In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1895) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, t (1885), Portrait and biographical record of St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren counties, Missouri (1895)
JOHN A. TALLEY, M. D.
(Physician and Surgeon, Wentzville).
Among the old and well known families of Central Virginia is that of which the subject of the present sketch is a representative. The Talleys came to Virginia from the south of Scotland prior to the Revolution, and since then branches of the family have become dispersed throughout nearly all the States, particularly of the South and West. Dr. Talley was a son of William P. and Francis (Daniel) Tallev, of Cumberland, Va., and was born in that county July 5, 1813. There were eight other children in the family, but only three of the others are now living. The father was a substantial farmer and respected citizen of Cumberland county, and served he people in the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. Dr. Tal ley spent his env\y youth on his father's farm, and afterwards entered Randolph-Macon College, where he concluded his general education. He then began the study of medicine under his brother, Dr. Zach. Talley, and in due time entered the medical department of the University of Virginia, where he graduated with honor in 1840. Two years later he came to Missouri and located in St. Charles county, where he at once engaged in the active practice of his profession. Dr. Talley has been engaged in the practice in this county almost continuously since that time, or for a period of over 40 years. He has long held the position of one of the old and well established physicians of the county, and has been quite successful in his practice. In 1853 he was nominated for and elected to the Legislature, where he served the people with marked ability and public fidelity. He was one of the active men of the county in forwarding the building of the North Missouri Railroad, and was one of the prominent directors of the company. In 1845 Dr. Tallev was married to Miss Paulina C. Preston, a daughter of William R. and Elizabeth (Cabel) Preston, of this county, but formerly of Bottetourt county, Va. The Doctor and wife have been blessed with five children, but only two of them are now living: William P. and Edwin P. The Doctor is located at Wentzville, where he has valuable town property. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order.
As printed in History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, t (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
HON. JOHN A. TALLEY, M. D. More than fifty years have elapsed since Dr. Talley came to St. Charles County, and cast his fortunes with those of its inhabitants. Wentzville at that time had no existence, the surrounding country contained few of the improvements that are now noticeable, and on every hand it was apparent that the history of the district was yet to be written. The progress and development of the material resources of the locality are due to his untiring efforts, together with those of other progressive citizens. He has now come to the evening of his days, and, looking back over his long and useful career, can reflect upon the past without remorse, and look forward to the future without fear.
Of one whose name is so intimately associated with the history of Wentzville, the reader will be interested to learn. Our subject was born in Cumberland County, Va., July 5, 1813, and is a son of William P. and Frances (Daniel) Talley, natives of the same county. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, spent his entire life in the vicinity of his birth, and there he died at an advanced age. The mother was a sister of Judge William Daniel, who for years was a very prominent jurist of Virginia, and who was the grandfather of Hon. John W. Daniel, the present United States Senator from the Old Dominion. The Talley familjis of English descent, and it is supposed that the first representatives of the family settled in New Jersey.
The early instruction of our subject was received in the private schools near his home, four years being thus spent. Afterward he was for two years a student in the Randolph Macon College, near Boyd ton, Va. On selecting a life occupation, he those the medical profession, and began its study under the preceptorship of an elder brother, Dr. Z. Talley, of Cumberland County, Va., with whom he remained two years. In September, 1839, he entered the medical department of the University of Virginia, and there prosecuted his studies with such diligence and success that he was graduated July 4, 1840, receiving his diploma after only one session of study. He then returned home and commenced to practice with his brother, with whom he was in partnership for two years. Meantime, in the winters of 1840-41 and 1841-42 he" took a post-graduate course at the Virginia Medical College at Richmond, Va.
Realizing that the West offered superior advantages for a young physician, Dr. Talley came to St. Charles County in November, 1842, and for a number of j'ears thereafter made his home with the family of Col. C. F. Woodson, about five miles south of what is now Wentzville. In March, 1845, he established a home of his own, at which time he was united in marriage with Miss Paulina C, daughter of Col. William Radford Preston, formerly of Montgomery County, Va., where Mrs. Talley was born. After his marriage the Doctor remained in the same neighborhood, engaged in the practice of his profession, until 1865, when he opened an office at Wentzville, and here he has since made his home.
Reared in the faith of the Democratic party, Dr. Talley has always been its unswerving champion, upholding its principles alike in the storms of political opposition and in the sunshine of success. In 1852 he was elected to the Legislature, and served in that position for one term, but refused renomination, as it interfered with his practice and, besides, he had no fondness for public life. His election was the result not so much of his political qualifications, as of his popularity among the people of the count\', irrespective of political ties. For several years he was a Director in the First National Bank of St. Charles, and filled a similar position in the North Missouri (now the Wabash) Railroad Company. For fifty years he has been fraternally identified with the Masonic order.
While not a member of any denomination. Dr. Talley is a firm believe in the doctrines of Christianity, and is a regular attendant at the services of the Metbodist Episcopal Clim-cU. His life has been spent principally in close attention to his professional duties, and by his skill in the diagnosis of disease, and success in its treatment, he has won and retained a high place in the regard of the fraternity and the confidence of the people. Before moving to Wentzville he owned a large farm in the neighborhood of his first location in Missouri, but this place he afterward sold. At one time be was interested in a woolen factory, and in 1859-60, in company with Daniel Grittith, conducted a private banking business in St. Charles. None of these interests, however, were allowed to interfere with the practice of his profession, upon which be concentrated his attention. His life, while unmarked by any startling events, has been a life of diligent effort and untiring labor, and has been of the character that has won and held the esteem and confidence of the community.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren counties, Missouri (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name John A. Talley: William P. Talley (b. 1846)
The printed record stops around 1885. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.