The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-03-23
HON. H. ]. DRANE
WRITES OF LIFE
OF J. R. TALLEY

Congressman Drane, when advised
by J. T. Marshall OF the death of j.
R. Talley, wro;e the following letter,
an dthe deep appreciation CT Mn. Ia
! ley which it expresses will be read
with pleasure by host OF Lakeland
friends of Mr.. Talley and his family:
HOUSE OF REPR ESENTATlVES. l. S.
WASHINGTON, d. c.
( March 16. 1922.
Mr.. J. T. Marshall,
Lakeland, Fla.
Dear Mr.. Marshall:-
Yesterday l had Just read in the
Evening Telegram" OF the serious
illness of my good friend Mr.. j. X.
Talley, and was sitting with the paper
on my lap, thinking Of how l would
miss him upon my return to Lake
land, when your telegram came. an
nouncing his death. l am very CRATE
full to you for your kindness in adj
vising me. and it evidences your
knowledge of how close and how
friendly were our relations.
l first knew Joseph R. .Talley i'll
| the early spring of 1885, or about
thirty-seven years ago. He had come
to the very small village of Lakeland
with his family from Illinois. How
he happened TO find Lakeland in that
early day l never understood. ! was
always glad he found it, however, for
he became one of its most useful cit
izePs and one of he very best friends
/ | have had through all the years. He
built the house in which | went 20
housekeeping, starting work on it on
the first day of November, 1855. He
cid the work with his own hands
ard with no contract other than the
word of one gentleman passed to an
other The only instrument of writ
ing which ever entered into that cen
trac: or a number of others, in after
years, was the check which settled
the bills. So long as he had his
health and strength l never had any
other man do any extensive work for
me when | could get him. There was
very great difference in our ages,
he having all his children before
married; but our friendship was 30
close that in all the years there was
not even suggestion of disagree
ment between us. Some two or three
years ago when l fet him on the
streets of Lakeland and he addressed
me with Good morning, congress-
man." l told him if he ever called
me names again l would cut his
acquaintance, as 1 did not allow my
intimate old friends to call me by
any other name than the narle by
which they called me "from my youth
up He laughed ana promised not
to offend again, and he did not. |
recall that in the summer of 1885,
when my family was away from
home, he remodeled my home; it was
a very rainy summer and l stayed
much of the time on the premises
while he was at work. 1t was before
the days of Volstead. and a friend
having sent me jug of peach bran
dy from North Carolina, l would oc-
casionally have a party-just Joe and
l, with the result that the work was
several times interrupted by our So
cial sessions. The jug had several
flaws in is workmanship. and was
rough and unshapely on its surface
Joe laughed with me the last time |
saw him christmas. 1920. and de-
. scribed the cid jug to me. His men,
, DRY was good. He OTTER spoke TO ne
of the uncertainty of his life. and
was approaching his end absolutely
unafraid. He was man whose word
was as good as his bond; useful as a
citizen, kind and loving as husband
and father, full of the sunshine Fl
life. and, as l knew him. loyal to his
friends to the very last degree. |
sincerely mourn his passing, as |
shall not know his like again.
Yours very truly.
HERBERT J. DRANE. NJ. c.