William Henry Tallman was born in New Haven, Conn., Feb. 14, 1832, and his infancy was spent in New Haven and New York City. When he was five years old his parents moved to Rome, N.Y., where he was educated in private schools, the public schools being but little known and less thought of in that day. He early showed inventive ability and mechanical skill and when fifteen years old he entered a drug store as a clerk, remaining there for three years. At that day machinery was little used and all pills were rolled by the fingers and cut with a spatula. Mr. Tallman came to Janesville on May 1, 1851, joining his parents, who made the trip west in the preceding year, and making the trip overland from Milwaukee by stage. On the ninth of the following August he purchased a third interest in the drug store of Holden, Kemp & Co., the firm transacting business under that name until 1857, when a change was made and the firm became Tallman & Collins, proprietors of the Empire Drug store, which still retains that name. In 1864 the firm sold out its retail business and devoted all its energies to the manufacture of perfumes, flavoring extracts, plasters, etc. In 1857 Mr Tallman, then in the wholesale business by himself, made an exhibition of his manufactures at the arts exposition and his case of goods received the only honorable mention awarded to the United States for perfumes. In January 1882, Mr. Tallman went to New York and associated himself in business with George Kemp, succeeding his former partner, William Kemp, who had recently died. After fourteen months in New York, Mr. Tallman felt that his health was becoming affected and he returned to Janesville, retiring from active business and remodeling the laboratory into a tobacco warehouse. A rare friendship and devotion existed between Mr. Tallman and William and George Kemp and Mr. Tallman felt the death of his former partners very keenly. It is believed that the death of George Kemp, about a year ago, had a serious effect on Mr Tallman’s health and aggravated the attacks which caused his death. Deceased was married. On Sept. 11, 1864, to Miss Maggie J. Travis and his devoted wife and two sons, William T. And George, survive him. He was a prominent member and liberal supporter of the Congregational church, serving as decor for many years. He was also one of the organizers of the first sack company in the volunteer fire department and was later made an honorable member of the company… —Janesville Daily Gazette October 29, 1902.