My Genealogy Hound

Oscar A. Pelton, of Barton County, Mo., was born in Chittenden County, Vt., in the town of Shelburne, on the 17th of February, 1832, being a son of Daniel and Lovina (Benson) Pelton, who were also born in that county, the former’s birth occurring in 1805, and the latter’s in 1802. They were married in their native State, and, about 1835, moved to Syracuse, N. Y., where the father died in May, three years later, the mother’s death occurring in Chicago, Ill., in 1874. The paternal grandfather was born in Vermont, was a cooper by trade, and was killed, in 1805, by a falling tree. Oscar A. Pelton is the eldest of two surviving members of a family of four children, and, after his father’s death, returned, with his mother, to Vermont. Here he remained, attending the district schools and working at farm labor until nineteen years of age, when he went to Leyden, Cook County, Ill., and there made his home until September 18, 1861, at which date he enlisted in Company D, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and remained in the service just three years. He participated in the battles of Williamsburg, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg and the Wilderness. After receiving his discharge he returned to Cook County, Ill., and began peddling milk in Chicago, continuing this occupation until 1870, when he married Miss Helen Webster, who was born in Geauga County, Ohio, November 3, 1840, a daughter of Andrew and Lorissa Webster, who were born in Canada and Massachusetts, respectively, the former’s birth occurring in 1812. To Mr. and Mrs. Pelton the following children have been born: Maud, born on the 23d of June, 1871, and is now deceased; Addie, born July 8, 1872; Bertha, born July 23, 1873; Grace, born August 6, 1874; Oscar, born March 15, 1879, and is now dead; Harry, born August 29, 1881 (deceased); and Helen, born January 26, 1884. On the 11th of April, 1882, Mr. Pelton and family arrived in Barton County, Mo., where he soon after purchased 220 acres of land, and also had 320 acres in Oregon County. He has since been actively engaged in tilling the soil, and is considered one of the first farmers of the county. He is a Republican in his political views, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.