Posted on: CARLETON Biographies
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Surname: CARLETON, DENTON, WILLOUGHBY, LYNN, MALLORY, DICKINSON, RECOR,
AVERY, MURRAY, LATHAM, HAMMOND, RANKIN, JOHNSON
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Biographical sketch of MOSES F. CARLETON from the book entitled, "Biographical
Memoirs of Saint Clair County, Michigan," published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen
Publishers in Indiana.
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This bio spans four (4) pages and contains a photograph of Mr. Moses F.
Carleton: 242 245
MOSES F. CARLETON
Genealogical research has a distinct unequivocal value, be it in the tracing
of an obscure and broken line or the following back of a noble and illustrious
lineage, where men have been valorous and women of gentle refinement. We
of this twentieth century, democratic type cannot afford to hold in light
esteem the bearing of a scutcheon upon whose fair face shows no sign of
blot, and thus he should be the more honored who honors a noble name and
the memory of noble deeds. The lineage of the subject of this review is
one of distinguished and most interesting order, touching in America the
early settlement of New England, where the family was founded in 1638,
while in England the family genealogy is consecutively and clearly traced
to Baldwin de Carleton, of 1066, the family seat having been at Chirtsey,
near London. Edward Carleton came to Rowley, Massachusetts, in 1638, with
Roger Williams colony. The subject has compiled a family tree showing
over two thousand seven hundred names, the name occurring in very many
counties in the United States. The subject is one of the honored pioneers
of St. Clair county, where he has been an important factor in public affairs
and in the civic life of the community. He has passed practically his entire
life in this community, where the name which he bears has been one of prominence
from the early epoch when was instituted the work of reclaiming the sylvan
wilds to the uses of cultivation, career, concerning which it is our privilege
to offer a brief resume in a work which has to do with those who have been
the founders and builders of this favored division of the Peninsular state.
Moses F. Carleton was born in North Haverhill, Grafton county, New Hampshire,
on the 27th of January, 1831, being a son of William H. Carleton, who was
born in the same town on the 22d of July, 1811. Edward Carleton, the original
progenitor of the family in America, had married, in England, Miss Eleanor
Denton, and upon their emigration was accompanied by their son John, the
other children having been born in this country. William H. Carleton, father
of the subject, was reared to maturity in the old White Mountain state,
where he was married and where Moses F. was born. In 1831 he emigrated
to St. Clair county, Michigan, where he took up eighty acres of government
land about two and a half miles southwest of the present village of St.
Clair, while later in life he removed to the village and served for several
years as deputy sheriff of the county. When he located on his farm it was
covered with the native timer, though he reclaimed the greater portion
of the tract and developed a farm which is now one of the valuable places
of the county. His father, Peter Carleton, in company with his brothers,
Edward, Jeremiah and Israel, settled in this county in 1830, being among
the first to establish a permanent residence in the county, and Israel
built and operated the first tannery in this section of the state. William
H. Carleton did not fully attain the success which would undoubtedly have
attended his efforts had his life been spared, for he passed away in 1849,
at the early age of thirty-eight years. He was a Whig in his political
proclivities and was quite active in the party ranks, while he was called
upon to serve in various offices of local trust and responsibility, as
was also his father, Peter Carleton, who was born in Bath, Grafton county,
New Hampshire, in 1781, and who died in 1847. The maiden name of the subjects
mother was Lavina Willoughby, and she also was born in New Hampshire, a
representative of an old and honored New England family. She survived her
husband several years, her death occurring in this county, in 1864, at
the age of fifty-three years. She was a member of the Baptist church, while
the husband was inclined to be a Universalist, and both held the unqualified
confidence and esteem of the community. Of their five children brief mention
is made as follows: Moses F. is the subject; Martha P. first became the
wife of L. Lynn, to whom she bore two children, and after his death she
became the wife of Benjamin R. Mallory, eight children being born to this
union; she was born in 1832 and her death occurred in 1894; Myron B. was
born in 1836 and died at the age of thirteen years; Mary E., born in 1838,
is the widow of Horace Dickinson, and Miles H., born in 1840, is a teacher
in the public schools of the state of Nebraska, having previously taught
for many years in Michigan.
Moses F. Carleton was but nine months of age when his parents removed to
Michigan, and his boyhood days were passed on the pioneer farm, to the
work of which he early began to contribute his quote, while he secured
such education as was afforded in the public schools of the locality. That
he duly profited by his opportunities in this line is evident when we revert
to the fact that at the early age of sixteen years he became a teacher
and for nineteen winters successfully followed teaching in the district
schools in St. Clair and Macomb counties, while he was similarly employed
in the state of Illinois during one winter, that of 1854. In the intervals
of his school work he devoted his attention to farming, having become the
owner of a tract of land, the old homestead, two and a half miles from
the present village of St. Clair. In September, 1864, he enlisted as a
private in Company I, Fourth Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, at its
reorganization, the regiment being assigned to the Army of the Cumberland.
In June, 1865, he was granted a furlough and later rejoined his regiment
in Texas, where he remained until June, 1866, when he received an honorable
discharge. He was early made orderly sergeant and in September, 1865, was
promoted to the office of second lieutenant. He was ever at the post of
duty and participated in much skirmishing and in a number of spirited engagements
of more general nature, including the battles of Decatur and Murfreesboro.
After his discharge from the army Mr. Carleton returned to his home in
St. Clair county and continued to devote his attention to the cultivation
and improvement of his farm until the autumn of 1872, when, as a candidate
on the Republican ticket, he was elected to the office of county clerk,
whereupon he removed to the county seat, Port Huron, where he has since
resided. He had previously for two years, 1870-1, served as drain commissioner
of St. Clair county, discharging the duties of that position in a most
efficient manner. He held the office of county clerk for three consecutive
terms, giving a most careful and discriminating administration of the official
duties devolving upon him and placing the records and manifold details
of the office in first class order, so that he gained the universal commendation
of the public, and especially of the bar. He then served as deputy for
his successor for one term and also he held for one term the position of
deputy treasurer of the county under E. C. Recor. During the time of his
incumbency as clerk he read law and was admitted to practice in 1878, but
confined his professional efforts largely to the pension business. For
four years he was deputy postmaster under Alexander R. Avery, who transferred
to him all the responsible duties of the office, and he also acted in the
same capacity for a time under the succeeding postmaster, John Murray.
He had earlier served as township clerk and school inspector and has ever
been signally faithful to the duties devolving upon him in public capacities.
He is an independent Republican and the part cause has ever been a matter
of distinctive interest to him, and he, being a close observer and careful
student, is strongly fortified in his convictions. He was one of those
prominently concerned in the organization of the St. Clair County Pioneer
Society, in which he has taken an active interest, serving it as president,
secretary and treasurer. He is now living virtually retired, though he
is still often called upon to assist in handling pension business, while
he also acts as counsellor (sic) for many of his old clients in other branches
of his profession. He was at one time sent to Lansing to assist in settling
a claim of the state against the county regarding taxes, the matter being
amicably adjusted. He is an authority on the early history of the county
and has a remarkable memory in regard to dates and other pertinent points,
while he retains his mental and physical vigor in a notable degree and
gives slight evidence of the fact that he has passed the psalmists span
of three score years and ten. He is well known throughout St. Clair county
and it may be said without fear of contradiction that his friends are in
number as his acquaintances.
On the 27th of September, 1851, Mr. Carleton was united in marriage to
Miss Mary Latham, who was born in Greenwich, Washington county, New York,
on the 16th of April, 1831, being a daughter of Thomas and Esther (Hammond)
Latham, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, whence they came
to St. Clair county in the autumn of 1832. Mr. Latham located on a tract
of government land near the village of St. Clair. His wife died in this
county at the age of sixty-five years, while he passed the closing years
of his life in Illinois, where he died at a venerable age. In politics
he was originally a Democrat, but later became a Republican, and he and
his wife were zealous members of the Baptist church. They became the parents
of several children and two of their sons sacrificed their lives upon the
altar of their countrys freedom during the war of the Rebellion. To the
subject and his wife were born the following children: William H. resides
at Cooperstown, North Dakota, where he is now serving as county judge.
He was admitted to the bar at Port Huron and was a pioneer of North Dakota.
Lura (sic) L., the second born, is the wifeof James Rankin, of Thompson,
Minnesota, and is the mother of six children. Cora A. is the wife os S.
Edgar Johnson, of St. Clair, Michigan. Mrs. Carleton passed into the silent
land on the 12th of April, 1902, but a few months after the celebration
of their golden wedding anniversary. The subject is not a member of any
church, but regularly attends religious services and is a liberal supporter
of all movements having for their object the elevation of the moral standing
of the community. Fraternally he is a member of the William Sanborn Post
No. 98, G. A. R., in which he has held the office of commander, and he
has also served as senior vice-commander of the department of Michigan.
In the Knights of Pythias he has been active for twenty-five years, having
served as chancellor commander of Charter Lodge No. 18, and he has also
been a delegate to the grand lodge, of which he was elected a trustee.
He took an active part in the Patrons of Husbandry, holding membership
in Grove Grange in St. Clair county, and also in the county grange, of
which he was secretary for a number of years.
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PLEASE NOTE: I do not have any personal interest in researching the FAIRBROTHER
surname or the St. Clair county, Michigan location. I am merely posting
a select number of the biographical sketches found in the above-referenced
book *upon specific written request* as a service to the genealogical community;
these transcriptions are intended for personal use and are not being done
for profit. Please do not contact me with regard to research interests
in the above as I have no personal ties. Thank you.