Washington

KELTON, Truman Chittenden

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 231 
(portrait p 231)

Truman Chittenden KELTON, of East Montpelier [Washington County, Vermont], 
was born 11 May 1817 in the town of Montpelier [Washington County, Vermont], 
son of Naum and Fanny (VINCENT) KELTON. The father was an early pioneer, 
born in 1778 in Warwick [Franklin County], Massachusetts, coming to 
Montpelier in 1798. He [Naum KELTON] was an excellent farmer, a successful 
teacher, and five times a representative of the original town of Montpelier. 
The son [Truman] received his education in the common schools and learned the 
trade of a mason, which he followed for more than thirteen years. He is, 
however, better known as a farmer and business man. He has successfully 
cultivated an estate of more than two hundred acres, the basis of which has 
been owned and occupied by the KELTON family for nearly a century. He is 
esteemed a man of excellent judgment and thoroughly conscientious in every 
work he undertakes. Such a man would naturally and properly be sought for 
public office, accordingly we find him acceptably filling the positions of 
town treasurer for fourteen years, town clerk thirty-one years, and justice 
of the peace twenty-five years; while in 1863 and 1864 he was called upon to 
represent East Montpelier in the Legislature. In recent years he has acted 
as a local counsel in business affairs, has executed nearly all deeds 
required in his neighborhood, performed all the offices of a conveyancer and 
settled more than twenty-five estates, some of them involving extensive 
interests. In 1846 he [Truman Chittenden KELTON] married Emeline E., 
daughter of Joel and Ruba (METCALF) BASSETT. Their marriage has been blessed 
with six children, five of whom survive: George, Herbert, Henry, Fanny (Mrs. 
A. D. COBURN), Walter (deceased), and Edwin, all residing in this vicinity.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly