TALMAGE

Talmage was established in 1888 with the coming of the Chicago Great Western Railroad.   The land for the town was owned by Dr. J. C. Beebe who also opened the first store in the town that he named. It was in section 18 of Jones Township, and its beginning years, it was a thriving community and did a large amount of lumber business.   At its peek around 1900 the town had about 100 residents, five grocery stores, a hotel, livery barn, lumberyard, creamery, depot, stockyards, post office, cafe and school house.   Church services were held in the school house, but there was never a church constructed in Talmage.  With the depression the town declined.  Several businesses closed in the 1930s, the post office closed in 1941, and the school closed in 1960.   The town was  completely razed in 1968 with the widening of US Highway 34.