Talbott, Benjamin

Born: 1798-06-19 Fairfax County, Virginia

Died: 1858-04-29 Springfield, Illinois

Flourished:

After spending his formative years in his native Virginia, Talbott in 1808 moved to Kentucky, where he married Frances Lumsford, with whom he had three children. Frances Talbott died in November 1817, and in April 1818, Talbott wed Elizabeth Johnson, sister of his first wife, a union that produced two children. In 1826, Talbott and his family moved to Springfield, Illinois. After arriving in Springfield, Talbott served as deputy sheriff and assessor, and filled other minor offices until 1836, when Sangamon County voters elected him county recorder, which office he held until 1848 when the new Illinois constitution merged the office of recorder with that of circuit clerk. In 1848, Talbott was elected circuit clerk, and held that office until 1852. From 1853 to his death, he had charge of the recorder's office. He was a staunch supporter of the Whig Party.

John Carroll Power and S. A. Power, History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois (Springfield, IL: Edwin A. Wilson, 1876), 702.