Ohio Biographies

Peter Carlton

Peter Carlton (deceased) was born June 3, 1787, in Stafford, Conn., and was a son of Caleb and Margaret Carlton, who were the parents of Hannah, married to John Bestor; Caleb; Lucy, married to Alvin Bestor; Peter; Elias; Sallie, married to Willis Kneeland; Dudley. Our subject was the first Carlton to settle in this county, coming in 1811, his parents following in 1814. He was married, November 29, 1810, to Clarissa, daughter of Daniel and Persis (Davis) Ladd, and born February 25, 1779, one week before the inauguration of George Washington as President. Says a writer: '"Here, amid the influence of the crude and imperfect civilization that existed in those early days, she was reared to habits of industry, and enjoyed only such educational advantages as the limited means of her parents were able to bestow, until she was twenty-one years old." Soon after their marriage our subject and wife left for Ohio, and after a toilsome journey of twenty-seven days arrived at Painesville, Ohio, where they met Horace Ladd, who had preceded them a short time. With Mr. Ladd, Peter Carlton and his wife left their wagon and goods, mounted their horses and struck out for Mantua, and on their way, at Welshfield, they met a man whose track in the leaves served as a guide to their right course. At night they reached Blackbrook, a small stream with muddy bottom, which with care they managed to cross. While making preparations to cross they started a hog, which ran away, as they supposed, toward a house. They followed it, and soon came to the clearing of Eli as Harmon, and from there went to the clearing of Mrs. Carlton's brother, Eleazer Ladd, reaching there about 10 o'clock. They were desirous of settling in Geauga County, but the settlers of Mantua, being solicitous about increasing their settlement, offered to build them a house and render other necessary assistance. They were induced to make a final settlement. In 1812 the war broke out, and Mr. Carlton went forward to defend his country. After several years spent in clearing the farm, it was traded for the home now owned by their youngest son, P. A. Peter Carlton died in 1861; his widow survived him several years. One evening she listened to the reading of an excellent book, retired in her usual health, and was found the next morning apparently in a gentle sleep, but it was soon discovered that she was stricken from life's roll on earth and gathered into life eternal. She was the mother of ten children: George, born September 5, 1811, died August 29, 1836; Sherman, born June 21, 1813, died February 20, 1851; Caleb D., born May 22, 1815, died December 19, 1867; Francis, born April 29, 1817; Clarissa, born June 30, 1819, married September 27, 1841, to I. P. Sperry; P, A.; Sallie, born August 1, 1823, died May 27, 1845 (she married Robert McMurdy); Lydia, born August 14, 1825, died September 27, 1845; Percis A., born July 4, 1829; Huldah E., born November 21, 1833. P. A., who was born February 26, 1821, in Mantua Township, this county, attended the country schools and the school at Kirtland, and was brought up on a farm. He was married September 27, 1848, to Sallie A. Parker, born November 8, 1829, in Aurora, Ohio, daughter of Horace and Achsa (McElwain) Parker, natives, the former of this county, the latter of Vermont. The father, who was a member of the Presbyterian Church, died leaving her and Huldah, and the mother subsequently married James Pease, by whom she had eleven children, seven of whom are now living: Celia, Malinda, Sylvia, Helen, Abner, Samuel and Frank. The mother was a member of the Disciples Church. To P. A. Carlton and his wife were born ten children, nine of whom are now living: Arah, married to Carrie Donnel (he is a dentist at Mantua Station); Herbert, married to Tillie Parker; John and James (twins), the former married to Hettie Cobb, and the latter to Lou Whittier; Clara; Guy E.; Persis E.; Horace P. and Lucy A. P. A. Carlton and wife are members of the Disciples Church. He owns the old homestead of 200 acres. Mr. Carlton was drafted in the late war and hired a substitute. In politics he is a Republican. His brother Sherman's son, Charles, was said, by James A, Garfield, who preached his funeral discourse, to have been the first Union man to shed blood in a regular engagement in the late war of the Rebellion. After being seriously wounded he was brought home by Francis Carlton, whose sketch appears elsewhere. In this volume will be found the portraits of Peter and Clarissa Carlton, who were exemplary Christian people.