California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


COURTNEY TALBOT. The many talents of Courtney Talbot have won for him the admiration 
and esteem of all who have come to know him throughout his long residence in Tulare 
county. The family is an ancient one on American soil, the first emigrating ancestor pre- 
sumably having located in Virginia, where the name flourished for generations. Nicholas Tal- 
bot was born in Virginia November 10, 1776. In young manhood he immigrated to Kentucky 
to take part in the formation and upbuilding of that state, in Bourbon county, May 19, 1799, 
being united in marriage with Aria Kennedy. She was born May 11, 1781, the daughter of 
John Kennedy, who was taken prisoner by the British at Guilford Courthouse, N. C, March 15, 
1781. He died soon afterward from the effects of the inhuman treatment received aboard the 
British prison ship. A letter that he wrote before entering the army is carefully preserved 
among the relics of the family, the spirit of fervent patriotism and the prayer for the success 
of the colonies speaking eloquently of the manhood which sustained our country in its incipi- 
ency. That for which he gave his life was afterward defended by four of his grandsons, who 
fought gallantly in the Civil war. Nicholas Talbot died May 1, 1828, while his wife survived 
him until January, 1862. The parents of Nicholas Talbot were Samuel (born in Virginia, 
March 17, 1756,) and Constantine (Ragan) Talbot, the daughter of Nicholas Ragan, also 
of Virginia. Coleman Talbot, the son of Nicholas and Aria Talbot, was born in Bourbon coun- 
ty, Ky., July 13, 1809, and made his home in his native state until attaining his majority. In 
1830 he went to Adams county, Ill., and enlisted in Capt. David Crow's company, serving in the 
Black Hawk war of 1832. He remained in that location for about twenty years, in 1850 following 
the example of his ancestors and seeking a newer field. In 1850 he crossed the plains to Cali- 
fornia, upon his arrival engaging: in mining first at Hangtown (Placerville) and later at Coloma 
and Diamond Springs. April 15, 1851, he located in Sonoma county and engaged in farming 
until January, 1852. He then took passage on the steamer California bound for Panama, thence 
on the El Dorado to New York City, and from there to Kentucky, visiting for the last time the 
scenes of his childhood and the home of his mother, who was then living. On the 20th of 
April of the same year he once more crossed the plains to California, in company with J. M. 
Bowles, T. H. Tate, M. Britton and others, arriving in Sonoma county in October. In July 
of the following year he settled near Santa Rosa, Sonoma county, where he now resides, sustain- 
ing the reputation of the family for longevity as well as rare powers of strength and endurance. 
He was married to Drusilla Bowles, a daughter of Jesse Bowles, a native of Kentucky, who mar- 
ried a Miss Parker of Kentucky. Coleman and Drusilla (Bowles) Talbot became the parents of 
five sons and four daughters, of whom Courtney Talbot was the fourth in order of birth, being 
a native of Adams county, Ill., where he was born April 11, 1837. 

In the common schools of Illinois and the Sonoma Academy Courtney Talbot received his 
education. Following the example of the great majority of the citizens of the state at that time 
he became a miner at Oroville, Butte county, and along the Feather river when only eighteen 
years old. He subsequently engaged in the more stable pursuit of farming, although from 1860 to 
1863 he was located in Nevada in prospecting and mining. In the last named year he returned 
to his home in Sonoma county and there set out a vineyard, which he conducted for a time. In 
the year 1871 he conducted a hotel known as the American hotel in Petaluma. after one year 
going to Merced, in the San Joaquin valley, where he engaged in farming near Los Banos. 
His chief interest for some years was the cultivation of wheat. While a resident of that lo- 
cality he attained a prominent position, discharging the duties of justice of the peace for two 
years. Coming to Tulare county in 1874. he located near Hanford, where he farmed and also 
assisted in the building of the Settlers' ditch. During the famous Mussel Slough fight he was 
an active participant in behalf of the settlers. In 1883 he located in the cottonwoods near Vis- 
alia, Tulare county, and engaged in the raising of wheat for several years, when, in 1887, he 
located in Tulare for the purpose of giving to his children the better educational advantages of that 
place. He engaged in horticulture in the Russel and Oakdale colonies but lost heavily. In 
1890 he located on the Tule river and established and built up the Sunnyside Grove, located four- 
teen miles east of Portersville. This property consists of twenty acres of fine, bearing Wash- 
ington navel oranges, which fruit he ships himself, the first carload from the district this year 
being from his ranch, and sent to the San Francisco markets. He is making a success of his 
work, giving to its prosecution his talents, energy and industry, and the interest which comes 
from congenial employment. He enjoys the outdoor work although he is a man of letters, and 
devotes much time to the reading of good books, and also does considerable writing, especially 
in the realm of poetry. One of his best-known poems is "An Ode to Tule River," which is given 
in full at the close of this sketch. 

In Santa Cruz, in 1867, Mr. Talbot was united in marriage with Amelia Holser, a native of Han- 
cock county, Ill., and a daughter of Conrad Holser, who came to California in an early day and 
engaged in the butcher business and later the hotel business in Petaluma, conducting the Mag- 
nolia hotel, until his death. They became the parents of the following children : Jessie Mill- 
man (deceased), Alice, Willie Coleman and Pearl E. at home. The son is an intelligent and 
promising young man of this community, a position of trust already granted him being his ap- 
pointment as horticultural commissioner of the Portersville district. Politically Mr. Talbot was 
first a Republican, afterward a Democrat and now reserves the right to cast his ballot for the 
candidate whom he considers best qualified for public office. In 1884 he was elected supervisor 
from the fourth district, and served acceptably for a term of two years. 

	AN ODE TO TULE RIVER. 
	(By C. Talbot.) 
Hail mystic connection of cloud and of snow 
With the sun-bathed valley of the land below; 
Down from the summit of old Moses' brow, 
Silently climbing, but who can say how? 
But soon in thy pranks, thy infant tricks 
Are seen in thy splashing and whirling sticks. 
Go on in thy fun. you cute little brooks, 
Playing hide-and-go-seek in all the dark nooks, 
Now join hands and close up your ranks. 
Not single or double, but in solid phalanx. 
For down through the rocks thy way must be hewn, 
With evidence of power thy path must be strewn, 
Silently working and wearing away. 
All the hours of the livelong day. 

Hail ! dashing river in the pride of thy youth 
Like impetuous young manhood in the pursuit of truth, 
Ever onward, singing, dashing along. 
Swelling the chorus of the mountain's wild song. 
Down through forests of darkest green. 
Mid fern-covered banks thou flowest between. 
Where the buck, the doe and the cute little fawn. 
Delighteth to linger on thy cool, shady lawns. 
Still onward through mountains of wild chaparal. 
Where the bear, and the lions and the panthers do dwell; 
Where the eagle from his cleft swoops down with a screem,
Spreading terror to all that drink from the stream ; 
Now out o'er the cliffs with a wild, reckless leap, 
Filling the air with a white, silvery sheet, 
While the sunbeams form a bow in the sky, 
Which forever shall linger, while the waters pass by. 
Now resting awhile in the caverns below, 
With foam for a mantle, as white as snow. 
From under this mantle, thy waters run clearer, 
Spanning the banks with a beautiful mirror. 
While the mountains and peaks seem below as above. 
As perfectly united as two hearts in love. 
Perhaps it is here in the ages gone by, 
Thou hast heard the sound of the lover's sigh. 
For a dusky maiden would repair to the brink 
Where she would see her form as she leaned o'er to drink. 

Stop not, oh river, 'mid these scenes old and hoary, 
There waits thy coming a far brighter story. 
Well mayst thou know it. I will tell it thee now � 
Thou shalt follow in the furrow of the husbandman's plow ; 
Thy way shall be changed, thou shalt be led from thy 
Thou shalt be bridled and led like a man does his horse ; 
Around through the glades of fair Pleasant Valley, 
Where spring first unfolds the poppy and lily. 
Around through the hills, where periods of dearth. 
Have held constant sway since God made the earth. 
Still sparkling and rippling thy waters glide along, 
As pure and as limp as a maiden's love song. 
Till yonder, oh river, at the base of the hill, 
Thou shalt arrive at the town of old Porterville, 
The pride of the valley of the great San Joaquin, 
And thou art the jewel of this bright lovely queen. 
Now send for Pomona, old Ceres and Flora, 
Bid them arrange there grand Courts and I'll tell them a story. 
Let them marshal their forces and prepare for a rally, 
For we'll have here a wedding ere thou enter the valley, 
Since the valleys and mountains do here clasp hands, 
We'll join here in wedlock the waters and lands; 
Thou, oh river, thou hast been wooed and been won 
Like many a fair daughter by some mother's son. 
Bid sanchero come to this grand celebration. 
And open his ditches in every direction. 
And the mountains and valleys together shall sing. 
The result of this union great wonders will bring: 
Pomona will reign here mid her apples of gold 
And Flora will come and her beauties unfold. 
The churches and schoolhouses. with many a spire. 
Shall rejoice at the coming and all rise higher; 
And songs of praise shall ascend to the Giver. 
And thank the good Lord for our own Tule River.