This information was taken from "The Life and Times of Flossie" (last names were Roberts, Talbot, Anderson). The information was submitted by James O. Talbot.
After marriage, the Talbots started farming on land owned by his father, three miles north of Roberts, Section 4, Lyman Township. In 1921 the moved to the farm where John was born, Section 29, three miles southwest of Roberts Lyman Township.On May 15, 1915 a wind storm went through the area. All the buildings were destroyed except the house which was badly damaged. Machine shed, barn, milk house and the windmill all were blown down or away. The chimney blown off the house, most all the windows broken and flying boards driven through the side of the house.
Walter J. Talbot was listed in the Prairie Farmer Director of Farmers and Breeders Book of Ford County in the 1917 Edition as having Shropshire Sheep, Percheron Horses, Chester White Hogs, and Shorthorn Cattle. Walter owned a Rumeley Threshing Machine his brother Joseph owned the tractor and together did threshing in the area.
The first test of Flossie’s courage came with the death of their son, Walter John Jr. who died August 13, 1918 of infantile paralysis. His sister Florence was suffering from the same malady at the time but recovered. Another son, Elmer Ralph, died March 14, 1924 from pneumonia. And after fourteen years of marriage Flossie lost her husband in a threshing machine accident August 3, 1927. Walter John Talbot died the next day. Years later in 1969, Flossie suffered the loss of another son Chalmer.
The accident that took the life of John resulted in Flossie to do what she years later told Florence was the hardest thing she ever did in her life, move with her five children, ages five months, to eleven years, in with her parents, O. J and Mary Roberts. Her parents were in their sixties, and in the process of losing everything they owned due to business failures and later the depression of the 1930’s.
The Roberts house was large and with a barn for milk cows and chicken house they were able to sell milk, eggs and butter. Bread was also baked for sale. When the hard road was built in the early 1930’s the upstairs bedrooms in the front part of the house were rented to construction workers.
O.J. Roberts died in 1934.
Walter J. Talbot was listed in the Prairie Farmer Director of Farmers and Breeders Book of Ford County in the 1917 Edition as having Shropshire Sheep, Percheron Horses, Chester White Hogs, and Shorthorn Cattle. Walter owned a Rumeley Threshing Machine his brother Joseph owned the tractor and together did threshing in the area.
The first test of Flossie’s courage came with the death of their son, Walter John Jr. who died August 13, 1918 of infantile paralysis. His sister Florence was suffering from the same malady at the time but recovered. Another son, Elmer Ralph, died March 14, 1924 from pneumonia. And after fourteen years of marriage Flossie lost her husband in a threshing machine accident August 3, 1927. Walter John Talbot died the next day. Years later in 1969, Flossie suffered the loss of another son Chalmer.
The accident that took the life of John resulted in Flossie to do what she years later told Florence was the hardest thing she ever did in her life, move with her five children, ages five months, to eleven years, in with her parents, O. J and Mary Roberts. Her parents were in their sixties, and in the process of losing everything they owned due to business failures and later the depression of the 1930’s.
The Roberts house was large and with a barn for milk cows and chicken house they were able to sell milk, eggs and butter. Bread was also baked for sale. When the hard road was built in the early 1930’s the upstairs bedrooms in the front part of the house were rented to construction workers.
O.J. Roberts died in 1934.
In 1935, because of her lifelong association with the Democratic Party, Flossie was appointed Asss’t Postmaster. On August 25, 1937 Flossie married Adam H. Anderson, a farmer. Adam and Flossie had attended school at the same time in Roberts. Adam was a progressive farmer. He farmed his mother’s 320 acres three miles east of Roberts. Adam became president of the Ford County Farm Bureau and was on of the founders of the Farm Bureau Seed Company in Piper City.
Adam and Flossie left the farm in 1942 and traveled for about a year. Adam had planned to settle in Grants Pass Oregon. They visited me at Washington State College, Pullman, Washington where I was in the Air Force Flight Training program, May 1943.
They returned to Illinois and bought a house with twenty acres just south of Paxton. Adam’s mother and sisters lived in Paxton. Later they moved to a house on the south side of the golf course and Adam started to work full time as a carpenter. Then another extended travel trip and return to Paxton to a house on the north side of the old golf course now a school yard at 611 East Franklin Street. Adam went back to carpenter work. It was their last move.
Flossie was always ready to listen. She never talked about the past or herself. In spite of her many sorrows, she was never bitter or complained, or gave the impression life was unfair.
Submitted by James O. Talbot.
Adam and Flossie left the farm in 1942 and traveled for about a year. Adam had planned to settle in Grants Pass Oregon. They visited me at Washington State College, Pullman, Washington where I was in the Air Force Flight Training program, May 1943.
They returned to Illinois and bought a house with twenty acres just south of Paxton. Adam’s mother and sisters lived in Paxton. Later they moved to a house on the south side of the golf course and Adam started to work full time as a carpenter. Then another extended travel trip and return to Paxton to a house on the north side of the old golf course now a school yard at 611 East Franklin Street. Adam went back to carpenter work. It was their last move.
Flossie was always ready to listen. She never talked about the past or herself. In spite of her many sorrows, she was never bitter or complained, or gave the impression life was unfair.
Submitted by James O. Talbot.
--Story and Photo Provided by Patricia (Whorrall) Ellis by Email. August 2018.
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