Lawson B. Carlton

Among the brave men who devoted the opening years of their manhood to the defense of our country from the internal foes who sought her dismemberment was Lawson B. Carlton, who for half a century has been among the honored residents of Monroe county, Iowa, his home being in Mantua township. A native of Ohio, he was born in Geauga county on the 15^th of September, 1841, and is a son of Marion Carlton, who was born in Connecticut and belonged to an old family of that state, which was of English descent. Going to Ohio, the father there married Philosha Bradley, a native of that state and a daughter of Selah Bradley, who was also born in Connecticut.

In 1850 Marion Carlton brought his family to Iowa, making the journey by the lakes to Chicago, by railroad to Burlington, and on by stage to his destination in Wapello county. By occupation he was a farmer, but when the country became involved in civil war he laid aside the plow and entered the service as a member of the Thirty-third Iowa Infantry. He never lived to return home, but died at Milliken’s Bend, Mississippi, at the age of forty-six years. In politics he was a Republican. His wife died at the age of fifty-eight years. They were the parents of five children, namely: Lawson B., of this review; Angie M.; Adolph, who was a soldier of the Third Iowa Cavalry during the Civil war, and is now a resident of Oregon; Mrs. Cora Stanley, who also makes her home in that state; and Harley H., of Sheridan county Kansas. In connection with farming the father also worked at the carpenter’s and wheelwright’s trades and was a good mechanic.

Lawson B. Carlton was a lad of nine years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to the Hawkeye state, where he grew to manhood. During his youth he learned the blacksmith’s trade and became a good workman, continuing to follow that occupation until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when, feeling that his country needed his aid, he enlisted in 1862 in Company H, First Iowa Cavalry, under Captain Westcott and Colonel Anderson. He remained in the service until hostilities ceased and at different times was under the command of Generals Custer, Steele and Davison. His services being no longer needed, he was honorably discharged at Austin , Texas, and returned home with a war record of which he may be justly proud.

Before entering the army Mr. Carlton was married, in February, 1861, to Miss Eliza A. Miller, whose brother, James M. Miller, was also in the service, being a member of Company K, Third Iowa Cavalry. He was killed in battle on the 16^th of April, 1865, at the age of twenty-four years, thus laying down his life on the altar of his country. Mrs. Carlton was born in Portage county, Ohio, and is a daughter of A. F. Miller, also a native of that state, who came to Iowa in 1846, being the first to settle on Miller’s Ridge, in Mantua township, Monroe county. Here he died at the ripe old age of eighty-six years, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Clarissa Morgan and was a native of Ohio, died at the age of seventy-two. Both were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he was a Republican in politics and by occupation a farmer. Their children were Eliza A., wife of our subject; Mrs. Harriet Riddle; Albert; D. R.; Mrs. Florence Ames, of Mantua township, and Washburn, a resident of Decatur county, Kansas.

The following named children have been born to our subject and his wife: D. C., who is married and is now engaged in the operation of his fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres; Mrs. Ada Hinton, a resident of Cass county, Iowa; and A. F., who married Elsie Macy and lives with his father on the home farm, has three children—Leslie, Forest and Verne. Mr. Carlton and his son own a well improved and highly cultivated farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, on which is a good house and substantial outbuildings. Besides the cultivated fields there are pasture, meadow and woodlands, and the farm is a very productive and valuable one. The family hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Carlton is identified with J. R. Castle Post No. 313, G.A.R., of Avery, Iowa. Both he and his sons vote the Republican ticket and take quite an active and commendable interest in public affairs.