Dr. Arthur M. Pelton

Dr. Arthur Montgomery Pelton

Dr. Arthur Montgomery Pelton
February 17, 1844 - September 7, 1931

Dr. Pelton was born 17 Feb 1844 in Ovid Township, Branch County, Michigan the son of John O. Pelton and Lydia Wood Pelton. He was baptized at Christ Episcopal Church in Matagorda on arch 3, 1895. He died September 7, 1931 in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Pelton married first, Eliza J. Avery (daughter of I. Avery of Durham, CT) 22 Apr 1875 in Indianola, Texas. She died in 1894 and was buried at Ashby Cemetery.
Pelton, Eliza J. Avery, wife of Arthur M. Pelton, Born in Durham , Conn. July 31, 1845 , Married April 22, 1875 , Died In Matagorda Co. Tex. Oct. 23, 1894 Loving & beloved in life, remembered & mourned in death.

He then married second, Catherine "Kate" Duffy Clauder (Sep 21, 1848 - Jul 12, 1907). She was first the wife of Jacob Clauder (Mar 31, 1832 - Jul 19, 1894).

Memorial marker Matagorda Cemetery

Ashby Cemetery

His third wife was Mary Jane Wells Pelton. see information below

Medical and Surgical Directory of the United States 1886
p. 884 - Deming's Bridge population 300 A. M. Pelton

1850 Census Branch County, Michigan Township of Coldwater
John O. Pelton, age 36, b MA Mason
Lydia W. Pelton, age 25, b NY
Arthurc age 6, b MI
Ellen, age 3/12, MI

1860 Census Branch County, Michigan, Coldwater Township
John O. Pelton, age 45, b MA, farmer
Lydia W., age 34, b NY - mother
Arthur M., age 16, b MI
Ella L., age 10, g MI
Elisabeth Palmer - housekeeper

1861 - Arthur M. Pelton entered high school in Ann Arbour, Michigan, preparatory to entering the University of Michigan

1862 - Entered the medical department and remained until 1864, when he passed an examination before the "Army Board of Medical Examiners.

April 21, 1864 - Appointed by the Secretary of War to the position of Medical Cadet for the term of one year. Attached to the General Medical Starr, he performed duty in the hospitals in St. Louis, Mo., in Jefferson Barracks, Mo., and in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he acted as assistant surgeon for six months.

1865 - Returned to the University and graduated March 28, 1866

Lived in Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan and Arkansas

April, 1874 settled at Deming's Bridge, Matagorda County

1880 Matagorda Census Agricultural schedule with Wheeler and Partain

1880 Census - Matagorda
Arthur M. Pelton 36 b MI b c 1844
Eliza J. Pelton 34 b CT

1900 Census - Matagorda
Arthur M. Pelton, 56, b Feb 1844, MI, married 4 years
Catherine Pelton, 51, b Sep 1848, Germany

After Catherine died in 1907, Dr. Pelton moved to Los Angeles California where he became a large real estate owner.

Would Probate Big Estate

Arthur M. Pelton filed a petition for the probate of the will of Mrs. Lydia W. Pelton, who died at Kalamazoo, Mich., July 11, 1908, leaving an estate consisting of Los Angeles county real estate valued at $90.00? and $1,859.30 cash. The petitioner is named as the sole heir. Los Angeles Herald, July 15, 1908

Contract for Hotel

D. W. Aaron, 623 South Spring street, has the contract for the construction of a three-story store and hotel building at 637-639 South Olive street for Dr. A. M. Pelton. The first floor will be divided into three store rooms and the upper floors into seventy-two rooms. The building will be 60 x 150 feet and have front of gray pressed brick. Los Angeles Herald, September 19, 1909

Permit for Hotel

Among recent building permits was one for an eighty-room hotel to be built at 637-9 South Olive Street. The owner of the lot is Arthur M. Pelton, and the permit called for expenditure of $40,943, and work is to start at once. Anther permit was to the Los Angeles Soap company for additions to its factory on Banning street at cost of $7600. Los Angeles Herald, October 10, 1909

1910 Census - Los Angeles, CA
Arthur M. Pelton, age 66, b MI
Martha M. Wells, age 40, b TN, niece, C. S. Practitioner

Plans Apartment House

Dr. A. M. Pelton has decided to erect a two-story apartment house of forty rooms on the east side of Golden avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets. The improvement will cost about $15,000. Los Angeles Herald, June 12, 1910

Married third to Martha Jane Wells Pelton (Dec. 4, 1869 - July 25, 1951) on November 16, 1910 in Los Angeles. Martha was the daughter of Baraman W. Wells and Mary E. Catchings Wells. They had a daughter, Allene A. Pelton b c 1912.

1920 Census - Los Angeles, CA
Arthur M. Pelton, age 75, b MI
Martha J. Pelton, age 50, b TN, Practitioner, Christian Science
Allene A. Pelton, age 7, b CA
Albert W. Wells, age 30, b TX, brother-in-law
Sigrid Olson, age 33, b Sweden, maid

1930 Census - Los Angeles, CA
Arthur M. Pelton, age 86, b MI
Martha J. Pelton, age 59, b TN
Allene A. Pelton, age 18, b CA
Lillian McCullough, age 26, b North Carolina

G. A. R. to Assist at Rites Today for Dr. Pelton

Christian Science funeral services for Dr. Arthur Montgomery Pelton, for thrity-five years a resident of Los Angeles, will be conducted at Strother's funeral parlors, 6240 Hollywood Boulevard, at 10 a.m. today. Interment will be in charge of Stanton Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was a member.
Dr. Pelton died Monday at his home, South Windsor Boulevard. He was born in Ovid, Mich., February 17, 1843 and graduated in medicine from University of Michigan. After serving as a medical cadet in the Civil War, he practiced for many years in Texas, retiring in 1896 and coming to Los Angeles to make his home. He leaves his widow and one daughter. Los Angeles Times, September 10, 1931 Courtesy of Suzy Manderson

Buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. Find A Grave page Matagorda Cemetery Find A Grave page

1940 Census, Los Angeles, CA, South Windsor Boulevard, Block 27
Martha W. Pelton, age 69, b TN, widowed
Albert W. Wells, age 49, b TX, son [brother]
Mame Descamps, age 57, b Belgium, housekeeper

Martha Wells Pelton died July 25, 1951 in Los Angeles and buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles Find A Grave page

Dr. A. M. Pelton spent a few hours with us one day this week.
Ashby Anglings, Bay City Breeze, Dec 19, 1895

Dr. Pelton's office has been completed by contractors Baker & Huffaker and painting and papering has begun.
Matagorda Melange, Bay City Breeze, January 30, 1896

Member of the Matagorda and Wharton Counties Cattlemen's Protective Association
Matagorda County Tribune, Sept 9, 1899

Dr. A. M. Pelton shipped four cars of calves to St. Louis and two cars of cows to Houston.
Matagorda Items Matagorda County Tribune, October 16, 1903

C. W. Burkhart, Stewart Bros ., Sargent & Sargent and Dr. A. M. Pelton are out doing their fall branding this week.
Matagorda Items Matagorda County Tribune, October 30, 1903

E. R. Derby, was a city jeweler in the northwest, and longing for farm life, came to Texas and selected and bought the old Pelton place on Peyton creek three years ago. Among the Farmers, The Matagorda News and Midcoast Farmer, August 22, 1913

Copyright 2014 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs All rights reserved
Created Jan. 9, 2014	Updated Feb. 26, 2014

HOME