Author: Jon

Vern Talman Thompson m. Dorothy Jane Hatch 1934

Both my father Vern Talman Thompson, and his older brother Glen Thompson, grew up to be licensed in Pharmaceutical Drugs, with our dad graduating from the University of Washington, in Seattle where he met our mother Dorothy Jane Hatch in a chemistry class.  He worked after school at a gas station, and his mother would come with his books to help him with his studies. (She was a good mama)!

The story I wish to tell is how Sarah Elizabeth Talman Thompson played a significant role in her sons becoming successful. I think she had “big dreams” for her boy’s lives.  As little boys, she would teach them French and reward them with cups of hot chocolate, she would serve from small Demitasse cups she probably had as a girl.  I have two of them in my China cabinet today.  Our father could sit at our dining table and entertain us after our meal, with poetry.  He also learned this sitting as a youngster at her knee.  Some of our favorites he recited, were Robert Service poems; “The Cremation of Sam McGee”, and “The Shooting of Dan McGrew”.  Listening to those poems would make the hair on your arms stand up straight.

Vern and Glen’s Pharmacy didn’t survive the years of Depression, and our dad would work nights at a service station trying to keep the Drug Store in the Wallingford District of Seattle going.  Glen continued to be a pharmacist throughout his life, whereas our father enjoyed working with his hands, and loved cars.  He bought a Chevron Station, and later added a mechanic shop to it.  That was how he supported our family.

We lived on Queen Anne Hill, at 2556 2nd, Avenue West, in Seattle, Washington, in a lovely Tudor style home. We attended and were members of the Queen Anne United Methodist Church. Our Christian faith has always been an important part of our lives.

Our folks also had a wonderful summer home on Pipe Lake, in Maple Valley, Washington, where we would enjoy many a sunny day swimming.  Maple Valley is not far from Black Diamond, where Ira Charles and Sarah Elizabeth, or “Libby” as she was known to be called, would raise their boys.

Vern Talman Thompson was one of thirteen teenagers graduating from Buckley high school and was the Valedictorian speaker of his graduating class of 1927.

written account, by Judy R Wedeberg

daughter of Vern and Dorothy Thompson, granddaughter of Sarah Elizabeth Talman Thompson

~ August 2nd, 2021

 And now the story:

The Plane a B-24 Liberator was nicknamed “Lovey’s Dovies” its tactical call sign was “Yellow L”.  The Crew consisted of my cousin Co-pilot 2nd Lt Raymond F. Morse, the Pilot 1st Lt. Alexander Lovey and Navigator 2nd Lt. Donald E. Toomey.  The three were part of the original crew, while the other six were replacements.  The target that day would be Blechhammer South Synthetic Oil Refinery.  Approaching the target at an Altitude between 23,000-25,000 ft., the Weather was Clear and Visibility Good.  The approximate time was 11:20am and one of the crewmembers had just made the remark “looks like no flak today”.  At that very moment the aircraft was struck by flak in the no.3 engine.  The date Friday the 13^th, October 1944 and if you were superstitious it was a bad omen, but for my young cousin on his 36th Bombing Mission and the pilot it turned out to be Black Friday.  It didn’t turn out much better for the rest of the crew either.  Raymond and Alexander Lovey would lose their lives that day while the seven-crew members that bailed would spend the rest of the war in a POW camp.  The 465th Bomb Group lost 4 B-24’s that day and their sister 464th also lost 3 B-24’s that day.  In fact, that Friday and Saturday were the 2 worst days of October 1944 for “Missing Air Crews”.

I grew up during the 50’s in the small town of Mayville, NY.  All my relatives lived around us within a block, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  It was a tight knit community and one didn’t have to travel beyond the corner store for most everything in those days.  I spent many winter nights playing canasta with Raymond’s mom and dad who lived just down the block from us.  His mother, my grand aunt Gertrude or “Gert”, looked forward to me joining them in the evening and sometimes would have a warm fresh baked apple pie waiting for me when I arrived.  I remember pictures of Raymond displayed in the house, but little was ever mentioned about him except the fact that he died in the war.  Now, since my own children are grown and have families of their own, I’ve become interested in my family tree.  Two things piqued my interest in Raymond, one was we’re losing so many of our Nation’s Greatest Generations; the other having inherited the letter written to his parents from 5 Star General Harold “Hap” Arnold.

Raymond enlisted on August 29, 1942 with only dreams of flying aircraft.  By October 1942 the AAF goal was up to 100,000 pilots a year.  Slightly more than 50% failed either the physical or written tests and as “washouts” were sent to the infantry.  Another 40% washed out of Primary, or Basic or Advanced schools.  After completing his specialized 4-engine training, he married his high school sweetheart April of ‘44’ and within a few weeks shipped out for Pantanella Air Base, Italy.  I think so often now of what the young man missed in life.  Never having the opportunity of having his own family, never experiencing such common items today as a TV’s, computers, cell phones or stereo music.  The opportunity of visiting old friends at 781st reunions or reading the “Pantanella Newsletter”.

Raymond and Alexander were buried in a common dirt grave alongside 16 other airmen from 4 other crashes in a Church Cemetery in Cisek, Poland under the supervision of the German Military.  A piece of propeller marked the grave.  Between April of ‘45’ and September of ‘47’ the Youth Chapter of the Polish Red Cross took care of the grave.  On September 11, 1947 they were disinterred by the Army Graves Registration Corps and moved to the Ardennes American Cemetery, Belgium.  From the fall of 1944 until January 8th, 1945 he had only been listed as Missing-In-Action.  In 1950 his parents requested his remains be returned for burial in Mayville Cemetery.  His flag draped coffin was escorted by Captain William H. Miller, USAF on the New York Central Railway from New York City to Westfield then on to Mayville for burial on July 15, 1950.

The seven crewmembers interviewed after their release from POW camps stated on “Individual Casualty Questionnaires” they believed “They were trying to keep the plane level so the rest could jump.”  I’ve had the opportunity of meeting, having several phone conversations as well as email with two men who were on that plane.  Walter Clausen the nose gunner and Pierre J.J. Kennedy the tail gunner both of whom have since passed on.  Pierre has both publicly spoken and published several articles about that day and on POW’s.  Because of these shared experiences the City of Middletown, CT honored him in 2016 by proclaiming May 15 as Pierre Jean Jacques Kennedy Day.

Originally there were no plans for bombing that day.  Many from the base had been given passes to go to The Isle of Capri.  Crews were scrambled and most of them that day were made up of replacements.

George Marion Jenkins – WWI Letter Home                                                                      compiled by: Mary Martin, his daughter

• 

On October 13, 1918 from the WWI Meuse Argonne Offensive, George wrote the letter below. It was his last letter before returning home.  The map from Gen. Pershing’s final report shows the 37th Division at location 2 (as annotated) on that date.  The band was located within a few kilometers of that location.  It was sent to his step-grandfather, George Mullen, in Bellevue, Ohio. (Note: When he uses Dutch, Dutchman or Fritzie, he means Germans.)

17 year old George enlisted on 6 July 1916 in the 8th Infantry Regiment of the Ohio National Guard at Camp Willis, Ohio and was assigned to the headquarters band.  He first served on the Mexican Border.  In WWI the 8th Infantry Regiment of the Ohio National Guard was reorganized into the 146th Infantry and assigned to the 73rd Infantry Brigade, 37th Division, American Expeditionary Forces.  They departed Camp Lee, VA June 15, 1918.

George began his journey home on March 18, 1919 from Brest, France on the USS Maui.  The ship arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey on March 31, 1919. The arrival of the band was noted in an Akron, Ohio newspaper the next day.

Final Report of Gen. John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief American Expeditionary Forces, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1919.
Plate 5, Meuse Argonne Offensive

Oct. 13, 1918

Dear Folks,

I would have written long before this, but conditions made it rather impossible, for we have been on a hop skip and jump for some time, but now we are settled for a while at least.  We are in a town that the Dutch (Germans) occupied until a short time ago, but were driven out by the “Yanks”.  The front is only a few kilometers from here, and the music from the machine guns can be heard quite plainly.  Fritzie (Germans) drops a few shells here occasionally.  One caved in the rear of this building and another took off the front roof, but the room I am occupying is still in good shape.  The Dutch (Germans) left here so quick, that they had no time to destroy the town and everything was left in fine shape.  The rooms in the different

2

buildings are just as they were when they occupied them, so we have excellent sleeping quarters.  Another fellow and I selected a fair room with a nice soft bed in it.  The first bed I’ve had since I landed in France.  We have an organ in here too and some folios of Dutch (German) music.  I even went so far as to bake pan cakes for breakfast the last two mornings.  Honestly if you were to step into this room you wouldn’t believe this was at the front, but I am quite sure when a few of Fritzies (Germans) “hell-plums” would land around here that you would soon become aware of the fact.  I could even hand you some good “Girard” cigars.  A Sales Commissary came thru this morning selling all sorts of tobacco and I laid in a supply. The first time I have smoked anything outside of “Bull Durham” for some time. We get a weekly issue of “Bull”

3

   We were on a drive recently. The band didn’t advance with the regiment, so I went on special duty with the Intelligence Section of the Hdq’s Co.  I was with an observation post team, but did a little bit of everything.  It was surely an exciting experience, and believe me we certainly did back them up off some good French soil.  What sleep we had a chance to get was in shell holes which furnish protection from shrapnel, but believe me these are alway muddy, as it rained almost every day.  When we were relieved by another outfit, the hike back over the ground we had taken was rather long.  We did half of it the night we were relieved and finished it the next day.  About supper time we crossed the old Dutch (German) tenches and what had been no man’s land & then our trenches, where

4

our fellows had went over the top to give Dutchy (Germans) a jolt for his life.  Not far from here was where the band was camping and there I dropped out for a good wash, which was badly needed.  It surely was a dirty looking bunch that came marching back, mud from head to foot, and they were tired too, but the thought of the gain they had made kept all of them in good spirits.

A young scotchman in the band went up with the Colonel as orderly, his nickname is “Toady”.  He got his name because we used to put toads in his horn case, and when he would open the case the toads would jump out and give him an awful scare, for he surely was afraid of toads.  Well he was carrying a message thru the woods and passed a dugout and saw a Dutchman (German) peeking out the door.  One of our fellows a short dis-

5

tance off heard him say, “for pity-sakes come out of there”, the Dutchman (German) came out with his hands in his pockets; Toady thought he was reaching for a grenade and got quite frustrated, and said, ”get those bloody bloomen hands up,”  The Dutchman (German) obeyed and pointed to the door and said there were three more “kamerads” inside, and Toady had to persuade them to come out, evidently they were afraid of being shot.  Toady lined them up and turned them in.  We fellows had quite a laugh over it, for he will run a mile from a toad and not an inch from four Dutchmen (Germans).  There are a “million and one” incidents I could tell they will keep until the Kaiser agree to Wilsons peace proposals, and I can walk up the steps of 907 E. Main St.

We were paid day before yesterday and my allotement

6

had been taken out.  It was our July pay and the first installment of the allotement.  Let me know when it reaches you.

I think our Liberty bonds are in a New York bank, held for us until we get back, any way I have paid in full for it and will get it in time.

I saw all the Bellevue fellows shortly after the drive, and they are all well and feeling fine except John Underdown who has been in the base hospital for some time.

Well I will close,                                                                                                                       Yours Truly

Mus Geo. M. Jenkins                                                                                                                 Hdqs. Co. 146th Inf                                                                                                                 A.P.O. 763 Am. E.F.                                                         (note: censored by GGM Capt)

P.S.                                                                    7                                                                                 I was already to mail this when I received another letter from you, and I decided to add a few lines more.  You are certainly right about us eating from “Dutch (German) Gardens”.  There are lots of gardens around here planted by the Dutch (Germans), and there are onions, radishes, tomatoes, potatoes, parsley and lots of other things.  I boiled myself some cabbage for dinner.  It was good for a change, believe me.  We were each handed a coupon which I have put in this letter, so if you send a package at Christmas it should be used, otherwise nothing can be sent.  Use this to send my knit sweater and some heavy woolen socks.

The End

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939
Name: George M . Jenkins
Departure Date: 18 Mar 1919
Departure Place: Brest, France
Arrival date: 31 Mar 1919
Arrival Place: Hoboken, New Jersey
Address: New Lawrence Hotel
Residence Place: Sandusky, Ohio
Father: Charles H. Jenkins
Ship: MAUI
Military Unit: HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 146TH INFANTRY
Rank: MUS 1/CL
Service Number: 1, 523, 564
Notes: HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 146TH INFANTRY 37TH DIVISION
Source Citation: The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group
Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number:
92; Roll or Box Number: 194Source Information: on-line. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
Operations, Inc., 2016USAT Maui ex-USS Maui (ID 1514)

USAT Maui ex-USS Maui (ID 1514)
Transport:
Built in 1917 by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA
Acquired by the Navy and commissioned USS Maui (ID 1514), 6 March 1918
Decommissioned in September 1919 and returned to her owner
Acquired by the Army in December 1941 as USAT Maui
Transferred to the Maritime Administration in 1945
Scrapped in 1948.
Specifications:
Displacement 9,730 t.
Length 501′
Beam 58′
Draft 30′ 2″
Speed 18 kts.
Armament: Four 6″ mounts, two 1-pounders and two machine guns
Propulsion: Two 5,000ihp steam engines, two shafts.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/171514.htm

(1)

One of the confirmed underground railroad sites in Perinton Township is the Isaac Talman house, 2187 East Whitney Road, it still stands.  John Talman Jr was a young boy at the time, his grandfather Isaac built there in the 1820’s.  John, whose career spanned the newspaper and magazine industry as a staff writer, telegraph editor and contributor writes that; “This farmhouse, my birthplace, tops a hill sloping gently to the west. owned by my father, John Talman, Sr., one of the ‘black Republicans ⁽²⁾’ of his day, was as implacable and intolerant an enemy of human slavery as the North could boast, and as sturdy, fearless, and unfailing a defender of what he deemed as right as I ever knew.  He was one of the band of Abolitionists that conducted what was known as the ‘Underground Railroad’, whereby fugitive Negro slaves from the South were enabled to find asylum in the free air of Canada.  The runaways were passed along from station to station, and this Perinton farm was one of the stations.  We were not far from the port of Charlotte, where the fugitives in summer could cross Lake Ontario, and in winter, when navigation was suspended could land on British soil by way of Niagara Falls or Buffalo.”

He goes on to recount an event typical of activities on the Underground Railroad.  “In the township of Perinton, Monroe County, New York, twelve miles southeast of Rochester and two miles east of the village of Fairport, stands (or at any rate stood when last, I saw it ⁽³⁾) a farmhouse that cuts a significant, if humble figure in the anti-slavery crusade that brought on the Civil War of 1861–1865.  I have a distinct recollection of the time when in the winter of 1859-60 a runaway slave from Georgia, his wife and half dozen little children were concealed in our house for a week or more on their way to Canada.  They were quartered in the kitchen and provided with food, not only for present needs, but sufficient for several days after leaving us.  I had never seen a negro child before, and no sooner had the dusky family found refuge with us than my childish curiosity aroused.  My fingers were exploring the thick crop of wool that thatched the wide-eyed pickaninnies [sic].  The family remained with us until the time agreed upon by the liberators, when my father, in the dead of night, packed them in a large lumber wagon under quilts and blankets and drove them to the next station.  A relative, a neighbor, afterwards told of his surprise when he called at our house and found himself in the midst of our Negro guests.  “It was a perilous business, this aiding slaves to escape.  The ‘Underground Railroaders’ were near-outlaws, operating in defiance of the United States government and being under the constant espionage of government agents, whose utmost vigilance, however, could not nullify the services of these devoted men of the sacred cause of liberty.”  [ca. 1930-1]

New York State had a vast network of churches, community sites and safe houses strongly involved with abolition.  Many in its western portion, two of its most infamous residents were African-American Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, orator and statesmen.  After gaining freedom, he eventually settled in Rochester in 1847, he’s buried there in Mount Hope Cemetery.  Abolitionist, humanitarian Harriet Tubman also born into slavery known as “The Moses of Her People” lived in nearby Auburn.  Because of its proximity to Lake Ontario and Canada, Rochester served as a terminus for the eastern branch of the Underground Railroad.  While northern states were ostensibly “free” the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850 allowed slave catchers to work in all states.  For all intents and purposes, it extended slavery everywhere, making passage to Canada necessary to guarantee freedom.  According to some sources, the first organized escape took place in 1804 and, by 1830, the organization of “stations” and “conductors” was developed and active with western, central, and eastern branches.  It was in this decade as well that various anti-slavery societies began to agitate for change.  Even though aiding slaves was an offense punishable by jail and/or a $1,000 fine, the railroad kept on operating.  Stations were spaced approximately one day’s walk apart and could be secret rooms, barns, caves, church belfries, root cellars and the like.  Lighted lamps or candles often served as signals.

When Frederick Douglass came to speak in the hamlet of Egypt in southeastern Perinton; he found the church doors locked, forcing him to address the crowd outdoors.  The same John Talman describes Douglass: “[he]…wore a long blue broadcloth coat with brass buttons.  He was tall, erect, a massive figure, his noble bronze countenance surmounted by an enormous halo of thick crinkly hair.  In speaking he had a habit of accentuating each decisive utterance by slightly bending his head, shutting his jaws like steel traps, and widening his mouth in a smile of sardonic grimness.”  Although there is no way to definitively number those who used the Underground Railroad, this loosely organized secret group of brave and dedicated individuals, a number of them Perinton citizens, clearly were a force in ending the scourge of slavery.

John Talman Sr. (1810-1885)                     John Jr. 1863

© Jon Tallman                                            © Jon Tallman

 

(1) Photograph from the archives of the Perinton Historical Society ca. 1945

(2) From 1854, when the Republican Party was founded, Democrats labeled it adherents “black Republicans” to identify them as proponents of black equality.

(3) John Jr. died 26 Mar 1936 at his daughters’ home in Gold Beach Oregon.

From the farm he was born on, – Chestnut Ridge, Dutchess Co, to the new family farm on the Webber Road at Prendergast Creek in Chautauqua Co., NY.   I believe the most probable route he took along with his 11 children in 1848 in a wagon driven by oxen to the homestead in Harmony, Chautauqua County to be the following.  Most likely they traveled the “Catskill/Susquehanna Turnpike” a direct route.  Even though the Erie Canal was completed by 1825 the turnpike had been finished by 1806 to Bath and extended to northwestern Pennsylvania prior to 1825.

1805-6/18:        John James Tallman only son of John & Ruth Tallman is born on a farm on Chestnut Ridge, Dutchess Co., NY.

1807-3:             Sarah Ann Newton “Sally” 5^th of 11 children is born to David & Charlotte Newton in Dutchess Co.

1829-12/30:      John & Sally are married by George Hammond Esq.

1830 ca:           John James father John dies at his farm in the Town of Dover.  His will leaves everything to his loving wife Ruth and only surviving son John James.

1830-4/5:          John James and possibly pregnant wife purchase a 123 Ac farm in the Town of Washington, Dutchess Co. The property is next to his sister-in-law Jane Ann who is married to his cousin Solomon Tallman.

2/1/1831:          Birth of son Joseph B.

1832-3/19:        Birth of dau. Mary A.

1833-11/18:      Birth of dau. Charlotte

1835-5/20:        Birth of dau. Susan A. ‘Susie’

1837-7/5:          Birth of dau. Lois A. ‘Adie’

1838-8/3:          Birth of son John N.

1840-1/7:          Birth of dau. Ruth

1841-3/26:        Birth of son Solomon A.

1842-6/3:          Birth of dau. Maria Elizabeth

1844-2/1:          Birth of son Trustom C.

1845-6/6:          Birth of son James H.

1845-8/3:          John James mother dies on his farm.  She leaves family bibles to her grandchildren: John , Mary, Susie, Adie, and Ruth.

1847-6/14:        Birth of stillborn infant

1848-4/1:          John James purchases a 241 ac. Farm in the Town of Harmony for $3,100 from Simeon Vail, he and his 11 children move to Chautauqua County.

1851-1/14:        John sells his 123 ac. Farm in Dutchess County.

1851-2/6:          daughter Mary marries John Losee in the Village of Panama, Chautauqua Co.

1852-3/23:        John files a Judgment against Egburt Sheldon & John Penman for an unpaid $823.15 promissory note.

1852-7/5:          son Joseph graduates from Albany Normal School, Albany NY.

1854 ca.:          John suffers a debilitating leg injury.

1856 ca.:          daughter Charlotte graduates from Poughkeepsie Female Collegiate College and teaches in Poughkeepsie until about 1870 living with aunt Jane Ann Newton.

1856-11/29:      He purchases daughter Mary and John Losee’s farm to the south for $3150, they continue to farm there.  (It remains a mystery to why he purchased it and for such an exorbitant price?)

1857-6/15:        John’s wife Sarah “Sally” Ann age 50 dies at her sister Jane Ann’s home in Dutchess County.  She’s buried in Chestnut Ridge Friends Ground a cemetery abandoned before 1900.  39 others including a few of her of relatives are also buried there.

1858-9/1:          His son Joseph files papers declaring him a habitual drunkard and lunatic trying to gain control of his farm.

1858-9/15:        The Court appoints a commission of inquiry into it.

1858-9/22:        The Court rules in favor of John, throws the case out.

1859-11/29:      Alonzo Marsh files a Judgment against John for an unpaid $64.25 promissory note.

1861-4/12:        The Civil War breaks out with the attack of Fort Sumter.

1861-6:             son Joseph, his wife Julia from Ohio whom he married before 1860 and younger brother Solomon move to Austin, MN.

1861-6/27:        Henry VanVolkenburg files a Judgment against John for an unpaid $300 promissory note.

1861-10/21:      Solomon enlists in the Union Army at Ft. Snelling, MN.

1862 ca.:          John is taken in by his daughter Mary and relies on Trustom for board and living expenses.  The rest of life is spent shifting between his children’s homes.

1862-1/31:        William P. Whiteside files a Judgment against John and one VanVolkenburg for an unpaid $224.40 promissory note.

1862-1/31:        William Vorce files a Judgment against John for an unpaid $104.44 promissory note for $200 to purchase hay.

1862-8/30:        daughter Mary’s husband John Losee enlists into the Union Army in Harmony, NY

1862-11/17:      son John Newton marries 1^st wife Mary A. Padden of the Town of Pomfret.

1863-4/11:        son-in-law, Pvt. John Losee age 39 dies from illness in a Field Hospital in Suffolk, VA, he’s buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1863-8/15:        John sells his farm to his son John Newton.

1863-9:             son Joseph is appointed the Superintendent of Mower County Schools, MN.

1864-4/9:          daughter Susie marries Abraham Stotenbur in Havana, NY his 2^nd marriage.

1864-12/23:      John Newton trades farms with Charles Tarbox and moves with his wife Mary to the Tarbox farm in the Fredonia area; later he goes to work for the Dunkirk Allegheny Valley & Pittsburgh Railroad as a watchman.

1864-9/3:          son Trustom enlists in the 90th NY Infantry at Portland, NY.

1864-10/19:      Trustom is shot in the arm at the Battle of Cedar Creek, VA and taken to Satterlee Hospital, E. Philadelphia.

1864-5:              Nov 27 – Jan 8, Trustom is home on leave to recuperate.

1865-1/18:        daughter Lois Ann “Adie” age 25 dies, she’s buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1865-5/27:        son Trustom age 21 dies from pneumonia at his Army camp in VA, he’s buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1865-7/19:        Solomon is mustered out of the Army in Louisville, KY.

1866-10/1:        Joseph resigns from his Superintendent position; they sell their farm in Lyle Township, MN and leave for Lake Village, Chicot Co, Arkansas.

1867-11/7:        daughter Maria marries Henry Merritt Tallman in the First Methodist Church in Rochester, NY, graduates of Genesee College Rochester they both teach in Port Byron, NY.

1867 & 9:         John N. sells parts of his property near Fredonia.

1868-12/1:        Mary feels her father no longer requires her care.  John spends the rest of his years living between Ruth, Charlotte and James.

1870:                Maria and Henry Tallman move to St. Louis where Henry becomes a school principal.

1871-1875:       daughter Ruth also moves to St. Louis and both teaches and is a principal until returning to Jamestown ca. 1875.

1872-1/2:          son James marries Martha Vastbinder at the Jefferson House Hotel in Watkins Glen, NY.

1873-3/31:        granddaughter Nora A. Tallman is born, daughter of James H. & Martha Tallman.

1873-3/20:        son Solomon marries 1^st wife Harriet A. Skinner in the Town of Arkwright.

1874:                grandson Leon Tallman is born back in Mayville, NY, son of Henry M. & Maria E. Tallman.

1874-11:           granddaughter Alice Ruth Tallman is born, daughter of James H. & Martha Tallman.

1876:                daughter Ruth marries James Robinson Fenner II in Jamestown, his 2^nd marriage.

1876-1/8           Joseph & Julia become guardians of William Duane Dano by Joseph being appointed executor of Duane M. Dano’s estate.  As a boy he’s called “Willie Dano”.

1877:                granddaughter Eva F. Tallman is born, daughter of James H & Martha Tallman.

1877-7/20:        granddaughter Mary Ruth Fenner is born, daughter of James R. & Ruth Fenner.

1879:                John leaves his wife Mary, moves to Detroit buying hides for Lyvenus Ellis & Son Tannery back in Leona, NY.

1880-3/9:          Mary Tallman Losee marries Seeley Peck of Junius at her sister Ruth’s in Jamestown and moves to his farm there. However, short-lived, Seeley committes suicide on June 6, 1881 in the barn.  She remained in West Junius, Seneca Co., NY until 1885 the Newton family had also relocated there from Dutchess Co.

1880-7/22:        Joseph files for marriage dissolution and the divorce is granted in Lake Village.

1881:                both John’s wife and Solomon’s file for divorce.

1881-2/2:          grandson Henry William Tallman is born, son of Solomon Tallman & Laura Case.

1882:                St. Louis divorce decreed plaintiff Maria E. Tallman from Henry M.

1882-9/29:        John N. marries Emma Patten Riley in Corktown, Detroit.

1883-8:             John James age 78 dies and is buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1883:                granddaughter Nina Bell Tallman is born, daughter of John Newton Tallman & Emma Riley.

1883-12/24:      Solomon & Harriet Skinner’s divorce absolute granted.

1884:                that summer Solomon marries his 2^nd wife Laura Case.

1884-1:             Divorce proceedings against John N. for adultery and bigamy begin in Chautauqua Co.

1884-8/11:        Willie Dano Tallman’s uncle files a petition in Lake Village court to have Joseph removed as guardian its granted.  Young Willie & Julia have been living in Sparta, Wis. for over 4 years.

1884-8/16:        John Newton & Mary Padden’s divorce absolute granted.

1885-7:             granddaughter Helen Alta Belle “Bessie” Tallman is born, daughter of Solomon & Laura Case Tallman.

1886-4/12:        Twins of James & Martha Tallman are born, one is still born.

1887-6/20:        son Joseph dies in Charleston, TX. (see note below)

1889:                John, Emma & Nina move to Alpena, MI and John becomes Alpena’s 1^st Newsboy selling the Detroit Free Press.

1890-8/25:        grandson Johnie dies age 4 son of James & Martha Tallman, buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1892:                William Duane Tallman graduates from Sparta High School.

1892-6/18:        granddaughter Nora Tallman marries Alton Wells Ball who later becomes owner of the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry line.  They have 2 sons: Gerald Alton & Earl Cecil.

1895-5:             daughter Susan age 60 wife of Abraham Stotenbur dies, she’s buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1895-5/25:        granddaughter Alice Tallman marries Marshall Edgar Lewis a local dairy farmer and has 2 daughters: Bertha R. & Bernice E.

1895-12/13:      Ruth’s husband James Robinson Fenner II dies, he’s buried in Lakeview Cemetery.

1896-2/7:          Mary (Tallman) Losee/Peck is declared a lunatic and placed in an asylum.

1899-2/2:          daughter Mary age 66 dies, she’s buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1899-7/24:        Solomon, Ruth, Charlotte, James and Maria acquire the estate of sister Mary including 25 acres and monies.

1900-3/25:        grandson Leon Tallman age 30 dies at his mother’s Maria Tallman he’s buried in Greendale Cemetery, Meadville, PA.

1900-6/27:        William D. Tallman now with his BS & MS from the University of Wisconsin marries Anna Demuth in Lake Bluff, IL.

1901-1/1:          William D. Tallman a doctoral student and math instructor at the University of Wisconsin resigns and accepts the position of Chairman of the Math department at Montana State University a position he holds for 45 years.

1901-1/21:        Julia A. Tallman dies at the Agard Deaconess Sanitarium in Lake Bluff, IL from stomach cancer; she’s buried in Lake Forest Cemetery, IL.

1903:                Youngest son James H. age 58 dies, he’s buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1903-9/24:        granddaughter Helen Tallman marries Charles Zenns the Mayville Village barber.  They have 2 sons: Wilbur Tallman & Paul Donald.

1907:                granddaughter Eva Tallman marries Milton Gilbert Twichell a carpenter.  They have one daughter Mary Eva.

1909-5/11:        Solomon deeds his home to Laura & daughter Bessie Zenns with rights to live there until he dies. (This indicates he knew he didn’t have long to live).

1909-7/14:        Son Solomon age 66 dies and is buried in Mayville Cemetery.

1910-11/5:        Laura Tallman remarries to Eldred O. Freeman also a widower.

1914-6/13:        James Tallman’s wife Martha age 61 dies, she’s buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1915-10/16:      grandson Henry W. Tallman marries Maude Bell Pratt a divorcee.  They have 3 children: Alberta Ruth, Henrietta Maude & John Henry.

1916-9/23:        granddaughter Nina Bell Tallman marries William E. Dulmage head of the sheet music dept. for the Wurlitzer Co. in Detroit, MI.  They have 1 son William Tallman.

1919-6/15:        daughter Charlotte age 85 dies at her sister Ruth’s house, she’s buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1920-6/23:        daughter Maria E. age 78 dies at her sister Ruth’s house, she’s buried in Greendale Cemetery, Meadville, PA.

1928-2/19:        son John Newton age 89 dies, he’s buried in Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak, MI.

1930-4/11:        Laura Tallman Freeman dies at her daughter Bessie’s home, she’s buried in Mayville Cemetery.

1930-8/21:        daughter Ruth age 91 dies at her home, she’s buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Jamestown, NY.

1933-4/25:        granddaughter Eva (Tallman) Twichell dies, she’s buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1934-6/17:        granddaughter Alice (Tallman) Lewis dies, she’s buried in Bemus Cemetery.

1934-7/11:        granddaughter Helen (Tallman) Zenns dies, she’s buried in Mayville Cemetery.

1946-1/8:          Maude (Pratt) Tallman dies, she’s buried in Mayville Cemetery.

1952-2/12:        Emma Tallman 2^nd wife of John N. dies in Detroit, MI. age 93, she’s buried in Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak, MI.

1959-4/21:        granddaughter Nora (Tallman) Ball dies, she’s buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

1961-8/19:        William Duane (Dano) Tallman adopted son of Joseph & Julia Tallman dies in Palmetto, FL.

1961-10/13:      granddaughter Nina Bell (Tallman) Dulmage daughter of John & Emma Tallman dies in Broward Co., FL, she’s buried in Oakview Cemetery.

1971-3/27:        granddaughter Mary Ruth (Fenner) Bordwell dies, she’s buried in Lakeview Cemetery, by her mother.

1974-2/1:          grandson William Henry dies in Jamestown, NY, he’s buried in Mayville Cemetery next to his wife.

NOTE: From the History of Albany State Normal College Graduates it’s suspected Joseph B. died about 1890 in Charleston,TX and is buried in Stouts Creek Cemetery, Saltillo, TX.

John J’s attempt to receive son Trustom’s Civil War Pension

Hon. Christ L Cox of the Department of the Interior Washington City

Dear Sir: Your circular tc of Nov 24 1868 did not reach me till a week since in consequence of being directed to John W. Tallman instead of John J. Tallman.  It lay by different offices some time.  Being sent from one office to another, till I got it at last almost by accident.  (I being so lame I was not at any PO for many weeks.)  I got it at last and took it to my attorney Mr. Hubbell of Jamestown telling him I wished to answer the interrogations and I had forgotten when the application for the pension was filed tc.  Mr. Hubbell retained the paper, saying “he would see to that.”  He gave no reason for retaining the circular and I proceed to answer such interrogations as I am able without referring to papers in Mr. Hubbell’s hands.

Name of Applicant: John J. Tallman, residence at the time of filing the application.  Harmony, Chautauqua Co, N.Y.

Name of soldier: Corporal Trustom C. Tallman of the 90^th New York Regt. Co. H. under Capt Edgar Brand.

Time of filing application I can’t tell.

No. of claim 158256.  Claim still pending.

Trustom C. Tallman was wounded at the Battle of Cedar Creek was admitted in the Satterlee Hospital. (I think) Oct 23^rd 1864.

The Physician who saw him last (as I am told) was Dr. Henry Muller of Philadelphia.

Trustom C. Tallman was shot through the arm shattering it badly. He came home on furlough got his furlough extended and was at home in all (I think) about six weeks.  Started back January 8^th 1865 his arm then being perfectly useless.  Surgeon Dr. Boyd is knowing to all the facts and I have been trying for some time to have Mr. Hubbell take or have taken the Doctor’s affidavit and I am in hopes of getting it soon.

In relation to Trustom C. Tallman being a deserter as spoken of in a letter from the department, it took us all by surprise.  If there is anything needing an explanation, I think Dr. Boyd is able to make it, as he was mainly instrumental in obtaining an extension of his furlough.

It appears that it is required that I should prove he was wounded in battle.  That would be very difficult at present, as his officers and company are so badly scattered.  Capt Edgar Brand has been written to (in the west) several times, but as yet no answer from him.  The first Lieutenant is dead.  One or two men saw him engaged in battle, another saw him after the battle wounded, but as yet I can find none that actually saw him wounded, but I have not yet seen all that were engaged, or belonged to his company.  I have written to several persons from whom I have received no answers.  Being my infirm it is difficult for me to get about to see all persons I wish to see.

Trustom was made my ward and acted in that capacity till obliged to relinquish it.

I return a former letter by request of the department.

I am very sorry to trespass upon the time and patience of the department with no lengthy statements and its importance, to me, is my only excuse.  Respectfully yours tc John J. Tallman, Bemis Point, PO, Chautauqua County, N.Y.

Note: 1) tc- means to circulate, or to answer, use is archaic.  2) infirm – use is archaic.

Supporting Documents

Dated: 20 April 1868 a five-page letter written by daughters Mary Losee and Susan A. Stotenbur.  Essentially stating that John had no real or personal property and that due to circumstances has not for the last 10 years been able to perform any labor and now for the most part confined to bed most of the time.  That he was entirely dependent upon Trustom for support and maintenance.  Daughter Mary stated John was boarded at her house two years prior to Trustom enlisting and that the cost was about $200 per year.  She further stated that John drew Trustom’s signing bonus of about $600 and another $80 sent before he died; all of which he has lived on since his death.  Subscribed before H. O. Lakin, Clerk of Court, Court of Chautauqua County, NY.

Dated: May 1, 1868 Dr. Cornelius Ormes a well know Chautauqua Co., Physician deposed “he’d known and treated John J. for the last 15 years and that he had a running sore on the inside of his left leg from a fever; that his leg is swollen, always painful and is a permanent disability.”  Leaving him useless from a work standpoint.  Subscribed before H. O. Lakin, Clerk of Court, Court of Chautauqua County, NY.

Dated: Feb 21^st 1869 Grand Rapids, MI a letter from E. ^‘Earl’ A. Hoag stating he was Trustom’s bunkmate and that they went into action together and were very near together during the commencement of the battle.

Dated: May 29, 1869 Dr. Edson E. Boyd a physician in Ashville deposed that he treated Trustom while on furlough and sent a letter dated Dec 15, 1864 requesting an extension of leave.  It’s apparent this never reached appropriate officials.  Subscribed before H. O. Lakin Clerk of Court, Court of Chautauqua County, NY.

Dated: July 24, 1869 Robert Donaldson & Robert Lawson stated they knew John & Sally for 30 years in a statement.

Dated: 1869 missing month/day from the State of Indiana, County of LaPorte, a letter written by Edgar E. Brand the Company commander on the date Trustom was shot.  It stated in detail of him receiving the gunshot wound in the arm and the ball breaking his arm badly with several pieces being taken out and that it was received at the Battle of Cedar Creek.  Subscribed before Jas H. Shannon, Clerk of Circuit Court of LaPorte, IN.

Dated: Aug 20, 1869 Trustom was on furlough Nov & Dec 64 from his wound, according to the military he didn’t apply for an extension and was considered a deserter.  John J. stated he was dependent upon Trustom for 10 years prior from a problem in his left leg from a fever; that Trustom contributed $200 a year for 2 years prior to his enlistment and while in the service provided $80.

The Certificate 133679 of Approval was dated 28 Aug 1869 at the rate of $8 a month commencing from 27 May 1865.

 

William Tallman Davis   1869 – 1959

 

William was the son of Mary Estelle Tallman and Theodore Whitehead Davis, and a grandson of Judge John P H Tallman.  He joined the Bronx Police Department on 15 Dec 1896, one month later January 21st^, 1897, President of NYC Police Commissioners Theodore Roosevelt ⁽¹⁾ appointed William a Patrolman.  He spent the next 20 years associated with the mounted squad.  Before ending his career, he would wear two stars for bravery and a bronze medal for heroic events.  The first of these took place on December 9th, 1902 ⁽²⁾ in the Bronx, when he stopped a downhill rider-less runaway lumber wagon headed for a trolley.  In doing so he was dragged a block and spent two months recuperating from his injuries.  For this, he was promoted to “Roundsman” (a supervisory officer) and transferred to the Newtown Police Station.  Officially promoted to Sergeant on 27 December 1902.  The second event occurred on April 30th, 1903, ⁽³⁾ he was on the corner of Covert Avenue and Ralph Street when he saw a runaway horse and wagon occupied by two children.  Managing to catch the horse by the bridle and stopping it, the little girl remained onboard but, the sudden stop caused the little boy to fall out and was badly bruised.  The rig belonged to their father Samuel France of Brooklyn.  His next promotion came December 7th, 1905, he was now a Lieutenant and transferred to the Bureau of Repairs & Supplies.  In August of 1910 ⁽⁴⁾ he was presented a bronze medal by the U.S. Life Saving Association for saving a man from drowning at Coney Island the previous August.  December of that year he was invited to visit President Taft at the White house to discuss the upcoming annual Lieutenants Association meeting.  In January 1911 he was Grand Marshall and special escort of Governor John Dix at the annual Lieutenants dinner held at the Waldorf-Astoria.

It was while at the Bureau of Repairs & Supplies he became acquainted with Lt. Richard Edward Enright.  Enright went on to become the first man appointed from the ranks to Police Commissioner serving from January 23, 1918 to January 1, 1925.  For years, William was reported in newspapers to be one of his “closest associates, right-hand man, personal friend, etc.”⁽⁵⁾  He was promoted to Captain in April 1919 and placed in Enright’s old position as head of the Repairs & Supplies.  On New Year’s 1920, he was transferred to command of the West 100th Street Station the first step to Inspectorship.  In October 1920, he was promoted to “Acting Inspector General” and officially “Inspector General” on April 7th, 1921.

During this period is when things became very interesting in William’s career, his responsibility now laid as Commander of the Traffic Division.  With automobiles rolling off assembly lines by the thousands, and changing the primary mode of travel it created a whole new set of problems for police to figure out how to monitor and regulate.  In a lengthy 1922 presentation he gave to the Poughkeepsie Rotarians on New York City traffic problems based on facts for the year 1921.  Some of the figures are mind boggling for the time-period.  Examples are as follows: 93,217,798 paid passengers passed through the Times Square Subway Station; 344,931 licensed automobiles were involved in 27,056 traffic accidents, with 21,309 deaths and/or injuries including 6,914 children under the age of 16.  The records also show that 231 children were injured or died while hitching rides on the backs of vehicles.  Police became active in recommending parents and schools in teaching children safety in the streets.  They kept three huge maps in headquarters with color coated pins to show concentrations and types of accidents.  The city’s traffic controls were established in February 1920 with five towers erected at the intersections of 34th, 37th, 42nd, 50th, and 57th Streets with 5th Avenue. ⁽⁶⁾“Each tower is equipped with two sets of three lights.  A yellow is shown for 90 seconds during which time north and south bound traffic is allowed to proceed.  The yellow light is then turned off and a red light is shown for a period of five seconds.  This is to clear the. Intersection of vehicles and pedestrians.  The green light is then turned on and east and west bound traffic is allowed to proceed for a period of one minute at the end of which the red light is again shown for the purpose of clearing the intersection, followed by the yellow light which permits the north and south traffic to proceed.  All five towers are operated in unison from the tower at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue.”  In September of 1923 ⁽⁷⁾ he was sent as part of a contingent to Europe to study what the Europeans were doing to solve similar problems.  One of the things he came away with was what they were doing to alleviate parking problems on major thoroughfares.

Elected positions he held during his career were, secretary-treasurer ⁽⁸⁾ of the NYPD Lieutenants Association and President ⁽⁹⁾ of the New York Police Chiefs Association in 1923-24.  On February 18, 1923, he presided over an Anniversary dinner for the Deputy Commissioner and met child movie star Jackie Coogan ⁽¹⁰⁾ who gave a speech.  He married Hattie Viola Robinson in 1891 and they were the parents of two daughters, Viola Tallman Davis born 28 May 1893 and Estelle Whitehead Davis born 30 December 1894.  William retired on April 11th, 1924, he was presented with a gold watch, a chest of silver and his wife also present received a miniature clock.  Upon his retirement he accepted the position of Superintendent of the New York State Police Camp at Tannersville in the Catskills.  That fall however there was a fire at the camp in which he suffered a back injury.  The injury ⁽¹¹⁾ caused him to have 3 back surgeries over the next year and after recovering he and Viola retired to St. Petersburg, Florida.

References:

1) His promotions and appointments up to Lieutenant were from an article in the The New York Sun, Saturday, April 26, 1919.

2) The New York Press, Monday Morning, March 2, 1903.

3) The Newtown Register, Thursday, April 30, 1903.

4) The New York Times, Thursday, May 11, 1911.

5) From numerous New York and Brooklyn papers he’s labeled a personal friend and confidant.

6) The Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle, 1921.

7) The New York Times, Sunday, August 26, 1923.

8) The New York Evening Telegram, Wednesday, February 23, 1916.

9) From the New York Police Chiefs Organization.

10) The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sunday, February 18, 1923.

11) The New York Sun, Friday, October 30, 1925.

James Lovett the husband of Emeline Tallman, she was the sixth child of Isaac Tallman & Sarah Wilcox.  James, the son of Benjamin Lovett and Polly Carpenter was born 4 April 1797 in Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island.  The family migrated to Glenville New York ca. 1805 where his mother died in 1813 and Benjamin in 1853.  After the War James found himself in the East Penfield, Monroe County, New York area when he married Emeline.  There he remained the rest of his life and they can be found in Federal and State Censuses from 1830 through 1880.  Emeline and James had seven daughters, Agnes, Elizabeth, Eliza B., Lydia M., Isabelle, Elizabeth and Rebecca.

He was called up to serve in the New York Militia on 14 September 1814 in the Glenville NY area and served as a Private under Capt. John Brown’s Company in Lt. Col. Cadwallader David Colden’s Regiment.  The Regiment was garrisoned in New York City and remained on guard in the City.  He was discharged in New York City on 22 December 1814.  For his service, he received two land warrants one #54.871 of 40 acres that he sold and the other #59.547 of 120 acres in 1856. In addition, he received a Pension of $8 month that was approved on 14 April 1871 and commenced on November 1871.

After Emeline died in 1866 he married Lydia Baker on 22 March 1869.  Upon his death in 1888 he was buried alongside Emeline in Elmwood Cemetery, northeast of Fairport, Monroe Co, New York.

Notes: James Genealogy: Father- Benjamin b. 1772 d. 3/9/1853 buried First Reformed Dutch Churchyard, West Glenville, New York.  Married Polly Carpenter 12/5/1794 in Cumberland, Rhode Island, Polly’s father Jotham Carpenter was present.  Benjamin, remarried after Polly’s death to Laura Fonda on 9/14/1829 in Glenville.

Mother- Polly Carpenter b. ca. 1775 d. 5/31/1813 Glenville, burial unknown.

Siblings: Libbeus b. 3/13/1795, Jotham b. 4/4/1797 (possible twin brother of James), Capt. Olney Whipple b. 5/11/1800 d. 1879, Cornelia b. 9/22/1804, Jabez b. 6/9/1809

Cadwallader David Colden was appointed the 54th Mayor of New York City in 1818 by then New York Governor Dewitt Clinton.

Daniel Cornelius Haight the husband of Catherine Tallman, she was the third child of Stephen Tallman & Mary Tripp.  Daniel was born in 1793 he was the son of Cornelius Haight and Mary Southworth.  Daniel was a Lumber dealer and they lived in Rochester on the east side of the Genesee River.  Daniel and Catherine had four sons and five daughters: Edgar, Jane C., Hilen R., Cornelia, Eliza Ann., Cornelius, Anna M., Elon G. and Helen C.

He was called up to serve in the New York Militia on 10 September 1814 in the Town of Washington, Dutchess Co., NY and served as a Sergeant under Capt. Obidiah Titus’s Company in Col. Anthony Delamater’s Regiment.  The Regiment was stationed at Harlem Heights, New York City and he was discharged from there on 2 December 1814.  They lived in Dover NY until 1823 when they moved to the Town of Mentz, they lived there until 1828.  They next moved to Brighton south of Rochester before moving to Rochester in 1837.  For his service, she received two land warrants the first in April 1855 #24.652 for 40 acres, second #54.943 of 120 acres on 5 April 1878.  In addition, she received a Pension of $8 month starting in 1878.

Daniel died 14 November 1854 and was buried in Sec. B of Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester.  Catherine remained in their home, her son Hilen and daughter Eliza neither of whom married lived with her until her death 27 March 1881.  She was laid to rest beside her husband.

John Talman Jr. July 30, 1851 – March 26, 1936

Born on his parent’s farm on Whitney Road, east of Fairport, New York, in Monroe County.  John received his early education in local schools, he then attended Macedon Academy in neighboring Wayne county.  Macedon was a co-ed institution founded by the Quakers offering three years’ education in math, science and languages.

Not 16 yet, in April 1867, he went to Minnesota to live with his brother Byron who was “farming it” in Cascade township, Olmsted County seven miles outside of Rochester.  He assisted in breaking virgin soil with the horse drawn plow.  He ran a McCormick reaper, which, like all its kind then in market, had no automatic rake; driving a horse team around a hundred-acre wheat field day after day and “raking off ” at the same time.  When his brother removed to Iowa in the spring of 1868 he remained and worked as a hired hand earning $18 a month.  One of the neighboring farmers a Scotsman “Mr. Graham” had a son Christopher who later became Dr. Christopher Graham an early partner in the Mayo Clinic of Rochester.  During harvest days in the fall he earned $2.50 for a Sundays toiling, plus a keg of beer.

The fall of 1870 he returned home, by now on Marshall St. Rochester, NY and worked for a short time in his father’s soap factory.  In February 1872, he found his first job in the newspaper industry, where he would remain and make his career.  This job was as telegraph editor with the Rochester “Post – Express” this followed as telegraph editor and staff member of the “Albany Argus”.  He would meet and fall in love with Rena Doney.  She moved with her family to Elgin on the northwest side of Chicago but, that didn’t stop John from marrying her there on February 18, 1874.  Their only child Sarah Irene was born in Albany February of 1875.  On, August 4, 1879, they left Rochester for St. Paul, Minnesota where he accepted a position with the Pioneer Press.  This began a “forty-seven” year stop in St. Paul as combined telegraph editor, railroad reporter and night editor before finally becoming the managing editor.  During his career, he was a staff member of the following: Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester Sunday Tribune, Rochester Express, Albany Argus, St Paul Pioneer Press where he was managing editor, St Paul Globe, St Paul Dispatch, St Paul Daily News and Minneapolis Journal.

During those early years before news services grew big like the AP & UPI he was a contributing correspondent for The New York Herald, The Chicago Tribune, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cincinnati Inquirer, St. Louis Globe – Democrat, New Orleans Times – Democrat, The Toronto Mail and Winnipeg Free Press.  Contributing author to magazines like Outing, Judge and various other magazines.

Colleagues have said he was a good deal of a poet and good deal of humorist.  He often wrote his humorous stories under the pseudonyms of “Benjamin Backwater” and “Jay Tee”.  His poetic tendencies were inherited from his father, sister and grandmother all versifiers.  Poems credited to him were “Rest” and “The Young Elm” and “Minnesota in Panorama”.

His Contributions have been varied from his earliest remembrances of his father, an abolitionist using their house as part of the underground railroad.  His first encounter was in the winter of 1859 when a family was allowed to stay until transferring to another stop on their way to Canada.  In 1919 at the Albany Argus he contributed an article from the wire that came through the night of July 5, 1876; it was of the loss of Gen. Custer and his command at Little Big Horn.  “Custer’s Last Stand” was printed the next morning on the front page of the Argus while competitors had turned off their wires and missed the scoop.  April 11, 1925, he contributed an article to the Duluth Herald of his remembrance as a boy of hearing from the milkman the morning of April 15, 1865 of “Lincoln having been shot”.  At the time the family had moved from the farm to the village of Fairport.  He spoke of the scenes taking place 10 miles west in Rochester, that he’d never forget the memorial service given by the pastor of the Fairport Congregational Church.  He and his father awoke at 3 in the morning to join hundreds of others in mourning at the train station while the slow-moving death train with bells tolling and draping’s passed by.  He wrote of his brother Byron a Cavalry Captain of Company M, 22^nd NY Cav. and his participation in the capture of Major Harry Gilmore a famous Confederate Baltimore Officer.  Of St. Paul, he especially remembered the winter of 1880-81 as “The Storm” with blockades of the railroads, county roads and particularly the suffering of the St Paul – Sioux City Railroad.  Of his interviews with the famous railroad builder James J. Hill of the “Great Northern Railway.”

Additionally, from 1909 to 1926 he was librarian of the Minnesota Historical Society newspaper department.  He lost his wife Rena on 11 August 1924, she was laid to rest in Roselawn Cemetery, Roselawn Minnesota.  After his retirement in 1926 he took a trip back east of unknown length and then moved to be with his daughter Irene and son-in-law Herbert Dewart in Gold Beach, Oregon.  He died there March 26, 1936 and was laid to rest in Gold Beach.

His uncle Darius and grandfather Isaac Tallman ⁽¹⁾ brought apple seedlings from the family homestead in Dutchess County.  They were credited with propagating what became known has the “Tallman Sweet” a popular heirloom apple in the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s.

1863 At Age 12, Rochester     March 25, 1891 age 39

(1) Note: There were two distinct Talman families living in Rochester during the 1800’s.  One should not get confused between John Thurston Talman whose wife was Mary Eleanor Fitzhugh.  This family was responsible for the building downtown know as the ‘Talman building’.  It was occupied for several years by Frederick Douglass the noted African-American abolitionist, writer, orator and statesman.  Our John Jr. the son of John Talman of Perinton Township who along with his wife Sarah Elizabeth Foote moved ca. 1867-8 from Fairport to Marshall St. Rochester and started a soap factory.  This Talman’s father was Isaac Tallman who had nine children of which all the sons except two dropped an “l” from the surname, one Jabez who died young and the other Ezra P. a Baptist minister.

Sgt. Maj. Charles Garrett Hallenbeck, 26 years old off 1150 54th Street, Bay Ridge, a veteran who had the unique experience of serving three countries England, France and America in the World War, and who was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Star for being gassed in the service of France, died on October 4, 1920 on Mount Baldy, near Ontario California while attempting to climb to the summit with two companions to watch the sun rise above the fog.

He was stricken with acute dilation of the heart, due to his weakened condition from being gassed on the battlefields of France and also to the rarefied atmosphere at the elevation of 7500 feet to which the party had climbed.  As he sank in a dying condition, Sgt Maj. Hallenbeck begged his two companions the misses Marian and Elizabeth Burnhart to leave him and seek lower altitude as he feared they too would be endangered by the rare atmosphere.  They hurried down the trail to Camp Baldy for help, but Sgt. Maj. Hallenbeck died before aid reached him.

Sgt. Maj. Hallenbeck’s body arrived yesterday afternoon at his late home in Brooklyn, where the funeral service will be held on Saturday evening at 8 o’clock, conducted by the Rev. Alexander Wouters, pastor of the Edgewood Reformed Church, and there will also be Masonic services by Joppa Lodge No. 201 F. & A. M. of which Sgt. Maj. Hallenbeck was a member.  The internment on Sunday will be in Greenwood Cemetery.

Sgt. Maj. Hallenbeck was a wireless operator in the Marconi service when the World War started in 1914 and promptly enlisted for service with the British Navy, like many other young Americans who were anxious to get to the front while the United States remained neutral.  He was assigned to the Welsh Prince a transport for cavalry horses for the British government running from the Port of New York to Brest France.  On a trip on another transport, the boat was torpedoed near Brest and young Hallenbeck sent a wireless call to Brest for help with the result that a fleet of destroyers came out and rescued the entire crew of the transport.

After arriving in Brest young Hallenbeck went with three officers of the Welsh Prince on a sight-seeing tour, and while traveling on a train from Bordeaux to Paris all were ordered off the train as a bombardment of the French lines nearby was in progress.  German shells were bursting all around and in the excitement, young Hallenbeck became separated from his companions, got lost and soon after found himself in the French trenches, from which shells were being hurled back at the Germans.  He soon after enlisted in the French army and was gassed in a battled while serving in the French trenches.  During his service in the French army he helped the Frenchmen install signal and wireless stations in various parts of the country.  Because his disability from being gassed, he received an honorable discharge from the French army and came back to Brooklyn.  The Mexican border troubles were then going on and in June 1916 he enlisted as a bugler in Co. A, 23^rd Regt. and served with that regiment on the Texas border until the combination of heat and hikes with his condition from being gassed rendered him incapable of further duty and he was honorably discharged.  After returning to Brooklyn he enlisted again for service at Camp Upton as gas defense instructor with the rank of Sergeant Major.  He remained there until the Camp was closed after the signing of the armistice.  He went to Idaho last May and then to California, where he was manager of the San Diego branch of the Remington Typewriter Company.

Sgt. Maj. Hallenbeck was born in Brooklyn on Dec. 25 1894, the son of Garrett Clarence Hallenbeck II and Angie Davis Hallenbeck.  He was educated in the Brooklyn schools and had been a wireless operator for the Marconi Company for two years before entering the service of the British Navy.  His father was for several years a member of the old 3^rd Battery of Brooklyn and has been with the Remington Typewriter Company for 33 years.  His grandfather, Maj. G. C. Hallenbeck was the organizer of the old 13^th Regiment of Brooklyn when he started on the top floor of the old building at Fulton and Pineapple streets.  Sgt. Maj. Hallenbeck is survived by his parents, two brothers Garrett Clarence Hallenbeck III who served all through the war in the United States Navy and Frank Garrett Hallenbeck and his grandmother Mary Estelle (Tallman) Davis of Poughkeepsie.

Editors Note: his great-grandfather was the Honorable John P. H. Tallman