OBITUARY: Captain Richard Carlton/Carelton, 24 Feb 1888 - Smith County, TX Submitted by Vicki Betts 1 January 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, March 22, 1888, p. 7, c. 4 CARLTON.—Captain Richard Carlton died at his residence in Smith county, Texas, Feb. 24, 1888, aged 67 years. He was born in Alabama, and married Miss Annie Ford. soon after his marriage they moved to Texas, and settled in Smith county, fourteen miles south of Tyler, which has been his home until his death. He was a good farmer, and accumulated good property, professed religion and joined the M. Church, South, in 1875 or 1876, since which time he lived a consistent Christian life. His example was good and worthy of imitation. He was liberal with his means for deeds of charity and for the use and benefit of the Church. I became acquainted with brother Carlton in 1880. I found him to be a true friend, and his house a pleasant home for the weary itinerant. He lived near Box House Church, (now Walnut Grove;) his seat at church was seldom vacant. Brother Carlton was an affectionate husband, kind father, a true friend, and was loved and respected by his neighbors. Smith county has lost a good citizen, the church a good and worthy member. He lived right, therefore he died right, possessing his reason up to the last moment; conscious of his approaching death; perfectly resigned to die and be with Jesus. He leaves a Christian wife, who is in feeble health, five daughters and three sons to mourn their loss; but what is their loss in his eternal gain. Cheer up, sister Carlton, he is not dead, but sleepeth. You will meet him again, w here death and parting is not known. May this dispensation of God's providence be sanctified to the good of the broken-hearted children and bring them nearer to God, that parents and children may make an unbroken family in heaven. W. N. Bonner. Tyler, March 8, 1888. --------------------------------------------------- TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, April 5, 1888, p. 7, c. 3 CARELTON—Capt. Richard Carelton was born Sep. 11, 1819, in the State of Georgia. At about the age of ten he moved to Alabama. He was married to Miss Annie Ford, Nov. 1848. He then moved to Smith county, Texas, in 1851, where he lived up to the time of his death, which occurred the Feb. 24, 1888. He professed religion in the summer of 1878, and united at once with the Methodist Episcopal church, South, at Box-house, on Larissa circuit, in which church he remained true and faithful till removed to the church triumphant. He was steward of his church and a faithful one, too. He had just finished, with his faithful brethren, at Box-house a new church near where he lived. this was his last public work for the Lord. His wife and several children survive him. May they all meet him in Heaven is the prayer of one that loved him. C. H. Smith. Tyler, Texas.