Bio: Darton, Albert
Contact: Stan

----Source: Clark Co., WI History Buff Researchers, Ken Wood, Ethan Scearce, His Brother's Veteran Grave Registration (Albert supplied the details concerning his brother, William's burial and Civil War Service).

Surnames: Darton, Dobbee, Goodell, Gray, Hales, Kauffman, Nelson, Oestreich, Pengelly, Prior, Rous, Vanderhoof, Vick, Voight, Volk, Warner

History of Albert Darton

Loyal Civil War Veteran Is Last G. A. R. Survivor

Loyal—So far as can be learned here, there is but one remaining member of the Grand Army of the Republic posts of Loyal and Spencer. He is Albert Darton, of Loyal, who was 93 years old last December.

For many years Mr. Darton was one of the 40 or more members of Col. C. R. McGill post, No. 236, of the Grand Army of the Republic.  As time passed, death depleted the ranks of the post to such an extent that the few remaining members decided to disband.

Mr. Darton, however, was reluctant to give up his associations with other "boys In blue," so he joined the G. A. R. post at Spencer, and served for a time as Its commander.

Since the death of Wesley Vanderhoof, Spencer Civil war veteran, Mr. Darton has been the only member of the once flourishing Spencer post.

Although few veterans of the Civil war remain In Clark county, and all of his G. A. R. comrades are gone, Mr. Darton still wears the little bronze button of membership in the great Civil war veterans’ organization which was as strong in its day as the World war veterans’ organizations of today.

Greenwood Gleaner--1937

Thomas Goodell of Spokeville, Albert Darton of Loyal and Sylvester Warner of Thorp, all past 90 years of age and the last surviving veterans of the Civil War living in Clark County, have received invitations to attend the Grand Army Encampment, which will be held at Gettysburg Pa. June 29 to June 6.

All expenses of the trip will be paid by the federal government, including a male attendant for each veteran. Warner will journey with members from the Eau Claire post of which he is a member. Goodell and Darton feel the trip will be too long so will not go.

Clark Co. Press, "Good Old Days", June 3, 1998, Page 32.

Military Record

(Click on the document above to enlarge it).

Albert served 24 Nov1862-8 Sep1863 as a Private for the 45^th Wisconsin Infantry. 

[I know on the VGR Albert is listed as a brother, but if you go to the 1860 census, the cemetery records, it is pretty apparent that William Darton was Albert’s FATHER.- .]

Obituary of Albert Darton

Transcribed by Ethan Scearce

7 January 1943 Loyal Tribune front page Albert Darton

Albert Ellsworth Darton, 98, one of Wisconsin's few remaining Civil war veterans and the last one in this area, died at his home in this village Wednesday forenoon, December 30, 1942. He had enjoyed splendid health for one of his age until last October. Since then he was confined to his bed much of the time.

Mr. Darton, one of a family of 10 children, was born in Toronto, Canada (Ontario - ems note) on December 5, 1844 and came to this country with his parents at the age of 4 years. They settled at Hartford, in Washington county.

After his marriage to Ann Eliza Ward on May 6, 1866 at Sheboygan, he lived for a few years in Sheboygan county and then moved to a farm in Clark county. They lived on this farm until they moved to the village of Loyal 24 years ago last August (1919 - ems note). The rest of their lives were spent here.

While living on their farm, both Mr. and Mrs. Darton became members of the little country church in Beaver township and after coming to this village, they helped support the Methodist church here.

Mrs. Darton preceded her husband in death on May 21, 1928.

Mr. Darton is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Frank (Nettie) Catlin, town of Unity; by a sister, Mrs. Alice Ashley, of Columbus, Ohio; and a brother, Arthur Darton, Loyal. Another daughter, Mrs. Rhoda Brasure of Rockford, Illinois died several years ago.

A grandson, Allie Drake, made his home with his grandparents for many years, and Mr. and Mrs. Drake and children have given kind care and consideration to Mr. Darton in his old age.

When a boy of 17 years, Mr. Darton tried to join the Union army, but his father prevented this, and after his father was taken into the army, he being the oldest son, had to remain home to care for the family. Upon the return home of his father, Mr. Darton enlisted in Company D, 45th Wisconsin Volunteers, at Fond du Lac. His regiment was camped most of the time in the Cumberland mountains, and his time was spent on picket duty, train duty, or patrol duty.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, at the home at 1:30 and in the Methodist church at 2 o'clock.

Bearing the beautiful floral offerings, Mrs. Clem Rous, Mrs. Frank Oestreich, Mrs. V. O. Kauffman, Mrs. Perry Volk, Mrs. G. W. Nelson, and Mrs. William Trindal were the first of the funeral procession to enter the church. Following the minister, the Rev. M. E. Taylor, who was to officiate at the church services, were the pallbearers, Ray Prior, Ed Vick, Hal Voight, Roy Hales, Roy Pengelly, and Walter Gray, fellow members of the deceased in the Masonic Lodge. Members of the local Masonic organization attended in a body.

Behind the flag-draped casket and the mourners were the members of the American Legion, with Philip Capelle, color bearer of the American Legion flag; Edd Dobbe, bearer of the American Legion emblem banner, and Percy Voight, Leo Meyer, Jesse Raab, and Henry Boe, serving as color guard.

Accompanying them was Edward Bertz Jr, president of the Senior class of the Loyal high school, who carried the old flag of the former GAR post, of which Mr. Darton was a member.

Several years ago, the then few remaining members of the Grand Army of the Republic, in a fitting ceremony, gave their flag into the custody of each succeeding senior class.

The hymns were sung by Mrs. Ray Prior, Mrs. Calvin Prior, R. B. Colby, and J. R. Colby, with Mrs. Arnold Wicklund as accompanist.

In spite of the severity of the storm, a large procession accompanied the body to the Greenwood cemetery for the burial services. Masonic rites wee held at the grave. The burial ritual was delivered by Past Master Clem Rous. Mr. Darton had been a charter member of the society.

The county organization of the American Legion was represented by County Commander Harry Roehrborn, County Service Officer John M. Peterson, and a member of the American Legion post of Neillsville.

And with a last salute by the Legion firing squad and the sounding of taps by Charles Theisen, our last Civil war veteran was laid to rest, now numbered with our "Grand Army of the Dead."

1880 Federal Census, Unity, Marathon Co., Wisconsin: Albert E. Darton, 35 yrs., a farmer born in Canada.  Eliza Darton (wf), a 32 year old female born in Ohio, keeping house, Nelly F. Darton, a single female, aged 11 yrs., born in WI and attending school. Roda G. Darton, a single 5yr. old female born in WI.