Ralph Talbot, attorney of Denver and president of the city’s fire and police board, was born in Fayette, Howard County, Missouri, on 17 August 1850, the son of Dr. John A. Talbot and Alice (Daly) Talbot. His paternal line traced to John Talbot of Talbot County, Maryland, a region named for the family, while his maternal grandfather, Laurence Daly, was an Irish immigrant who settled in Kentucky before moving to Missouri as a teacher. Dr. Talbot, a graduate of Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, practiced medicine in Fayette until his death in 1858; his wife died in 1871. Of their nine children, eight survived to adulthood, with Ralph the fourth son. In 1881 Ralph settled in Denver, Colorado, where he built his legal career. He married Fannie (Jewell) Hardin of Missouri, daughter of Dr. Thomas J. Hardin and ward of her uncle, Governor Charles H. Hardin. They were parents of five children: Alice, Ralph Jr., Charles Hardin, Robert, and Laurence Daly.
Ralph Talbot, senior member of the law firm of Talbot, Denison & Wadley, of Denver, and president of the fire and police board, was born in Fayette, Howard County, Mo., August 17, 1850, and is the son of Dr. John A. and Alice (Daly) Talbot, natives of Maryland and Lexington, Ky., respectively. His paternal grandfather, John Talbot, resided on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Talbot County, which was named in honor of his ancestors. The maternal grandfather, Laurence Daly, was born in Ireland and at an early age settled in Kentucky, where he married. Some years later he moved to Missouri and engaged in teaching school, having among his pupils such men as Gen. John B. Clark, Colonel Switzler, and others who became distinguished in national history. Dr. Talbot graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia and afterward practiced his profession in Fayette, Mo., where he died in 1858, at the age of fifty-four. His wife died at the family residence in Missouri in 1871. Of their family of six sons and three daughters, all survive with the exception of one daughter.
The fourth son in order of birth, the subject of this sketch was prepared for college in Kemper’s Institute in Missouri. In 1868 he entered Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, from which he graduated in 1872 with the degree of A. B. For two years after completing his education he taught Latin and modern history in St. Paul’s school at Concord, N. H., which is the largest Episcopal school in America. He resigned to study abroad and went to Germany in 1874, entering Leipsic University, where he spent three years in the study of jurisprudence. He was admitted to the bar of Missouri in 1878 and opened an office in St. Louis, where he remained two years or more. In 1881 he came to Denver, where he has since engaged in professional practice. Though always a stanch Democrat, he never sought office, and the first position that he held was in 1897, when the governor appointed him president of the fire and police board of Denver, and as such also became exofficio fire commissioner.
In Mexico, Mo., Mr. Talbot married Miss Fannie (Jewell) Hardin, a descendant of the well-known family of Kentucky, who are prominently identified with the history of that state. She was born in Missouri, the daughter of Dr. Thomas J. Hardin, and when she was about seven years of age, on account of her father’s death, she was taken into the home of her uncle, ex-Governor Charles H. Hardin, of Missouri. For some years she was a student in the William Jewell Baptist College, Mr. Jewell having been a relative of the Hardin family. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Talbot are: Alice, Ralph, Jr., Charles Hardin, Robert and Laurence Daly. Fraternally Mr. Talbot is connected with Union Lodge No. 7 A. F. & A. M., of Denver, and in 1894 was grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of the state. While in Dartmouth he was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity. He is connected with the bar associations of Denver and Colorado, and for eight years was one of the board of examiners for admission to the bar in the city of Denver.
Source
Portrait and biographical record of Denver and vicinity, Colorado : containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States.. Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1898.