Biography of
Richard Talley

p.1149

     RICHARD TALLEY, formerly known as Dick, was born in Ireland, May 30, 1826. He came to America in 1830, with his parents, where he grew up to manhood, after which he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ann Wilkinson, daughter of Bennie Wilkinson, of Missouri, and settled down farming in Franklin county, Illinois, on what is known as "Town Mount Prairie," the postoffice being Plumfield. In time two children were born to this union, -- James Benjamin Talley and Elizabeth Talley. In 1861, on June 6th, he volunteered and enlisted in Company I, of an Illinois regiment, and served three years in the war after which he received p. 1150 an honorable discharge and returned home. He began farming in the coming spring, and in the same spring a quarrel ensued between him and his brother-in-law, resulting in the fighting of a duel, in which they shot each other and both died. Richard left his wife, son and daughter to mourn his loss. Eleven months after his death his wife, Sarah Ann, died, leaving James Benjamin Talley and Elizabeth Talley to grow up in the world the best they could. James Benjamin was but five years and ten months old, his sister, Elizabeth Talley, being one year his senior. They were then taken by Ben Wilkinson, their uncle. When sixteen years old, James Benjamin Talley came to Jackson county, and Elizabeth Talley, when ten years old, went to her grandfather, Bennie Wilkinson, in Northwest Missouri. There, at the age of seventeen years, she was married to George Taylor, after which they began traveling and their whereabouts are unknown to this day.

     James Benjamin Talley came to Jackson county and settled down at Oraville, Illinois, after which he was engaged in the timber business with Dutch Payne for about six months. He then began farming for Bill Bradley, but after farming for him three years he left and went into the blacksmith business with Freel Robinson at Oraville, staying there six months. Selling out, he then began railroading, but after eight months returned to farming, working for Frank Bastien for six months. Next he engaged in the timber business at Vergennes, staying there three months and then went to Severance, Kansas, and took up farming there, but only remaining at that place about two months, when he returned to Oraville, Illinois, and engaged in frrming again for Bill Bradley.

     During that time Mr. Talley was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bastien, daughter of Frank Bastien, who resided one mile west of Oraville, and began farming for himself on Frank Bastien's farm. One child was born to them, named Henry; after two years Mr. Talley moved to E. H. Snider's farm, four miles north of Murphysboro, Illinois. There to their union was born the second child, named Edward. Farming there one year he then moved to the R. A. McCord farm, one-quarter of a mile west of Oraville, farming there one year, when he moved to his own farm in Levan Township, in section sixteen, residing there off and on for twenty-two years. To their union seven children were born, as follows: Marion, Willie, Gertrude, Ida, Lulu, Frank and Sarah.

     About March 10, 1903, Mr. Talley bought Mr. Elex Ripley's farm, located three-quarters of a mite west of Oraville, and moved there, but after one month sold it back to Mr. E. Ripley and returned to the farm in Levan Township, staying there six months. He then bought the John Murray property, on the north edge of Oraville, staying there until the middle of the next summer; when he sold and moved back to the farm in Levan Township. Leaving the farm in the care of his sons Edward and Willie the remainder of the family moved back to Oraville, where they all reside at present with the exception of Sallie Gertrude, who is in East St. Louis, Illinois. The son Edward married Miss May Deitz, daughter of Noah Deitz, of Levan Township, and his brother Willie lives with him.

     J. B. Talley and son Henry purchased the merchandise business of J. L. Bradley & Son, of Oraville, where they are at present. Mr. J. B. Talley's knowledge of the needs of the people of his community has stood him in good stead in selecting his new stock. He has lived in this locality for a long period, is well known to the citizens here and bears an excellent reputation as a man of sterling integrity and upright business principles. Politically, he is a Republican.