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LEROY THOMAS CARLETON was born on a farm in Phillips, Franklin County, Me., February
8, 1847. His parents were Thomas and Hannah (Parker) Carleton. His father was of English descent and his mother
of French Huguenot extraction. They had twelve children, six boys and six girls. Inured to hard work on the farm
from his earliest recollection, he developed fine physical powers. His opportunities for an early education were
exceedingly limited, the school-house being a mile away; and eight or nine weeks of school in winter was all the
opportunity he had of attending school until his army services terminated.
In September, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Ninth Maine Regiment of Volunteers, and went to the
front with his company. At Hilton Head, South Carolina, he suffered a long and dangerous sickness from measles,
followed by typhoid pneumonia, and his life was despaired of for many days by the surgeons in charge.
Rallying sufficiently, he was sent to his Northern borne, where he regained his health in a considerable degree,
and then he re-enlisted in Company E, Thirty-second Maine Regiment; was made a Corporal, and promoted to Sergeant.
He participated in every battle and skirmish his regiment was engaged in, viz., Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold
Harbor, North Anna River, Front of Petersburg, Hatcher’s Run, Burnside Mine, Popular Grove Church. Before leaving
Augusta with the Thirtysecond, he had a severe attack of scarlet fever, which left him nearly deaf in his right
ear, and at the battle of Burnside Mine was wounded in four different places by the explosion of a shell behind
him and in close proximity to him. When his regiment was consolidated with the Thirty-first Maine, he was granted
a discharge as a non-commissioned officer, in preference to others, on account of his disabilities and services.
Returning home, he undertook to labor on a farm again, but his impaired health would not permit, and thereupon
he commenced to go to school. Having no assistance, it was up-hill work, but by teaching and running in debt he
was enabled to take a course at Phillips High School, and Maine Wesleyan Seminary, at Kent’s Hill, Me. He later
studied law, and was admitted to practice in August, 1873, settling in Winthrop, Kennebec County, Me., where he
has ever since resided. He has been eminently successful in his chosen profession; has been four times in succession
elected County Attorney of Kennebec County and is still serving in that capacity.
He married Nellie M., daughter of Hon. George A. Longfellow, of Winthrop. They had one son, George L., an exceptionally
promising boy, who died of typhoid fever when seventeen years of age.
Mr. Carleton has always been a Republican of a pronounced type. His services as a speaker are always in demand,
and he has been prominently mentioned as a candidate of his party for Congress in the Third l)istrict.
Liberal in his religious convictions, he is a constant attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a liberal
contributor to religious, benevolent, and charitable objects. He enjoys the confidence and respect, to a marked
degree, of all who come in contact with him.
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