Newton, Charles Marshall
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MILITARY SERVICE Age: 17, credited to Newfane, VT Unit(s): 11th VT INF Service: enl 7/6/1863, m/i 7/11/63, PVT, Co. L, 11th VT INF, pr CPL 6/3/65, tr to Co. C, 6/24/65, pr SGT 8/1/65, m/o 8/25/65 See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: 10/31/1846, Newfane, VT Death: 02/11/1911 Burial: Indian Hill Cemetery, Middletown, CT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone photographer: Mark Findagrave Memorial #: 19489994 Cenotaph: Village Cemetery, Newfane, VT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone researcher/photographer: James Bianco Findagrave Memorial #: 147999192 MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, 6/28/1880; widow Mary C., 2/16/1911, FL Portrait?: Findagrave College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: Charles was initially buried in Orlando, Florida, where he died. His widow Mary died in July 1912, and both their bodies were brought to Middletown, where Mary was born, and reinterred on 25 July 1912, thus the date on his gravestone. Webmaster's Note: The 11th Vermont Infantry was also known as the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery; the names were used interchangably for most of its career DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice  Indian Hill Cemetery, Middletown, CT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. CENOTAPH:   Cenotaph in Village Cemetery, Newfane, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may have cenotaphs there. |
Biography
Newton, Charles Marshall, of Middletown, Conn., son of Marshall and Nancy (Tufts) Newton, was born Oct. 31, 1846, at Newfane.
Mr. Newton's father, grandfather, and his uncle, Rev. E. H. Newton, DD, are prominently mentioned in the history of Newfane. The Rev. James Tufts, his grandfather, for forty years the pastor of the Congregational church at Wardsboro, was "a strong man of wise influence" says the History of Wardsboro. The patriotism of the family is shown by the service of Marshall Newton, Sr., his great-grandfather, an officer in the French and Indian war; the seven years service of his grandfather, Marshall Newton, Jr., in the war of the Revolution; the service of his brothers, John-four years in the 18th U. S. Inft., and James Holland-two enlistments, at eighteen and twenty, in the 9th and 17th Vt. Vols., who was killed while leading his company in the last grand charge at Spotsylvania, May 12, 1864.
The subject of this sketch attended the district and select schools until the age of sixteen, when (July 1, 1863) he enlisted in Co. L, 1st Vt. Heavy Artillery. Mr. Newton's company was ordered to Rutland to enforce the draft, thence to Ft. Slocum, Md., and in the spring of 1864 his regiment was assigned to the 1st Vt. Brigade, Sixth Corps, Army of the Potomac, in whose battles and hardships he participated to the close of the war. He was mustered out as sergeant August 23, 1865.
June 23, 1864, while before Petersburg, Sergeant Newton, though disabled and on hospital roll, insisted on going into action with his company. During the action Major Fleming, noticing his condition, ordered him to the rear with his horse, to which circumstance he owes his escape from capture and imprisonment in Andersonville, being the only man of his company who went into the action who was not taken prisoner. In August following, being disabled, he narrowly escaped capture by Mosby's men in the Shenandoah Valley. He was picked up by an ambulance and conveyed to Harewood Hospital, Washington, and on the 1st of January following, with his would unhealed, he voluntarily joined his company before Petersburg, to share its hardships and participate in the closing scenes and final victory at Appomattox. These incidents are referred to and highly commended by his commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel D. J. Safford, in his endorsement of Mr. Newton's army record, filed at Washington, but now in Mr. Newton's possession. A pension, to date from his discharge, was issued to Mr. Newton April 24, 1885.
Since 1872 Mr. Newton has conducted a clothing business in Middletown, Conn., and enjoys the confidence of his townsmen as shown by his service for several terms in the court of common council. In 1890 he received a strong endorsement for postmaster, but accepted the appointment of United States postal card agent, which office he held from Feb. 10, 1890, to June 15, 1893.
In 1870 and 1871 he was appointed assistant inspector G.A.R., Department of Massachusetts. He was a charter member of Dexter Post, No. 38, Brookfield, Mass., and is now a charter member of Mansfield Post, No. 53, Middletown, Conn. He is also a member of the Society of the Army of the Potomac, the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut, Vermont Officers' Society, and First Vermont Heavy Artillery. Mr. Newton is a prominent member of the Republican Club and is also a member of McDonough Lodge Knights of Honor.
He was married, March 26, 1874, to Mary C., daughter of Timothy and Julia (Stratton) Boardman, and has one son, James Holland Newton.
Source: Jacob G. Ullery, compiler, Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont, (Transcript Publishing Company, Brattleboro, VT, 1894), Part III, pp. 112.
Obituary
Newfane.
Death of Charles M. NewtonCharles Marshall Newton, who passed away at his home in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 10, after a painful illness of two weeks, the end of frequent chronic attacks for several years, was the third son of Marshall and Nancy (Tufts) Newton, and was born in Newfane Oct. 31, 1846. When he was 16 years old the blood of patriotic ancestors on both sides, in the Colonial and Revolutionary wars stirred in his veins, and no restraint could keep him from enlisting in Company L, 11th Vermont regiment, 15 months before the required age of 18. He was transferred to Company C, and his regiment became known as the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery. He was made 4th Sergeant in July,'65, when his company was retained in the service after the war had closed, and was mustered out Aug. 25, 1865. He was an ardent member of the G.A.R., a member of the Army and Navy Club and Potomac War club. Any form of organized perpetuity for army experience and future growth of patriotism appealed very strongly to his interest and affection.
For 26 years Mr. Newton conducted a clothing business in Middletown, Conn., where he married Miss Mary C. Boardman, who survives him. Their son, James Holland Newton, is manager of a clothing store in Winstead, Conn. There are two sisters, the Misses Fanny and Mary Newton, in Newfane, and a brother, William H. Newton, of the First National bank in Wallingford, Conn. The oldest brother, John Newton, who was a blind veteran of the 18th United States infantry, died in Washington in September 1909. Another brother, James Holland Newton, of Company F, 17th Vermont regiment and previously of Company K, 9th Vermont, was killed in the battle of the Wilderness. There are two grandsons of Charles: James Holland, Jr., and Marshal Newton, sons of J. H. Newton. In Harrison's administration, Mr. Newton entered into a spirited contest for the postmastership in Middletown but was defeated. He was, however, soon given by the government the position of supervising the postal card agency, which was located in Birmingham, Conn., and held the office until Cleveland's second term.
On account of chronic ill turns Mr. Newton located in Orlando in 1898 and entered with zeal and enthusiasm upon the culture of pineapples, oranges, and grapefruit. He was not able to continue his larger plans, but gradually increased supplies for New York and Connecticut customers. He closely studied methods, and developed, it was said, some of the best flavored fruits in the markets.
The funeral was in the Episcopal church in Orlando in which city he was buried, being borne to his grave by comrades. A vested choir of women preceded the procession down the aisle and sang then and through the service beautiful hymns. Flowers were placed on the casket at the door by friends and members of the Relief corps. Mr. Newton was a member of the North Congregational church in the city of Middletown, Conn., for 25 years.
Source: The Brattleboro Reformer, 24 Feb 1911.
Courtesy of Tom Boudreau.