Hon. Frank Talbot, judge, was born in Burlington Flats, Otsego county, New York, on the 10th of August, 1864, son of Edwin and Caroline E. (Benjamin) Talbot, grandson of Benjamin and Ellen (Hines) Talbot, great-grandson of Jacob and Phoebe (Chase) Talbot and a descendant of Peter Talbot, who came from England in the seventeenth century and settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Frank Talbot attended the Burlington Flats Academy and in 1886 was graduated from the New York State Normal (now Teachers) College of Albany. While teaching at Schuyler Lake from 1886 until 1888 he began the study of law under the preceptorship of L. S. Henry, completing his studies at Mohawk, New York, in the offices of J. B. Rafter. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1890 and, preferring to begin practice independently, entered upon his profession in Gloversville, New York. He was city attorney of Gloversville during the period between 1898 and 1901 and within this time redrafted the city charter and served as legal representative of the Gloversville board of water commissioners. In 1904 he was appointed by the governor district attorney for Fulton county to complete an unexpired term, and was regularly elected to that office in 1905 and reelected in 1908. He was elected county judge for a six-year term in 1913 and reelected in 1919. In addition to his duties as county judge, he had a large personal practice and was engaged in many activities covering a broad field of varying interests. He was a member of the American, State and County bar associations; president of the board of directors of the War and Home Fund, an organization of Gloversville instituted during the European war period; president of the Fulton County Philharmonic Society and Orchestra; vice president of the Carnegie Public Library of Gloversville; honorary member of the New York State Normal College Society of Albany; and member also of the Masonic fraternity, the Burroughs' Club, the Eccentric and Adelphi Clubs, the Men's Brotherhood of the First Congregational church of Gloversville, New York, and the Colonial Club of Johnstown, New York. Mr. Talbot combined the logical mind of a jurist with the artistic temperament of a musician and poet. From youth he was deeply interested in orchestration, piano and organ, and throughout life he was active in bringing the best musical talent to his community. He was devoted to poetry and book-lore, for which he had a remarkably retentive memory. He was fond of out-of-door life and nature study, and was a warm friend of John Burroughs. In his political affiliations he was a republican.
Mr. Talbot was married in Cooperstown, New York, on February 17,. 1892, to Elizabeth, daughter of Joshua Deloss Clarke. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot had one child, who died in infancy. Mr. Talbot died in Gloversville, New York, on May 2, 1921.
The following editorial appeared in The Leader-Republican of Gloversville and Johnstown under date of May 3, 1921:
"Today Gloversville in particular and Fulton county in general mourns the passing on of one of her most distinguished citizens — a man who enjoyed the respect, confidence and esteem of every man, woman and child with whom he had come into contact during his long and diversified career as a resident of this community. Frank Talbot was the possessor of a unique personality which appealed to people of every class and won for him a regard which in extent is enjoyed by few. He had chosen the legal field in which to devote the major part of his labor in his life work, but he had those qualities of mind and character, that zeal and devotion which win success whenever and wherever invoked, that would have attained eminence in any profession which he might have chosen. A man of great learning, he was able to view the vicissitudes of life from every angle, and this, coupled with a kindly nature that diffused its radiance wherever he went, made him a friend of that loyal, steadfast nature that are few and far between, and to those who knew him best there comes a loss in life that cannot soon be replaced. He knew nature and he knew humanity, and in the acts of his daily life he demonstrated that such knowledge when used to advantage can be turned into spreading happiness to others, making the world a better place to live in, and raising the moral standard of his own community to a higher plane. In every sphere in which Frank Talbot moved — and they were many — his presence was felt, and ever with an influence for the good and betterment of his friends and mankind. His deeds of charity and benevolence, although not blazoned upon the walls of publicity, were without number, and many there are today who can attest to the benefits they have derived in one way or another through his kindly interest expressed in an effective and substantial way. Gloversville may well mourn the loss of such a splendid citizen, who had no peer as a big-hearted, whole-souled, lovable man, and that is why there is sadness in many hearts today caused by the passing on of Frank Talbot."