Franklin Talbert
Franklin Talbert (deceased), was born in Union Township,
Shelby County, March 3, 1842, and was a son of Paris C. and
Nancy A. Talbert. His youth was spent upon the farm owned by
his parents. When the War of the Rebellion broke out, he enlisted
(August 8, 1862), in the Third Indiana Battery, continuing
through the war, until 1865. He came back July 24, of that year,
with an honorable discharge. On the third day of December, 1864,
his father died. In September, 1867, the subject of our biography
was married to Mary A. Wright. To them was born three
children, William, Lulu and Verhn. On April 14, 1874, the wife
died. In 1869, Mr. Talbert, in company with his brothers, Sylvanus and
William, and his brother-in-law, Jacob Bower, started a
saw mill. In time, the subject of our sketch bought out the entire
mill, and in 1879, moved all of the machinery to Shelbyville, locating on East Hendricks Street, at the intersection of the J., M. & I.,
and " Big Four " Railroads. The mill was started in a small way
but the business grew rapidly and he soon erected manufacturing
establishments of various kinds in connection with it. He began
manufacturing wagons in 1881, and it was not long until the "Talbert wagon " was famous everywhere.
Next the planing mill was
added, and in July, of the next year, another saw mill was built. Mr. Talbert did an extensive business and employed a large
number of hands. On the 14th day of September, 1877, he was again
married, this time to Angeline Westerfield, of Union Township, from
which marriage there were three children born, two of whom are
dead. Mr. Talbert was for several years a member of the City
Council of Shelbyville. He was a member of Shelby Lodge No. 39,
I. O. O. F. He was also a member of the G. A. R. He was struck
by a falling beam while at his mill, and a few days thereafter,
October 22, 1886, died, leaving a whole community to mourn his
loss. Frank Talbert, had, during his brief residence in Shelbyville,
contributed more to increase the population, and build up the manufacturing interests of the city, than anyone else.
He was public
spirited in a high degree, and was always ready to help on popular
enterprises.
History of Shelby County, Indiana , "Shelbyville
Sketches." Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1887, page 539-540.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
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