He was the fourth of nine children born to Wait and Elizabeth Ann (Norton) Talcott, having been the first white male child born in Rockton. He married September 25, 1862 to Fanny Caroline Jones, and they were the parents of three sons and three daughters, of whom only one son survived him. He attended the Rockton schools and Beloit College. In 1857 his family came to Rockford, and in 1860 he was made a member of J.H. Manny Co., a manufacturer of farm implements, and a firm of which his father was an original partner. In 1876 the company was renamed the Emerson & Talcott Company, and he continued there until 1893 when he gave up his position to devote more time to his family and pursue other business interests. He was a director of Rockford College, a trustee of Rockford City Hospital, a director of the Winnebago National Bank, and a member of the Second Congregational Church. In September of 1898, his son W.A., Jr. died from malaria and dysentery as a result of his service during the Spanish-American War, a shock to him which it is said he never recovered from. In June of 1900, he and his wife departed for Paris, and from there toured other parts of Europe, having the intentions to end their tour in Egypt. He died unexpectly in Jerusalem.

He was the fourth of nine children born to Wait and Elizabeth Ann (Norton) Talcott, having been the first white male child born in Rockton. He married September 25, 1862 to Fanny Caroline Jones, and they were the parents of three sons and three daughters, of whom only one son survived him. He attended the Rockton schools and Beloit College. In 1857 his family came to Rockford, and in 1860 he was made a member of J.H. Manny Co., a manufacturer of farm implements, and a firm of which his father was an original partner. In 1876 the company was renamed the Emerson & Talcott Company, and he continued there until 1893 when he gave up his position to devote more time to his family and pursue other business interests. He was a director of Rockford College, a trustee of Rockford City Hospital, a director of the Winnebago National Bank, and a member of the Second Congregational Church. In September of 1898, his son W.A., Jr. died from malaria and dysentery as a result of his service during the Spanish-American War, a shock to him which it is said he never recovered from. In June of 1900, he and his wife departed for Paris, and from there toured other parts of Europe, having the intentions to end their tour in Egypt. He died unexpectly in Jerusalem.