Benjamin I. Tallmadge, the well-known attorney and counsellor-at-law of Windham, N. Y., is a native of New Baltimore, Greene County, and was born on November 1, 1869, his parents being Thomas D. and Helen (Raymond) Tallmadge. Thomas D. Tallmadge's paternal grandfather, who was a leading farmer of Greene County, died before Benjamin I. was born.
Thomas D. Tallmadge spent his life on a farm until he was a middle-aged man, when he opened a general merchandise store. After carrying that on for several years, he removed with his family to Albany, his son Benjamin being then about fourteen years old. Later Thomas D. Tallmadge removed to Oneonta, where he for a time conducted an ice business and afterward a market. He retired from business in Oneonta, and subsequently resided there until his death, in June, 1893, at the age of sixty-three. He was stanchly a Democrat, but never took an active interest in local politics. His wife, Helen, was the daughter of John G. and Elizabeth Hinman Raymond, of Coxsackie. Mr. Raymond, who had resided in New Baltimore previous to coming to Coxsackie, was a large real estate owner. He died at Coxsackie in his seventy-ninth year. Of his seven children one son, Wallace W., who is a merchant, resides at Coxsackie. Both he and his wife were Presbyterians. Thomas D. and Helen Tallmadge were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are living. They are as follows: Raymond, who is book-keeper and general manager for Van Slyke & Horton, of Albany; Alice A.; Josiah C., an attorney at Catskill; Elizabeth; Edward C., who is in the employ of the John G. Myers firm in Albany; Matilda, who is the wife of the Rev. Samuel W. Eaton, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Patter, Pa.; Thomas D., an artist residing in New York City; Caroline; Benjamin I.; Mae; and R. DeWitt, who was a member of the First New York Volunteers in the late war. The mother of these children is still living in Oneonta, and her four daughters reside with her. She and her two youngest daughters are members of the Baptist church, while Alice and Elizabeth are connected with the Methodist church. The family is remarkable for its musical ability, and all four of the daughters have sung in church choirs. Edward C. Tallmadge also, who is a member of the First Reformed Church, has sung in the choir. He is likewise a member of the Consistory.
Benjamin I. Tallmadge resided with his parents until he was about sixteen years of age. After attending the public schools of New Baltimore, he began a special course in Windham preparatory to studying law, which enabled him to secure what is known as a law student's certificate from the Board of Regents in Albany. He entered the office of his brother, the Hon. J. C. Tallmadge, who was then practising in Windham, and there he remained until his admission to the bar in 1893. Immediately upon his admission to the bar he formed a partnership with his brother, under the firm name of J. C. & B. I. Tallmadge, and this continued until February, 1897, since which time he has been in business alone.
The Hon. Josiah C. Tallmadge, who is now a leading attorney in Catskill, began his practice in Windham in 1875, having previously studied here with his uncle, Eugene Raymond, who started in practice here over forty years ago. From 1890 to 1893 the Hon. J. C. Tallmadge was District Attorney of Greene County, and during that time was engaged in some notable criminal trials. He was one of the attorneys in the Loring Robertson case, which is one of the most celebrated, not only in the county, but in the State. His success in winning this for his client won for him great praise. Tallmadge brothers were for several years the only attorneys in Windham.
Mr. Tallmadge was married in 1894 to Rose B. Graham, who was born in this town, the daughter of Lucius S. and Phoebe (Bump) Graham, the father a well-known shoe dealer. Both Mr. and Mrs. Graham are deceased, the former at the age of sixty-nine and the latter at the age of fifty-five. They were active members of the Episcopal church. Their four children are: Mrs. Tallmadge, who is the eldest; Ella, who married L. H. Townsend; Margaret R.; and Edwin Mr. and Mrs. Tallmadge have one child, a daughter Dorothy, aged two years.
Mr. Tallmadge is, as was his father, a Democrat, but he does not engage actively in politics. He is a Mason and member of Mountain Lodge, No. 529. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is treasurer of the Board of Trustees, leader of the choir, and an active worker in the Sunday-school. Mrs. Tallmadge is the church organist. Mr. Tallmadge was one of the organizers of the Windham Water Company, and he is now secretary and treasurer of the organization and one of its directors.