Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1047 - 1049

FRANKLIN S. CARLTON. Among the largest and wealthiest land-owners and stockbreeders of Sedgwick County, who have made such magnificent records in their chosen branch of business, there is none more noteworthy than the gentleman of whom this sketch is written. His home, which lies on section 23 in Gypsum Township, is a model of beauty, elegance and convenience, and the barn which accompanies it is considered by competent judges to be the best for farm purposes of any within the boundaries of the county. His homestead, which consists of 1,000 acres of fine bottom land, lying along the Arkansas River, is mostly in pasture, as he devotes nearly his entire attention to stock. He came to this locality in December, 1871, and located on the place where he now lives, purchasing at that time some 400 acres of land, to which he has since added from time to time, until it has assumed its present magnificent proportions.

             On his settlement here Mr. Carlton at once commenced the stock business, purchasing 132 head of common cattle, for which he gave about $10 apiece, but has gradually drifted into the raising of fine stock, and has on his place the current year (1888) 110 head of Short-horn cattle. He has also a herd of 150 head of horses, for one of which he paid $2,500. This one, which bears the name of Straven Gallant, is of pure imported Clyde stock, and is a beautiful bay in color. He exceeds 1,700 pounds in weight, is seven years old, and considered one of the best stock horses in Southern Kansas. Our subject has also met with great success in the breeding and raising of Poland-China hogs, of which he keeps on hand a great number. The farm is considered one of the best for stock purposes in the county, and it is authoritatively stated that our subject pays more tax on personal property, in the way of stock, than any other farmer in Sedgwick County.

             Mr. Carlton is a native of the State of North Carolina, born in Wilkes County, Jan. 17, 1828, and is the son of William and Polly (Hall) Carlton, natives of the same State. William Carlton, his father, was a laborer in the vineyard of our Lord, a regular ordained clergyman, and occupied the pulpit of the Missionary Baptist Church for many years. He was also a teacher, and bore the reputation of being one of the foremost and best pedagogues in the State of Indiana, whither he had removed about 1831. In connection with these professional callings, he also carried on farming and stock-breeding, and in this school our subject received the home training which has been so valuable to him in after life, and has made his efforts such a splendid success. On his removal to Indiana Mr. William Carlton purchased some seven farms, and being an energetic man, of a powerful and active temperament, nothing suited him better than to enter the heavy green forests which at that period covered the Hoosier State, and felling the trees, clear up a new farm. He grew to be one of the wealthiest agriculturists of that time and place, but in 1853 he removed to Bates County, Mo., where he died in 1856, having attained the age of sixty years. The mother of our subject died in 1839, in Indiana, and his father was again married, this time to Miss Harriet P. Reddick, who became the mother of eight children, and is still living. By his first marriage William Carlton was the father of eight children, as follows: William R.; Franklin S., the subject of this sketch; Leander P., Hosea A., Mary S., John M., Oliver R., and one who died unnamed in infancy. By the second marriage there were born - David M., Gabriel W., Martha E., Pierson W., Amanda C., Eugene S., and two who died unnamed.

             The subject of our personal narrative received but a limited education in his boyhood, the schools of Indiana at that period being quite limited in their number and of no great value in an educational sense. Notwithstanding these disadvantages, however, he has, by a constant course of reading, posted himself until he is well informed upon all general subjects and an authority in matters relating to his business. He remained at home with his parents, and, as he grew to mature years, the great burden of the work of his father's farm fell upon his shoulders. He removed with his father and the family to Missouri, from which State he came to Sedgwick County, as mentioned above. Oct. 5, 1853, Mr. Carlton was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Blevins, a native of Johnson County, Mo., born Oct. 29, 1837, and the daughter of Stephen and Mahala (Young) Blevins, natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. Her father, who is a farmer by occupation, is living in Johnson County, Mo., having attained the advanced age of eighty-eight years, with his wife, who is now seventy-nine years old. Both the old people are members of the Baptist Church and have been so for a great number of years, and are humble and sincere Christian people. They are the parents of the following children: Lucinda, the wife of our subject; Diana, who died at the age of eight years; Christina, Polly, William R., Ezekiel, Robert L., Andrew, Rebecca D., Lydia and Macdonald.

             To Mr. and Mrs. Carlton have been born a family of four children, as follows: William S., who married Miss Ann Smiley; Mary S., the wife of Charles Craig; John R., who married Miss Viola Rick, and Charles M., who was educated at the Emporia Normal School, and is engaged in teaching school. Mr. Carlton is a man of deep religious convictions, a consistent and honorable Christian, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He generally votes with the Republican party, but is not bound by any partisanship, nor is he a seeker after political preferment. He prefers the quiet peace and domestic joys of his own fireside to the turmoils of party strife, and would much rather attend to his own extensive business than that of the public at large. 

            The fine dwelling-house which our subject has erected upon his place is one of the handsomest, architecturally speaking, in this section of the county, and is finished throughout with great regard to the comfort and convenience of the inmates. It has beneath it a good basement cellar, which proves an excellent place of storage for the family provisions. Mr. Carlton has about thirty-five acres of land set out in an orchard, upon which are about 1,200 apple trees, 1,000 peach trees, 125 pear and 100 plum, besides apricots, nectarines, cherries, dwarf June or serviceberry trees, besides a large quantity of grape vines and blackberry and raspberry bushes. Surrounding his house, he has, with a great deal of taste, set out a large number of ornamental trees, besides 200 cherry, chestnut and others.

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