B[enjamin]. F. TALLEY, section 12, Grant Township, was born in the State of Delaware, January 25, 1841, a son of A. G. and Sarah TALLEY, also natives of Delaware. In 1842 his parents moved to Ohio, and thence, in 1850, to Indiana, living in that State six years, and in 1856, moved to Iowa, and located in Ringgold County, where he has since lived.In 1866 he began teaching school and taught almost constantly from that time until 1883, working on the farm a little in the summer. In 1883 he was appointed postmaster at Goshen, and served efficiently until January, 1886, when, on account of the change in the administration, he was removed. He is now giving his attention to agriculture, having a good farm of 120 acres, with a pleasant residence and comfortable farm buildings.

Mr. TALLEY married Sarah C[atherine]. KELLER, daughter of Benjamin and Elinor (sic) KELLER, [Christmas Day, December 25] 1860 [Diagonal, Iowa]. To them have been born ten children. The eldest, a son, born in September, 1861, died in infancy [September 29, 1861, interment Bethel Cemetery near Diagonal, Iowa]. Adam Clark, born April 29, 1863; Ambrose E., born May 31, 1866; Charles Day, born July 31, 1868, died February 28, 1869; Lloyd, born January 14, 1870; Cleo, born February 15, 1872, died March 7, 1872; Mary Maude, born September 14, 1873; Gilbert Haven, born July 8, 1876; Ellis Bright, born June 13, 1878, died August 26, 1878, and Nora May, born December 2, 1881.

In politics Mr. TALLEY is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Benjamin F. TALLEY, son of Adam G. and Sarah (ALDRED) TALLEY, was born in Delaware, and now resides at Mt. Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. He taught school for sixteen winters in Iowa, working on his farm in summer. In 1888 he was elected Recorder of Deeds for his county, and served in this capacity for three term. Having gained a large amount of valuable information while Recorder, he concluded to open an abstract and real estate office at Mt. Ayr, the place of his residence. In 1895 he and his sons, Lloyd and Adam C. TALLEY, purchased the abstract books and business of an old firm at Mt. Ayr, and put on the sign, "B. F. TALLEY & Sons." They do a general Real Estate and Abstract business, and stand high in the business world of Ringgold County. Their abstract work is well known for its neatness, accuracy and completeness.

Lloyd TALLEY, the son, is County Surveyor of the county, while his brother, Adam c. TALLEY, is editor of The Southwest News, at Greenfield, Mo., being an experienced newspaper man. Another son, Ambrose E. TALLEY, is a minister of the Methodist Church, in the Des Moines Conference. Still another son, Gilbert H. TALLEY, is City Editor of The Ringgold County Record, at Mt. Ayr.

Many of the descendants of Adam G. TALLEY hare holding positions of prominence in the educational, religious and business world. In addition to those above noticed of Benjamin F. TALLEY's family, we may mention: Martha A. STAHL, Professor of Latin and History, Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa; W. Sherman STAHL, Attorney-at-Law, Chicago, ill.; and Catharine J. STAHL, a Missionary in India. The latter is the heroine, who, during an earthquake at Darjeeling, India, in October, 1899, saved many of the Mission children by her coolness and bravery, announcement of the fact being made at the time through the public press of our country.

Adam G. TALLEY moved with his family from Delaware to Thornsville, Perry County, Ohio, April 1842; from Ohio to Hamilton County, Indiana, October, 1850; and from Indiana to Ringgold County, Iowa, June, 1856. he took with him to Iowa all of his children except Catharine R. FORD, who continued to reside in Indiana with her family until her decease. The family, with the exceptions mentioned above, are engaged in agricultural pursuits, and are distinctively religious, almost all being memebers of the methodist Church. This is a remarkably large family, and have furnished the only representatives of the tenth generation. They may well feel proud of their numbers, their high position in life, and their influence for good.

NOTE: Benjamin F. TALLEY died on September 23, 1907. Sarah Catherine (KELLER) TALLEY was born March 2, 1841, Guernsey County, Ohio, and died on January 13, 1929, West Union, Fayette County, Iowa, at the age of 87 years. Benjamin and Sarah were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Adam Clark TALLEY died on May 14, 1868, with interment at Bethel Cemetery near Diagonal, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Ambrose E. TALLEY died January 2, 1914, with interment at Bethel Cemetery near Diagonal, Iowa.

In 1903 Lloyd TALLEY, representing B. F. TALLEY & Sons, Mount Ayr, Iowa, became a charter member of the Iowa Land Title Association.

Mary "Maude" TALLEY married June 30, 1897 to Walter Hamlin BEALL. Walter was born October 20, 1871, and died May 3, 1944. Mary "Maude" (TALLEY) BEALL died on August 16, 1915. Walter and Maude were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.

History of the TALLEY Family, by B. F. TALLEY, 1937

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 328, 1887.

TALLEY, George A. A History of the TALLEY Family on the Delaware and Their Descendants Pp. 212-133. Moyer & Lesher. Philadelphia. 1899.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z

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