Tunis V. P. Talmage

Talmage was born on July 24, 1832 in Clinton, New Jersey, the son of Thomas Goyn Talmage and Dorothy Miller.[1] He grew up in New York City until he was eight, after which he lived in Brooklyn. His father was Mayor of Brooklyn, and his uncle Jacob W. Miller was a United States Senator from New Jersey.[2] His cousin was Thomas De Witt Talmage.[3]

Talmage attended the New Brunswick Grammar School in New Jersey.[4] In 1849, he moved to San Francisco and worked in the general merchandise establishment of Talmage, Green & Co. Two years later, he returned to Brooklyn and obtained a contract to pave and grade the streets. After seven years in that business, he established himself in the coal business. In 1860, he was elected supervisor of the Eighth Ward. A year later, he served on the committee of volunteers that relieved families of soldiers killed in the American Civil War. In 1862, he was elected alderman from the Eighth Ward, and in 1864 he was re-elected and made president of the board.[5]

During the Civil War, Talmage helped raise the 56th New York Infantry Regiment, which his brother was major of. Governor Morgan appointed him captain of the regiment, and he joined the regiment in the front during the Gettysburg campaign. He remained in active service until the end of the campaign, at which point he resigned. In 1865, he came within one vote of receiving the mayoral nomination, losing the nomination to Martin Kalbfleisch. In 1867, he unsuccessfully ran for mayor as an independent Democrat.[2]

In 1874, Talmage was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Democrat, representing the Kings County 4th District (Wards 5, 10, and 22 of Brooklyn). He served in the Assembly in 1875[6] and 1876. In the Assembly, he advocated Governor Tilden's reform measures.[7] He also introduced and carried through a readjustment of Prospect Park taxes, which shifted taxation from property holders contiguous to the Park to the entire city. In 1882, he went from the retail coal business to the wholesale coal trade.[2] He was also involved in real estate.[4]

Talmage was affiliated with the Crescent Athletic Club. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church[5] until 1898, when he became a member and trustee of the Park Congregational Church. In 1853, he married Magdalene Van Nest de Forest. Their children were Magdalene, William De Forrest, and Katherine A.[2]

Talmage died at home at 216 Eighth Avenue following a 18-week illness that left him bedridden the entire time on November 28, 1909.[1] He was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.[8]

• The Political Graveyard