Talkingtonj
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
J. ALBERT TALKINGTON came to
the Big Bend country without money to speak of. Having secured a
homestead near where Moscow is now located, he found he had a family to
support and only five dollars in cash. That amount was spent for
chickens and Mr. Talkington began to work for wages at whatever he could
find to do. Being possessed of plenty of pluck and energy, he prospered
in his course, improving his farm as he had opportunity to do until 1893,
when he raised a bountiful crop. He had the sickening experience
of seeing the entire crop spoiled by wet weather, losing every bit of it.
The next year he had another fine crop and sold it all at eighteen cents
per bushel. This left him heavily in debt and the next two years
were still worse. In 1897, he secured a fine crop of wheat and sold
it at an excellent price. From then until the present, he has continued
to prosper without any setback and the result is that he is now one of
the wealthy men of the county. He has a section of choice wheat land
one mile east from Harrington which is improved with everything needed
on a first class ranch. An abundant supply of good water is forced
to all parts of the place where he needs it by windmill. Comfortable
residence, plenty of barns and other improvements combine to make the place
both pleasant and valuable. Mr. Talkington has a fine quota of the
latest machinery, including a combined harvester.
Albert Talkington was born in Sebastian county,
Arkansas, on November 6, 1861, the son of Joseph and Rebecca Talkington.
He is the oldest of a family of six children and grew up on the old homestead
in Arkansas, receiving his education from the adjacent schools. First
he gave his attention to teaching for several years after which he followed
the calling of commercial traveler for one year. Then he returned
to Arkansas and took another trip, this time to Los Angeles, California.
He landed in that beautiful place on January 1, 1888, and engaged in the
fuel business. He was soon burned out, however, and in April of the
following year he came to Lincoln county and took a homestead as named
above.
On December 23, 1886, Mr. Talkington married
Miss Seymour V. McMillian, a native of Texas. She had been reared
in Sebastian county, Arkansas. Her parents were Wyatt A. and Lavinia
V. (Little) McMillian. They are now deceased. The father was
an educator all his life. To this marriage six children have been
born, Brant, Pleasant P., Leonard L., Jessie F., Marshall P., and Floyd
S.
Mr. Talkington is a member of the Pioneers'
Association and also of the K. of P. He is a well respected man and
one of the leading citizens of this part of the country.
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