subsequently appointed head nurse of the Illinois State Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary, in which capacity she is still serving; Z. S., who resides in Rose Grove township, Hamilton county; and Harry H., who was graduated from the University of Michigan, and later took a four-year course, in the Chicago Law School, and is now engaged in the practice of his profession in the latter city. All of the family were born in Vermont with the exception of the last named, who is a native of Cook County, Illinois.

J. Parker Talcott was a lad of nine years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, where he completed his education in the public schools and was reared to manhood. His boyhood and youth were passed on the home farm, in the cultivation of which he early began to assist his father, thus becoming familiar with the work and duties of the agriculturist. After leaving home he began farming on his own account and in 1884 came to Hamilton County, locating in the vicinity of Williams, where he continued his agricultural pursuits for about eight years. In 1892, he gave up farming and coming to Williams engaged in the hardware business, and has ever since devoted his energies to commercial activities. His store is not only one of the largest and most thriving enterprises of Williams but of the entire county. He carries an extensive stock of shelf and heavy hardware, cutlery, sewing machines, harness, farming implements, pianos, phonographs and automobiles, the quality of which is fully commensurate in every respect with the price. With the increase of his business Mr. Talcott has extended the scope of his activities and he now maintains a branch store at Blairsburg and owns a third interest in the Webster City Implement Company. He also owns the business block where his store is located and his residence in Williams.

On the 7th of November, 1887, Mr. Talcott was married to Miss Laura A. Laude, who was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, on the 6th of October, 1864, and came to Hamilton county with her brothers in 1883. She is a daughter of Peter and Mary Laude, natives of France, who came to America in early life and subsequently settled in Dubuque County, where the mother passed away in 1873. The father was living in Woodbury County, this state, at the time of his death, which occurred in 1890, at the age of seventy-five years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Laude numbered fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls.

To Mr. and Mrs. Talcott have been born five children, the two eldest of whom are natives of Rose Grove township, while the other three were born in Williams. In order of birth they are as follows : Sylvia S., who was born on the 4th of September, 1889, and after graduating from the Williams high school continued her education in the Sisters School at Madison, Wisconsin, and is now studying music in Chicago; George G., who was born January 31, 1892, and following his graduation from high school studied at Ames for a
year and then began his business career in his father's store, where he is in charge of the automobile department; J. P., Jr., who was born August 26, 1894, a graduate of the Williams high school and a senior in the high school of Webster City; Mary B., a student of the Williams high school, who was born September 3, 1896; and Frances A., who was born on the 1st of February, 1898, and died at the age of one year.

The religious faith of the family is manifested through their membership in the Presbyterian church. Fraternally Mr. Talcott is affiliated with Alamo Lodge, No. 547, A. F. & A. M. ; and he is a charter member of Williams Camp, No. 1844, M. W. A. In politics he is a republican and has been a member of the board of education and of the town council. In matters of citizenship Mr. Talcott is public-spirited and enterprising and in the discharge of his public duties manifests the same promptitude, exactness and general efficiency that characterize his business transactions.

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