My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. CARLETON, the efficient Union Pacific Railway agent at Shelton, Nebr., is eminently a self-made man. Losing his father at an early age, the entire support of a large family devolved upon him, and to the fact that he bravely met and shouldered the responsibility may be largely attributed those habits of business push and industry which have since made him a most successful business man. Born on March 28, 1861, at Milford, Mass., he is still on the hither side of thirty. His father was a native of Derby Center, Vt., but while our subject was still a child, removed to Green Top, Mo. where, in 1877, at the age of forty-six years, he succumbed to the dread destroyer, his death being, perhaps, directly attributable to disease, the foundation of which was laid during his service to his country in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Carleton, senior, was a member of Company F, Thirty-sixth Massachusetts infantry, entering the army at the age of twenty-five years. Up to that time he had followed the pursuit of farming, but subsequent to that time he engaged in the boot and shoe trade. The mother of our present subject bore the maiden name of Narcissa N. Doggett, was a native of South Carolina and was born in the year 1840, March 28. She is the daughter of Samuel and Harriet (Watton) Doggett, and is still living at Shelton.

Mr. Carleton is the third eldest of eight children, of whom Mrs. Eva Wells resides at Green Top, Mo.; Ella, now Mrs. Allister, and Anna, live in Chicago; Frank, at Shelton, Nebr.; Ida, in San Francisco, Cal., and Alfred, in Paxton, Nebr. The youngest of the family died in infancy. Our subject received his early education in the county schools at Mendon, in Worcester county, Mass., attending school during the winter season only, his summers being spent in working at the shoemaker’s bench. At the age of fifteen, he removed, as before stated, with his parents to Green Top, Mo., where his father died shortly afterwards. Determining to find some more lucrative as well as less laborious occupation than that which he had heretofore followed, he turned his attention to the subject of telegraphy, which he studied for a short time at Green Top, finally completing his knowledge at Batavia, Ill., on the Chicago & North-Western line. Thence he went to Rochester, Minn., where he took charge of an office, working for the railway company there for six years, at the end of which time he resigned, returning; for a short time to Batavia, and then in July, 1880, coming to Shelton, Nebr., where he began as night operator, subsequently being promoted to the position of station agent, which he has since held. By industry and careful habits, he acquired a little competency which, in 1889, he invested in a livery stable, which he still owns and which is superintended by his brother, F. A. Carleton. In addition to this property, he owns the residence which he occupies and some forty-eight lots of city property.

In 1885, he entered into life partnership with Miss Laura M. Hull, daughter of John M. Hull, of Iowa, and to whom have been born two children — Ida S. and Allister G.

In politics, Mr. Carleton is a republican. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is also a master mason. In church matters he has allied himself with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Mr. Carleton is highly respected by his fellow-citizens, and is counted as one of the leading men of the city with whose interests he is identified.