After their marriage, Elliott Alton and his wife settled on a farm near La Harpe and lived there until 1856, when they moved to Fountain Green Township buying land that was partly improved with a log house on it, in which they lived for ten years.  Later they bought another farm in the same township, and there Elliott Alton, died, August 25, 1909, his widow following him in October of that same year.  Their children were as follows: Charles L.; Viola, who was Mrs. John Champlin, is deceased; Eliza, who was Mrs. Adrian Vincent, is deceased; Katherine, who was Mrs. Clarence Strong, is deceased; and Marcus, who lives in Fountain Green Township.

Charles L. Alton attended the common schools of Fountain Green Township.  He was married on September 28, 1879 to Margaret Drothy [sic], born at Wedge, McDonough County, Ill., a daughter of Nathan and Jane (Wright) Dorothy, natives of Kentucky.  After his marriage Mr. Alton rented land in Fountain Green Township for five years, then bought fifty-three acres of improved land on section 27, of the same township, to which he later added until he now has 160 acres in his home farm, and forty acres in another farm in this township.  All of his land is improved, and he carried on general farming until 1915, when he retired and rented his land.  Mr. and Mrs. Alton have one daughter, Mabel, who is Mrs. Orville White, of Hancock Township.  She has two children, Frances and Lucile.  In politics Mr. Alton is a Republican, belongs to Fountain Green Camp, M. W. A.  A man of probity, he stands well in his neighborhood, where he is very well known.

From the 1921 Scofield History of Hancock County, page 1122.

See also: Mary Viola Alton Champlin (Charles' sister)

The many friends of Mrs. Leonard Alton were sadly shocked on the morning of March 2nd, when the message spread abroad that she had passed away during the night.  Having been in her usual good health and strength, she suddenly aroused with an expressed feeling of discomfort, and before aid could be applied the death angel folded its arms about and she was carried to the land of rest and gladness.

Margaret Elizabeth Dorothy, the child of Nathan and Mary Dorothy, was born Sept. 21, 1855, near Blandinsville, where this worthy couple reared their family of four sons and four daughters, of whom survive: Mrs. Story White, of Rosalia, Kan.; Perry Dorothy, of Aledo; Wright, of Blandinsville, and Silas, of Macomb.

This daughter was united in marriage to Leonard Alton, Sept. 28, 1879.  For more than five and forty years this devoted couple have journeyed happily together.  The heaviest shadows falling when two sons, in infancy, were given up and when later a lovely little girl, Inez, was suddenly summoned to the heavenly home.  Remaining to sorrow with the grief-stricken husband and father, is their one surviving daughter, Mabel, wife of Orville White.  These good people, with the two grandchildren, Frances and Lucile, compose the little group around which this dear woman's energies and interests most strongly centered.  Surely they will ever carry with them a beautiful memory of this unselfish mother who made their welfare her own and who was never happier than when ministering to their comfort.

Mrs. Alton was converted in young womanhood and united with the Christian church.  There being no services of her own denomination within easy access, she has long and faithfully worshipped with the Presbyterian people of Fountain Green, who were glad to welcome and claim her as their own, and who now greatly regret the loss of this loyal devoted friend.

Her lovable traits of character endeared her to those with whom she met and mingled.  She impressed then with her uniform kindliness, her ever ready helpfulness, her gentle courtesy and her evident sincerity of purpose to be and to do the right and the good.  Last October Mr. and Mrs. Alton left the homestead two miles north and east of Fountain Green, which had sheltered them since their early married life, and removed to the lately purchased property in town, hoping thus to lighten their labor, and also to make a convenient home during the high school year for the two granddaughters, whose comfort and advancement they were glad to promote, and who, in turn, brought much good cheer and gladness into their declining days.

In their pleasant plans this deplorable break now comes, bringing deep disappoinment and sadness to this closely united family.  And while the blow falls with greater force because of its unexpectedness, yet their memory is unmarred by any picture of suffering or distress, for painlessly and peacefully their dear one passed to the "tearless land," where she waits to welcome those she loved and cherished here. M. W. B.

See also: Nathan W. Dorothy and Mary Jane Wright

The Alton children were probably all born in Fountain Green Township and the three who died young likely also died there:

i.       ii.   iii.   iv. Mabel Alton was born in 1882, probably in Fountain Green Township.  She was the only Alton sibling who survived to adulthood. She died in 1955, burial at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Colchester, McDonough County, Illinois.  In the 1900 Federal Census she was named as Mabel S. Alton.  Photograph at right, about 1900.   Lewis L. Alton, born March 14, 1887*, died January 21, 1888, interment at the Alton Cemetery in Fountain Green Township.   Ernest W. Alton, born November 7, 1888*, died February 21, 1889, buried at the Alton Cemetery in Fountain Green Township.   Inez M. Alton, born June 2*, 1891, died August 25, 1902, buried at Fountain Green Cemetery.       Mabel Alton

* Birth date calculated from tombstone inscription.

Nathan Dorthy, 30, male, farmer, value of real estate 2000, value of personal estate 800, born IL
Mary, 28, female, born KY
Nancy, 10, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Archibald, 9, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Alice, 6, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Margaret, 5, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Buraby, 3, male, born IL [Meriba, female]
Silas, 1, male, born IL
Mary J Withow [sic], 19, female, teacher com schools, born PA [probably Mary Jane Witherow]

Alton, Elliott C, 47, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 3500, value of personal estate 1000, born NY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Elisabeth, 37, female, white, keeping house, born PA
Leonard, 19, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Mary V, 17, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Jane E, 13, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Katie, 10, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Marcus, 7, male, white, born IL
Lucy, 83, female, white, born VT

Dorothy, Nathan, 40, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 1000, born IL, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 years or more
Mary, 38, female, white, keeping house, born KY
Archy, 18, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Elsa, 17, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Maggie, 14, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Marilly, 13, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Silas, 10, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Perry, 8, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Wright, 1, male, white, born IL

Allton, C L, white, male, 29, married, farmer, born IL, father born NY, mother born PA
Margoret [sic], white, female, 24, wife, married, keeping house, born IL, father born IL, mother born KY

Alton, Lenard C, head, white, male, Jan 1851, 49, married for 20 years, born IL, father born NY, mother born PA, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 132

Margrett E, wife, white, female, Sept 1854, 45, married for 20 years; mother of 4 children, 2 living; born IL, both parents born TN, could read, write and speak English

Mabel S, daughter, white, female, Nov 1882, 17, single, born IL, both parents born IL, at school for 8 months, could read, write and speak English

[name overwritten, should be Inez M, looks more like Eumis M], daughter, white, female, Mar 1891, 9, single, born IL, both parents born IL, at school for 8 months, could read, write and speak English

Alton, Charles L, head, male, white, 59, married (1st) for 30 years, born IL, father born NY, mother born PA, spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, could read and write, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 101

Margaret, wife, female, white, 54, married (1st) for 30 years; mother of 4 children, 1 living; born IL, father born IL, mother born TN, spoke English, could read and write

[All of the following persons were listed in the same dwelling, but with a different farm schedule number.  Two possibilities: (1) they all did live under the same roof, (2) the Andy G. Smith family and the two hired men should have been listed in a separate residence.]

Smith, Andy G, head, male, white, 49, married (1st) for 22 years; [father] of 8 children, all living; born IL; both parents born Germany, native tongue German; spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, could read and write, farm schedule 102

Phebe, wife, female, white, 43, married (1st) for 22 years, born IL, father born VT; mother born Canada, native tongue French; spoke English, could read and write

Marion H, son, male, white, 21, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, farmer, general farm, employee, could read and write

Beulah, daughter, female, white, 18, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1909

Roy B, son, male, white, 16, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, laborer, home farm, employee, could read and write, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Lyde E, son, male, white, 13, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Turner F, son, male, white, 10, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Mary E, daughter, female, white, 7, single, born IL, both parents born IL, could read and write, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

George G, son, male, white, 6, single, born IL, both parents born IL, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Luela, daughter, female, white, 3 single, born IL, both parents born IL, could read and write, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

John J, brother, male, white, 51, single, born IL; both parents born Germany, native tongue German; spoke English, own income, could read and write

Elizabeth, mother, female, white, 71, widow; mother of 10 children, 5 living; born Germany, native tongue German, both parents born Germany, native tongue German; year of immigration to the U.S. - 1855, spoke English, own income, could read and write

Worley, Charles, hired hand, male, white, 32, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, laborer, farm, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 11, could read and write

Yetter, Walter, hired hand, male, white, 20, married (1st) for 1 year, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, laborer, farm, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 16, could read and write

Alton, Lenard, head, owner, free of mortgage, male, white, 69, married, could read and write, born IL, father born NY, mother born PA, spoke English, farmer, general farm, working on own account, farm schedule 91

Margaret, wife, female, white, 64, married, could read and write, born IL, father born IL, mother born TN, spoke English

Alton, Charles L, head, owner, home value 1800, did not own a radio, did not live on a farm, male, white, 79, widower, age at first marriage - 29, could read and write, born IL, father born NY, mother born PA, spoke English