The Talbot Farms

Arthur Newell Talbot assembled, first from part of the dowry that his wife brought to him, and then by purchase, what ultimately were three farms, according to Arthur's grandson, Phillips Talbot. Although he had tenant farmers, Arthur managed the farms himself. In the settling of the estate after Arthur's death in 1942, one farm went to Kenneth Talbot, one to Mildred Talbot Gilkey, and one to Rachel Talbot Westergaard. Dorothy Talbot Goodell inherited the house at 1113 California Avenue and other assets, which were then used by the Goodells to buy farmland for themselves southeast of Villa Grove.

All the farms are located in the Tuscola Villa Grove area. Dorothy Talbot Goodell's husband, Warren Franklin Goodell, took over management of the four farms after Arthur's death, and continued to manage them until his death in 1965.

After Warren's death, management of the farms was passed to other family members or to manager-farmers. Phil and Art Talbot still manage the [Kenneth] Talbot farm. "We have 240 acres that we now have incorporated, and our children have shares," Phil says. "I t's been in the family for a long time." For many years the Talbot farm has been tenant-farmed by Clarence A. "Billy" Riddell (pronounced 'riddle') and his son James A. Riddell of Villa Grove. Clarence Riddell is now retired. Clarence married Florence Hammet, a niece of Virginia Mann Hammet. (5)

Florence died in 1994. "I can remember very clearly Arthur Newell Talbot visiting the elevator here in Villa Grove," C. A. Riddle says. "He would take the train over from Tuscola. Everyone held him in awe."

The Gilkey farm was managed for many years by George Maxwell, and later by Champaign County Bank and Trust Co. Then in 1980, management was passed to D. Ray Shunk of rural Villa Grove, who had been farming the land since 1969, when Mildred Gilkey was alive. Shunk continued to farm it until 1990, when he sold his equipment and the land was rented to the Watson brothers of Villa Grove. However, the farm is now for sale. Ray Shunk and his wife Sherrill also operate an antique shop in Arthur, III.

Rachel's children, Mary Westergaard Barnes and Peter Westergaard, manage the Westergaard farm, located in Tuscola, m., just northeast of the Illinois 36 interchange on Interstate 57. From 1948 to 1978, the farm was tenant-farmed by John G. McDaniel of Tuscola, who, with his wife Marguerite, raised a family in the 1860s-era brick house on the farm. From about 1970 until Rachel's death in 1982, John also co-managed the farm with Rachel. Also, for 14 years (1963-77) during that time, John G. McDaniel farmed the Kenneth Talbot farm for Kenneth's widow, Gertrude. After 1978, farming of the Westergaard farm was passed to John G. McDaniel's son, John H., who is also an operations superintendent at Caterpillar, Decatur. John H. and his wife Ruth Ann live northeast of Tuscola.

Warren Goodell Jr. managed the Goodell farm until 1991, when the farm was sold. Dorothy had set up a children's trust for the farms, but eventually "we had too many people with different, conflicting needs for capital and for income and whatever," Warren Jr. explains. "None of us were living here." For many years, Roy and Wanda Cook, the parents of Ray Shunk's wife, Sherrill, farmed the Goodell farm. After Roy Cook retired, the Riddells of Villa Grove farmed the Goodell farm before it was sold, and continue to farm the same land today. In all, Jim Riddell and his partner Tony Burris farm about 2600 acres.

-- JWP