Joseph Talbot was born to Quaker parents in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1816, where he attended the Pierpont Academy in his childhood.

[5] On February 23, 1838, he married Anna Matilda Wares, daughter of Samuel Waris, a captain of the United States Army.

[5] In January, 1853 he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, and became the rector of Christ Church where he served seven years.

[6] The Missionary District of the Northwest included New Mexico, Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Montana, and Idaho, covering nearly nine hundred thousand square miles.

On August 23, 1865,[3] Talbot was elected Assistant Bishop of Indiana, where he began his duties that October.