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Past and
Present of Greene County, Iowa T Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. N.
C. Tallman is engaged in general farming in Paton township, where he owns and
cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land. He is a native of Jones county,
Iowa, born January 22, 1846, and is the eldest of eight living children whose
parents were John and Lucinda (Low) Tallman, natives of Ohio and Maryland
respectively. soon after their marriage they moved from Ohio to Iowa, becoming
residents of Jones county in 1845. Buying a tract of land, the father carried on
general agricultural pursuits and was numbered among the successful farmers of
that county up to the time of his death. He was quite prominent in local
political circles and was retained in the office of county supervisor for nine
years, also filling various township positions, the duties of which he
discharged with promptness and fidelity. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal
church and was a stalwart advocate of republican principles. At all times he was
worthy the trust and confidence which were uniformly given him by his fellow
townsmen, and thus his death, which occurred July 30, 1893, when he was
seventy-one years of age, was deeply deplored by many friends. Of his family of
ten children eight still survive: N. C., of this review; Reuben S., a resident
farmer of Paton township; Elizabeth, who for some years has been a teacher in
the public schools of Denver, Colorado; W. H., living in Paton township; Mrs.
Rose Neff, whose home is in Mount Vernon, Iowa; Mrs. Samantha Kane, a widow,
residing in Jones county, Iowa; Mrs. Angeline Boots, of the same county; and
Wilbur e., who resides on the old home farm in Jones county. One son, James H.
Tallman, served for three years as a soldier of Company E, Thirty-first Iowa
Infantry, in the Civil war, and died in Shelby county, Iowa, in 1906. Mrs. Mary
Jane Boots died November 26, 1888, at the age of thirty-three years.
As a boy N. C. Tallman worked upon the home farm, and in the public schools
became familiar with the common English branches of learning. He
remained a resident of Jones county until 1871, when at the age of twenty-five
years he came to Greene county with his brother, Reuben S. Tallman, and
purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Paton township. It
was then a tract of raw prairie, covered with the native grasses through the
summer months and with a sheet of glistening snow in the winter season. He and
his brother were the first settlers of Paton township, all around them being
wild and undeveloped. They aided in extending the frontier and in reclaiming
this region for the purposes of civilization, and as the years have passed they
have met with a goodly measure of success.
N. C. Tallman was married in Boone county in 1875 to Miss Annie Pettit, who died
twelve years later, in May, 1887. For his second wife he chose Ida May Hamilton,
a native of Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tallman have been born six children, of
whom five yet survive, namely: Dora A., Arthur J., Leslie L., Verva and Harold
H.
The family home is now a comfortable residence, standing in the midst of a well
improved farm. There are good outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock,
while the latest improved machinery facilitates the work of the fields. The
days, however, have not all been equally bright to Mr. Tallman. In fact, many
hardships have come to him and many difficulties and obstacles have barred his
path to prosperity, but with unabating energy and industry that never fags he
has continued on his way until he is now one of the substantial agriculturists
of his community. He votes with the republican party and both he and his wife
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, while in the community they are
much esteemed as people of genuine personal worth, enjoying in large measure the
good will and friendship of those with whom they have been associated.
Reuben S. Tallman is the owner of an excellent farm of three hundred and twenty
acres pleasantly situated on section 16, Paton township, in the midst of one of
the richest agricultural districts of Iowa, and the splendid appearance of the
place indicates his care and supervision, his practical methods and his
progressive spirit. He was born in Jones county, Iowa, on the 10th of October,
1848.
His father, John Tallman, was a native of Ohio and in that state was married to
Miss Lucinda Lowe, whose birth occurred near Baltimore, Maryland. They remained
residents of the Buckeye state for only a brief period after their marriage,
when they removed to Iowa, settling in Jones county in 1845. There Mr. Tallman
purchased land and carried on farming, being numbered among the successful
agriculturists for that community up to the time of his death, which occurred on
the 30th of July, 1903, when he was seventy-two years of age. His widow still
survives and is yet living in Jones county at the very advanced age of
eighty-six years. Mr. Tallman was quite prominent in local political circles and
was honored with various offices, filling all of the township positions and also
serving as a member of the county board of supervisors for nine years. No trust
reposed in him was ever betrayed in the slightest degree and his record as a
business man and office holder was extremely commendable. His life, too, in all
of its relations was in harmony with his professions as a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church. His political allegiance was given to the republican
party.
Unto him and his wife were born ten children, of whom eight are yet living: N.
C., whose home is in Paton township; Reuben S.; Elizabeth, who for some years
was a teacher in the public schools of Denver; W. H., living in Paton township;
Mrs. Rose Neff, whose home is in Mount Vernon, Iowa; Mrs. Samantha Kane, a widow
residing in Jones county, Iowa; Mrs. Angeline Boots, of the same county; and
Wilbur E., who resides on the old home farm in Jones county. One son, James H.
Tallman, served for three years as a soldier of Company E, Thirty-first Iowa
Infantry, in the Civil war and died in Shelby county, Iowa, in 1905.
Reuben S. Tallman spent the days of his boyhood and youth on his father's farm
in Jones county and is largely indebted to the public- school system of that
locality for the educational privileges he enjoyed. However, he spent one year
as a student in Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, but had to abandon his
college course on account of illness. In 1871, in company with his brother, N.
C. Tallman, he came to Greene county and here he purchased one hundred and sixty
acres of school land. He and his brother were the first settlers of Paton
township and built the first residence within its borders. Mr. Tallman of this
review is therefore the oldest settler of the township today and is one of its
most highly respected citizens. As the years have come and gone he has
persevered in his work as a farmer and now has a fine place, which is splendidly
improved, his farm comprising three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he
has brought under a high state of cultivation. Everything about his farm is
indicative of his care and labor and shows him to be in touch with the most
progressive methods of modern agriculture. He raises both cattle and hogs in
connection with the cultivation of corn, wheat and other cereals.
On the 26th of August, 1885, Mr. Tallman was married at Pilot Mound, Iowa, to
Miss Sarah E. Willett, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Morgan and Mary
(Brown) Willett, in whose family were nine children, four of whom yet survive.
Some years ago the parents removed to Kansas, where both passed away. Unto Mr.
and Mrs. Tallman have been born nine children and with the exception of alma,
the fifth in order of birth, who died at the age of two years, the others are
still living, namely: Elmer, Luella, Grace, Susie, Mary, Rose, Sandford and
Francis.
Mr. Tallman is a member of the independent school board of Paton. He votes with
the republican party and always keeps informed concerning the political
condition of the country and the issues which are paramount in the campaigns.
For years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, faithful to
its teachings and exemplifying its principles in his daily life, in his
relations with his fellowmen and in the conduct of his business interests.
The name of Tallman is closely associated with agricultural interests in Paton
township, where three brothers are operating fine farms. The one upon which
Winfield H. Tallman resides comprises one hundred and sixty acres of rich land
in a district famous for its agricultural possibilities and the fine appearance
of the place today is due to his unfaltering perseverance and energy. He came to
Greene county from Jones county, Iowa, where his birth occurred on the 29th of
August, 1852.
His father, John Tallman, was a native of Ohio and in that state was married to
Miss Lucinda Low, whose birth occurred near Baltimore, Maryland. They remained
residents of the Buckeye state for only a brief period after their marriage,
when they removed to Iowa, settling in Jones county in 1845. There Mr. Tallman
purchased land and carried on farming, being numbered among the successful
agriculturists for that community up to the time of his death, which occurred on
the 30th of July, 1893, when he was seventy-two years of age. His widow still
survives and is yet living in Jones county at the very advanced age of
eighty-six years. Mr. Tallman was quite prominent in local political circles and
was honored with various offices, filling all of the township positions and also
serving as a member of the county board of supervisors for nine years. No trust
reposed in him was ever betrayed in the slightest degree and his record as a
business man and office holder was extremely commendable. His life, too, in all
of its relations was in harmony with his professions as a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church. His political allegiance was given to the republican
party.
Unto him and his wife were born ten children, of whom eight are yet living: N.
C., whose home is in Paton township; Reuben S., a resident farmer of Paton
township; Elizabeth, who for twelve years was a teacher in the public schools of
Denver, Colorado; Winfield. H.; Mrs. Rose Neff, whose home is in Mount Vernon,
Iowa; Mrs. Samantha Kane, a widow residing in Jones county, Iowa; Mrs. Angeline
Boots, of the same county; and Wilbur E., who resides on the old farm in Jones
county. One son, James H. Tallman, served for three years as a soldier of
Company E, Thirty-first Iowa Infantry, in the Civil war and died in Shelby
county, Iowa, in 1905. Mrs. Mary Jane Boots died November 26, 1888, at the age
of thirty-three years.
Having spent his boyhood days in the county of his nativity in the acquirement
of a good common school education and in assisting in the work of the home farm,
Mr. Tallman made arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage on
the 2d of November, 1872, to Miss Edith J. Gansen, a native of Ohio and a
daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Rhoads) Gansen, who removed from the Buckeye
state to Jones county, Iowa, about fifty years ago and there resided until
called to their final rest. In their family were nine children, but four have
passed away. Those still living are: Mrs. Mary A. Bates, a resident of Jones
county; Joseph R., whose home is in Nevada; Samuel L., living in Oregon; Daniel
Z., located in Mount Vernon, Iowa; and Mrs. Tallman. By her marriage she has
become the mother of six children: Adolphus A., who married Jessie Washburn and
lives in Paton township; Herman D., at home; John E., who wedded Lucretia Marsh
and follows farming in Paton township; Frances V., who died at the age of five
years; Veta Pearl and Theron, both at home.
Mr. Tallman came to Greene county in 1877 and settled on one hundred and sixty
acres of land in Paton township, where he yet resides. His elder brothers,
Reuben and N. C. Tallman, were the first settlers of the township.
There were no improvements upon his land, and he says that its chief crop at
that time was mosquitoes and bullfrogs, some very large specimens being produced
of each variety. However, the spirit of energy which has always characterized
Mr. Tallman was soon manifest in his farm labor, with the result that he now has
a splendidly improved property. His residence is one of the fine homes of this
part of the county and there are also large and substantial outbuildings for the
shelter of grain and stock. In fact, none of the equipments of a model farm are
lacking and the place gives every evidence of the care and supervision of the
owner, who is practical in his methods, systematic in his work and successful in
accomplishing what he undertakes. In addition to his home property, he owns
twelve hundred and eighty acres of land in Wells county, North Dakota.
Mr. Tallman gives his political allegiance to the republican party and at the
present writing is serving as township trustee. In matters of citizenship he is
progressive, desirous of advancing the welfare of the community, and, while
promoting individual interests, he has also found time and opportunity to
co-operate in those plans and measures which are instituted for the public good.
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