• From: "Sandra Harris" <sandrah@ix.netcom.com>
• Subject: Samuel E. TALBERT in History of Orange County
• Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 20:51:20 -0700

To Kathryn in Vail AZ k-jgaz@juno.com

I have copied the bio and will be mailing it to you shortly.

From History of Orange County qc 979.496 A7 1911 p635ff

SAMUEL E. TALBERT.

Although yet on the sunny side of life's prime Mr. Talbert has achieved
signal success in his various undertakings and has risen to a position of considerable influence among the farmers of Orange county. Especially worthy of mention, because gained through his own unaided efforts, is the prominence to which he has risen and the wholesome influence he has exerted in agricultural circles. With an enthusiasm that is contagious he throws himself into enterprises for the good of the community and by his ardent support and intelligent aid he has promoted many movements of permanent benefit locally, while at the same time he has advanced his own interests until he now ranks among the most prosperous men of his community. Born in Piatt county, Ill., February 4, 1874, Samuel E. Talbert is the son of James T. and Rachel (Weddle) Talbert, natives of Kentucky. The father, who was born in 1840, removed to Illinois in boyhood with other members of the family and settled in Piatt county. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army and served under Generals Grant and Meade for three years, participating in many battles with honor to himself. While he was in the service his thrifty wife bought forty acres of land which until recently was in the possession of the oldest daughter, Mrs. Mary Piper. On the expiration of his term of service he returned to his Illinois home and took up the duties of civic affairs, remaining in the same place until early in 1892, when he came to California and settled at Long Beach. The family consisted of the following children: Mrs. Mary Piper; Mrs. Nettie Finety, deceased; Mrs. Eveline Irvine; Mrs. Francis McCullough, deceased; Mrs. Lovina Miller; Samuel E.; Thomas B. and Henry E. In 1892 the family removed to Long Beach and for some time were engaged in farming in that locality. Prior to coming to California the wife and mother passed away in Illinois.

Samuel E. Talbert was reared at home, received his schooling in the common schools and was engaged in farming with his father until he was eighteen years old, when he came to this state. He farmed for himself for four years in the vicinity of Long Beach, at which time he came to Orange county, in 1897, and settled in what is now known as Talbert, which was named in his honor. He bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, for which he paid $40 per acre. Of this he later sold some to his brothers, Thomas and Henry, and now retains one hundred acres for himself. He was one of the leaders in converting a barren waste into one of the most productive sections of the county. The locality where he located was known as Fountain Valley, but was changed at the time the post-office was established and given the name of the founder.

One of the most important incidents in the life of Mr. Talbert was his marriage on January 26, 1895, to Miss Hattie L. Brady, who was born in Santa Ana, August 24, 1880. She is the daughter of John and Louisa (Schrode) Brady, formerly of Texas. In all of Mr. Talbert's undertakings she has been his able assistant, and to her he owes much of his success. When he made his first purchase of land he was able to pay down only one-third of the purchase price, but by his far-sightedness he has been able to make the land some of the most valuable in this section of the county.

When the Pacific Electric was prospected through to Huntington Beach he took the contract to complete the line from the Santa Ana river to that place, and the manner in which he executed his contract, in twenty-eight days, met the approval and compliments of the officials. He organized a grading camp and has handled many large undertakings. He was one of the originators of the Talbert drainage district and has served as the president of the company ever since. When he came to this section he brought stock with him, but the stock died from drinking stagnant water and eating wild feed. This proved to him that something must be done to remedy matters and in consequence lie set about organizing this company. The landowners put up $1 per acre to begin the work and Mr. Talbert, as foreman and manager of the company, began to cut the Willows ditch which adjoined his place. This was an eye-opener to the rest of the people and he received a great deal of encouragement from the newcomers to that section while those who had lived there some time held back, believing the undertaking would be an impossibility. He often made the assertion that celery would some day be raised in that section and also that an electric line would be put through it. How true his prophecy was proven, as this is one of the best sections in the west for celery and the electric line has been the means of making the country. The name of Mr. Talbert is better known in connection with the Neubert Protection district than any other in the county, for it was through his influence that the channel of the Santa Ana river was confined to its original bed. This movement has raised the price of the land from its former price of from $7 to $12 per acre to between $400 and $500 per acre.

Mr. Talbert is a Mason and interested in the workings of the order and with his wife attends the Methodist Church South. He is one of the public spirited men of the county and one, too, who has always been active in the up building of the institutions that have promoted the county to take the lead in Southern California and while he has neither had time nor inclination for public office, casts his vote with the Republican party and has refused to allow his name to be presented for favors. Both himself and wife enjoy the esteem of a wide circle of friends.

Source: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NORCAL/1999-09/093797...