TALK, A. W.
There is perhaps no resident of Southwest Texas more familiar with the history of its early development than is A. W. Talk, who was born in Travis County, April 10, 1817, a son of John and Abigail J. (Jenning) Talk.
A W. Talk was a little lad of eight years when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Travis to Karnes County. He was reared in much the usual manner of lads on a ranch, early becoming familiar with the duties of herding and caring for the stock. He remained under the parental roof, assisting his father in his business interests until he had reached the age of twenty-five when in 1870, he was married and removed to Dewitt county, here he engaged in stock business on his own account. He made a good start in business during the time of the free range but he realized that the conditions would change sooner or later, and, availing himself of the opportunity, invested his financial resources in land. From time to time, he added to his possessions until he now has twelve thousand acres, paying two dollars per acre for much of it. His ranch is stocked with good grades of cattle, and he is meeting with very desirable success in his business undertakings. He was among the first to divide his fields by fences, this being about 1875. At first the stockmen lost many horses and cattle, for they had not been accustomed to wire fences and would run against the wire and often be killed. To show that the land was greatly enhanced in value in the southwest, Mr. Talk paid as high as fifty dollars per acre for some of the land which is included in his more recent purchases. He has placed about two thou sand acres under cultivation, this being rented, and he finds that he derived a good income in this way. His land is situated in the cotton belt of Texas and this product as well as corn is fast becoming a profitable industry. The surrounding country is fast becoming settled with good and substantial residents and Mr. Talk has great faith in the future of this part of the state. Mr. Talk made his home on the ranch until 1892, when he purchased a commodious residence in the city of Runge, where he has since made his home and now merely gives supervision to his ranching and invested interests. He also owns some residence and business property in Runge and his financial resources are thereby greatly enhanced. All that he today enjoys has been acquired through his own labors, for when he started out on his own account he had no assistance, but through his own well directed labors, his economy, and sound business judgment he has accumulated a goodly competence that now enables him to rest from the more arduous duties of an active business life. He and all the family are worthy members of the Methodist church, and he is a Royal Arch Mason.
In 1870 occurred the marriage of Mr. Talk and Miss Margaret A. Parker, who was born in Cherokee county, Texas, on Christmas day of 1854. She is a daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Lowe) Parker, the former born in Alabama, in 1801, while the latter was born in Tennessee, in 1811. Her father, Isaac Lowe, was a pioneer of the republic of Mexico and later of Texas, settling in Sabine County in 1816. He there located and improved a farm and was an owner of slaves. He likewise conducted a ferryboat across the Sabine River, and he carried many families to safety at the time Texas was invaded by Santa Anna and his Mexican forces, He served as alcalde, the Mexican term for justice of the peace, and was a prominent and influential man in the community where he resided. He died in Texas at the age of seventy-seven years. His children were Mahala, Eli, Levi, Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Parker, Hickman, Joseph, Rebecca, Edith, Thomas and Margaret. The father of Mrs. Talk, Matthew Parker, became a pioneer of Texas and helped to establish the independence of the state. He was a personal friend of Sam Houston and, although he did not take part in any of the battles during the exciting period in this state, he was detailed to perform many important tasks which could be done only by a most trustworthy man. He also acted as county judge, which title he bore throughout his lifetime. He later took up his abode in Cherokee county, where he remained for a time and then went to Dewitt County, where his death occurred in 1862, when he was sixty-one years of age. His wife survived for a long period and passed away in 1895. She was a worthy and consistent Christian woman and during the early days when the women of the neighborhood were called upon to make clothing, she did her full share in accomplishing this work. Mrs. Talk now has in her possession a bed spread, which was made from cotton which her mother picked; and she took the seed from the cotton, spun and wove it into the spread, which is now more than eighty years old and is highly prized by the daughter. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Parker were four children: Rebecca, who died at the age of nine years; Susan, the wife of F. Middleton; Isaac, who was formerly engaged in the stock business, but of late years has been engaged in business in Runge; and Margaret A., who is now the wife of A. W. Talk. The wife and mother was a consistent member of the Christian church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Talk have been born twelve children, namely: Ida, the wife of S. J. Tipton; John G., a stock farmer; Matthew, who died when a young man of twenty-four years; Alda, the wife of F. Wood; Lilla, who died when fourteen years of age; Oscar P., a stock farmer; Nettie J., the wife of Hicks Green, a traveling salesman; Daisy, Rosa, Maggie Pearl, Beulah and Alpha, all with their parents. The family are all members of the Methodist church. (A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas Vol 2, Lewis Publishing Company, 1907 )