Like many of the Allton descendants, David chose to spell his surname Alton.  He married Susannah Harwick in 1831.  She was born February 7, 1812, in Herkimer County, New York, the daughter of John and Dolly C. Harwick.  In Susannah's obituary, the family name was given as Hardwick.

Also from her obituary, the young couple started west in 1833 and wintered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They would have had at least one toddler in tow, Coleman, and Harriet was born shortly before they pushed on to Hancock County, Illinois, in the spring of 1834.  We might guess that David sent a positive report back to New York, as his parents are said to have arrived in 1836.

When counted in the 1840 Federal Census, the Alton household was listed on the same page as Thomas Miller, Martin Hopkins and Jesse Hadley, all known as early residents of the area designated as Fountain Green Township in 1850.  Susannah is credited with having established the first school in the township.  (In Early Fountain Green Schools, author Allen Geddes misidentified her as the daughter of David and Lucy Allton.)

David and Susannah remained in the township for the rest of their lives.  He died March 4, 1871; Susannah survived him by almost 25 years, dying March 14, 1896.  They are both buried at the Alton Cemetery in Fountain Green Township.

Ten children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy.  The children were:

i.	Coleman Alton, born about 1832 in New York.
ii.	Harriet Alton, born in Indiana in 1834.
iii.	John W. Alton, born about 1837.
iv.	Cordelia Alton, born about 1839.
v.	David F. Alton, born November 1, 1843.  He died November 21, 1913, burial at LaHarpe Township Cemetery, LaHarpe, Hancock County.
vi.	Warren Benton Alton, born July 29, 1846.  He died February 4, 1918, at the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois.  He was buried at the cemetery associated with the home.
vii.	Mary Ann Alton, born July 15, 1848.  She died after April 1920, tentatively in 1928, most likely in Little Sioux, Harrison County, Iowa.
viii.	James Orlando Alton, born in 1854.
ix.  x.	Two infants, apparently unnamed.

Household of D F Alton
Males 0 thru 4 - 1
Males 30 thru 39 - 1
Females 0 thru 4 - 1
Females 5 thru 9 - 2
Females 20 thru 29 - 1
Total - 6
Persons employed in agriculture - 1

David F Alton, 42, male, farmer, value of real estate 500, born NY
Susannah, 39, female, born NY
Coleman, 18, male, born NY, attended school within the year
Harriett, 16, female, born IN, attended school within the year
John W, 13, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Cordelia L, 11, female, born IL, attended school within the year
David, 9, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Warren B, 7, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Mary A, 2, female, born IL

David F Alton, 52, male, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 1000,
born NY
Susan, 49, female, born NY
John, 22, male, farmer, born IL
David, 18, male, farmer, born IL
Warren, 15, male, farmer, born IL, attended school within the year
Mary, 14, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Orlando, 5, male, born IL

Alton, David F, 65, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 2000, value of personal estate 500, born NY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
David, 27, male, white, born IL
James, 13, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Warren, 23, male, white, born IL, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Susan, 55, female, white, born NY

Allton, Susana, white, female, 66, widow, keeping house, born NY, parents born [no entry]
David, white, male, 36, son, single, farmer, born IL, both parents born NY