1891 HISTORY OF CLARK & JACKSON CO., WI, pg. 234

THOMAS V. CARLETON, of Neillsville, was born in Waldo County, Maine, January 14, 1820, the son of Levi (deceased) and Abigail (Colben) Carleton. The father was a soldier in the army in the war of 1812. His father and brother, Jonathan and John Carleton, came to the United States during the Revolutionary war, and participated in that struggle on the American side, while another brother, Colonel Carleton, commanded a regiment in the British army, and surrendered with Cornwallis at Yorktown. Mr. and Mrs. Carleton had four sons and two daughters, three of whom survive: Thomas, our subject George, of Los Angeles and Adaline, now Mrs. Hutchinson, of Rockford, Illinois.

At the age of fifteen the subject of this sketch went to Aroostook, Maine, and during the war helped build a fort for General Scott. In 1846 the family removed to Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and settled in Linden Township, and the same year Mr. Carleton went as a volunteer soldier in the Mexican war, in Company C, First Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Wright. He participated in the battles of Buena Vista, Contreras, Churubuscco, Tehultepec and Molino del Rey, and helped capture the city of Mexico. After the war Mr. Carleton came to Sheboygan County, and worked in the flouring-mills there until 1861, when he entered the employ of the United States as recruiting officer, and raised four companies. In 1868 he removed to Algona, Iowa, where he was engaged as chief miller in a flouring-mill until 1871, and in that year came to Neillsville. Here he was first engaged in milling, but failing health caused him to retire, and since that time has held the office of janitor of the North Side public school in this city he also draws a pension.

Mr. Carleton was married July 4, 1849, to Aurilla, daughter of Henry Burgess, deceased. They have five children: Ellen, Henry, Charles, Clinton and Nettie. All of the children live in this county, except Clinton, who resides in La Crosse. While in Sheboygan County, before the war, Mr. Carleton was Captain of an independent rifle company of State troops. He is now a member of the G. A. R. and Masonic orders, and is Tyler of the latter. Mrs. Carleton is a member of the order of Rebekah and W. R. C.