HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
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Birney (the Liberty candidate for President) in 1844, continuing to act with that party until the organization of the Republican party in 1856; was deeply interested in the War for the Union, but died before its conclusion, Sept. 2, 1864.- Maj. Thomas B. (Talcott), oldest son of the preceding, was born at Hebron, Conn. , April 17, .806; was taken to Rome, N. Y., by his father in infancy, and, after reaching maturity, engaged in mercantile business with his brother in Chemung County; in 1835 accompanied his father in a tour through the West, finally locating at Rockton, where he engaged in agriculture. On the organization of Winnebago County, in 1836, he was elected one of the first County Commissioners, and, in 1850, to the State Senate, serving four years. He also held various local offices. Died, Sept. 30,1894.-Hon. Wait (Talcott), second son of Capt. William Talcott, was born at Hebron, Conn., Oct. 17, 1807, and taken to Rome, N. Y., where he remained until his 19th year, when he engaged in business at Booneville and, still later, in Utica; in 1838, removed to Illinois and joined his father at Rockton, finally becoming a citizen of Rockford, where, in his later years, he was extensively engaged in manufacturing, having become, in 1854, with his brother Sylvester, a partner of the firm of J. H. Manny & Co., in the manufacture of the Manny reaper and mower. He was an original anti-slavery man and, at one time, a Free-Soil candidate for Congress, but became a zealous Republican and ardent friend of Abraham Lincoln, whom he employed as an attorney in the famous suit of McCormick vs. the Manny Reaper Company for infringement of patent. In 1854 he was elected to the State Senate, succeeding his brother, Thomas B., and was the first Collector of Internal Revenue in the Second District, appointed by Mr. Lincoln in 1862, and continuing in office some five years. Though too old for active service in the field, during the Civil "War, he voluntarily hired a substitute to take his place. Mr. Talcott was one of the original incorporators and Trustees of Beloit College, and a founder of Rockford Female Seminary, remaining a trustee of each for many years. Died, June 7, 1890.-Sylvester (Talcott), third son of William Talcott, born at Rome, N. Y., Oct. 14, 1810; when of age, engaged in mercantile business in Chemung County; in 1837 removed, with other members of the family, to "Winne
