San Francisco County

Biographies

HARVEY D. TALCOTT

HARVEY D. TALCOTT, a prominent and influential lawyer of San Francisco, has, during the years of his residence in this city, thoroughly identified himself with its best interests and has surrounded himself with a limitless circle of friends. His marked business abilities at once brought him to the front ranks in his profession, and his rare social qualities have made for him many warm friendships. He is a man who has the happy faculty of always looking on the bright side of life, and his conversation bespeaks careful reading and accurate information as well as a cheerful mind. He is unassuming in his manner and always perfectly at ease in any assemblage. Mr. Talcott has an ancestry of which anyone might be justly proud, his forefathers having figured prominently as eminent statesmen and lawyers all through the history of this country. A review of his life is herewith given and will be found of interest to many.

Harvey D. Talcott is a descendant of John Talcott, who came to Boston with Rev. Mr. Hooker’s company of pilgrims in the ship Lion, sailing from England in 1732. He was prominent in Massachusetts and afterward in Connecticut, his house being the first one built in Hartford. He was one of the chief magistrates of the Connecticut Colony up to the time of his death. His son John, Lieutenant-Colonel of militia, was also prominent in furthering the advance of the colony. Joseph succeeded, and was appointed Governor by the Crown. During the Revolutionary period we find the Talcotts staunch in their Americanism. The grandfather of the subject of our sketch was a prominent lawyer in the first quarter of this century, and occupied the high position of Attorney-General of the State of New York. Hon. Enoch B., his son, the father of Harvey D. Talcott, was also an eminent lawyer. He was a Senator in New York, and afterward Judge of the Court of Errors. A brother of this gentleman, Colonel Andrew Talcott, a noted officer of the Engineer Corps, United States Army, built Fortress Monroe. His maternal ancestors were equally distinguished. His uncle, Hon. Charles H. Doolittle, was a prominent man in New York State, and Judge of its Supreme Court; and he is also related to the Livingstons, the Pendleton family of Ohio, the Key family and the Bartons – Colonel Barton, of Revolutionary record. And here we may state Mr. Talcott’s father-in-law, Hon. Alexander H. Johnson, was at one time Chief Justice of the State of New York.

Still, from the past Mr. Talcott draws no merit to himself. He has always been independent in his views, and the better satisfied to stand on a record of his own making. He was born at Herkimer, New York, March 25, 1844, and received an excellent education. After the usual preliminary instruction at the academical schools, he entered Union College, Schenectady, in 1860. Two years later, in 1862, before he had completed his studies, he joined the Union army as Adjutant of the One Hundred and Tenth New York Volunteers. With this command he saw active service and participated in many hotly contested engagements. He served through the Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Louisiana campaigns, and endured all the toil and peril of the soldier’s life. In 1864 he found his health endangered, and resigned, at this time being Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General of his brigade, First Division, Nineteenth Army Corps. Afterward he re-entered Union College, and graduated there in the class of 1866. Then he took a trip to Europe, and upon his return began the practice of law in Utica. In 1870 he was elected Corporation Counsel of Utica. In politics he has always been a consistent Democrat, and in 1880 was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention, after which he came to this State.

Mr. Talcott has since practiced his profession here, and has certainly attained a good position as a lawyer; and in 1886 was the candidate of his party for Judge of the Superior Court of California. He has a large practice in corporate, real-estate and probate law. He is recognized as a sound, well-read lawyer, uses every legitimate means for the success of his clients and prepared his cases thoroughly, and in court, speaks logically and to the point. He possesses a very fine library of classical literature, and in such reading takes great pleasure. He is a member of the Loyal Legion, and of the G. A. R. Was Judge Advocate here in 1887-8.

Transcribed by David and Joyce Rugeroni.

Source: “The Bay of San Francisco,” Vol. 2, Pages 349-350, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.

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