Leander J. Talbott

Leander J. Talbott (August 13, 1849 – 1924) was a wealthy Missouri realtor and politician who served as Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, in 1884.

Talbott was born in rural Meigs County, Ohio, one of eight children of Joshua and Adeline L. (Williamson) Talbott. His father, an Ohio native, was a farmer and miller. The family moved to Kansas City in 1857, where he was educated ih the local schools. He entered the real estate business and eventually became active in local Democratic politics. [Whitney, Carrie Westlake, "Kansas City, Missouri: Its History and Its People 1808-1908", Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1908, Volume II, pp. 608.]

On September 7, 1876, Talbott married Carrie Madeira, a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Madeira, formerly pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church of Kansas City. They would have two sons and one daughter—Addison M., Lee J., and Dorothy. Talbott was elected as the city auditor in 1876, 1877, and 1878. [Whitney, Volume II, p. 609.]

As mayor he is said to have ridden the first overhead electric interurban in the world [ [http://www.kclibrary.org/localhistory/media.cfm?mediaID=119904 Local History - Kansas City Public Library ] ] (established by J. C. Henry with the Westport Electric Railway in Kansas City) [ [http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/railway/trolley.htm Interurbans ] ]

He died in an automobile accident in 1924.

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