Washington

CARLETON, Hiram

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 63-64 
(portrait p 64)

Hiram CARLETON, of Montpelier [Washington County, Vermont], was born 28 
August 1838 in Barre [Washington County, Vermont], son of David and Mary 
(WHEELER) CARLETON. His father, David CARLETON, was twenty-fifth in descent 
from Baldwin de CARLETON, and seventh in descent from Edward CARLETON, who 
emigrated from the mother country [England] in 1639 and settled in Old Rowley 
[Essex County], Massachusetts. Baldwin de CARLETON, of Carleton Hall, 
Cumberland, England, was a remote ancestor. 

He [Hiram CARLETON] received his early education in the common schools of 
Barre, and pursued his preparatory studies for college at the academy of that 
place. He then entered the University of Vermont, graduating in 1860, after 
which he was principal of the Hinesburgh Academy [Hinesburg, Chittenden 
County, Vermont]. He then removed to Keeseville [Essex County], New York, 
where he was employed as instructor in natural science, mathematics and 
Greek, in the Keesville Academy, of which he was afterwards made the 
principal. In 1865 he completed the study of the law with Ephraim E. FRENCH, 
Esq., of Barre, and was admitted to the bar of Washington County court at the 
September term. In 1866 he located in Waitsfield [Washington County, 
Vermont] where he began, and continued for ten years, the practice of his 
profession. He then changed his residence to Montpelier [Washington County, 
Vermont] in order to become a member of the firm of Heath & Carleton, which 
continued until 1883, when he was appointed judge of probate by Governor 
BARSTOW. He has since held this office by successive elections.

In 1869 Judge CARLETON was the representative of the town of Waitsfield in 
the General Assembly, and the following year was re-elected by a unanimous 
vote. In that body he served as chairman of the committee on education, and 
was largely instrumental in the passage of the act permitting the 
establishment of the town system of schools. In 1870 he was the delegate 
from Waitsfield to the state constitutional convention, and was chosen 
state's attorney for Washington County for two years.

On 26 October 1865 in Chesterfield [Essex County], New York, Judge [Hiram] 
CARLETON was married to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Lathrop and Mary (BALL) 
POPE. Of this union are issue: Frederick, and Mary Ball POPE. Judge 
CARLETON has been recently elected president of the Vermont Historical 
Society, and has acted as treasurer of the Vermont Bar Association since 
1883. For fifteen years he has most creditably served as both trustee and 
treasurer of the Washington County grammar school. He is also a member of 
the Masonic fraternity, uniting with Aurora Lodge, No. 112, of Montpelier.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly