Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Caleb Barton

198^th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer, 1864 Philadelphia, PA
Mustered In: 9/4/64 Philadelphia, PA
Mustered Out: 6/3 - 4/65 Arlington Heights, VA

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: 
 

The 198^th was a one year eastern theater infantry organization. It was recruited in Philadelphia, PA and, because it received its stand of colors from that city's Union League it was known as the "Union League" regiment. The unit left the state on 9/19/64 and joined the Army Of The Potomac in front of Petersburg, VA. The following month a four company battalion was added to the 198^th's roster.
 

First action for the 198^th came on 9/30/64 at Peebles' Farm. Regimental loss from this baptism of fire was one killed and one wounded. Shortly thereafter the unit went into winter quarters, but concluded the combat year during December's Weldon Railroad expedition.
 

February, 1865 saw the regiment meet the enemy at Dabney's Mills. Then came the final campaign. The 198^th was hotly engaged at Quaker Road (3/29) and Dabney's Run (2/5-7). At the latter place it made a gallant bayonet charge which routed the enemy, but at a cost of 311 killed, wounded and missing.
 

On 3/31/65 at White Oak Swamp the 198^th lost another six killed and forty six wounded. This was followed on 4/1 by a brilliant charge at Five Forks. The Rebel lines were broken. Then ensued a period of incessant and tiresome marches until Confed. Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia 4/9/65 at Appomattox Court House, VA.
 

Final muster for the 198^th was on 6/3 - 4/65. The event took place at Arlington Heights, VA.
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 6; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 67 *; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 44.
 

* Although in the field for less than one year, combat losses for the 198^th were relatively high. It was one of the few Union regiments that lost more officers and enlisted men to fighting rather than disease, etc.

SOLDIER:
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: 14.8 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/25/64   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: Inf. Not Avail.
Mistered Out: Inf. Not Avail.
Discharged: 6/3/65 Arlington Heights, VA
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
 

NOTE: The birth - to - death biographical profile of Caleb Barton was created in March, 2021 during the Covid-19 medical pandemic. It contains less depth of detail than many other biographies within this website because military service, pension and other veteran-related files housed in Washington, D.C.'s National Archives were not available. At a later time those documents may be obtained and the data contained therein added to the narrative which follows.
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Caleb Akers Barton was born on 1/11/50. The location of his birth was Somerset County, PA.
 

Parents of Caleb were Perry Barton (b. 1/17/19 Providence Township Bradford County, PA - d. 1888 Warrensburg Johnson County, MO) and Anna (nee Akers b. 8/4/23 PA - d. 9/14/99 Warrensburg Johnson County, MO) Barton. The Bartons were a farm family.
 

As best as can be determined r from available U.S. Census data, Caleb was the third of eight Barton children. Older than he were: James A. Barton (b. 1847 PA) and William Jefferson Barton (b. 5/13/48 PA). Younger than he were: Edward L. Barton (b. 1855 PA), Anna "Annie" E. Barton (b. 1857 PA), Eldrige D. Barton (b. 1859 PA), Frank Jordan Barton (b. 4/5/63 PA) and John G. Barton (b. 1866 PA).
 

Looking at the above listing it should be noted that all of the Barton children were born in the state of Pennsylvania. The location within the state was likely Brush Creek in Fulton County. That was where the Barton family was censured in both 1850 and 1860.
 

During the third year of American Civil War Caleb enlisted in the U.S. Army. His regiment was the 198^th Pennsylvania Infantry.  Perry Barton must have assented to the enlistment because, astonishingly, Caleb was not yet fifteen years old. Receipt of Private Barton's military service records should clarify the matter. Further, without service records, all we can really say about Caleb's period of enlistment is that, despite his regiment's heavy combat record, he survived The War and returned to life as a civilian teenager.
 

Where "home" may have been for Caleb after returning to civil society is not known. He was not with his parents in Missouri during the 1870 census tally.
 

Post American Civil War we first hear from Caleb on March 6, 1879. That was the date on which, in Mercer County, OH he married.
 

Caleb's bride was Pocahontas M. Wyckoff. Pocahontas had been born during December, 1855 in Celina Mercer County, OH. How Pocahontas and Caleb came to meet is not documented. The marriage would be the first and last for both.
 

During their years together Caleb and Pocahontas produced six children. Of the six, five are identified and were living in 1900. Those five were: Ella W. Barton (b. 1881 MO), Frank Alexander Barton (b. Jul., 1883 WT), Dora A. Barton (b. Jan., 1888 WT), Anna "Annie" M. Barton (b. Feb., 1894 WA) and Clara R. Barton (b. Dec., 1898 WA).
 

As denoted by the birth locations of the Barton children, not long after their marriage Caleb and Pocahontas moved to Missouri. When they arrived there and where they settled we do not know. Then, between the birth of Ella (1881) and Frank (1883) Caleb removed his family from Missouri and resettled in Washington Territory. What had drawn them to the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest is an unknown.
 

Apparently the Bartons initially set up house in Seattle King County, WA. That was where they were living in July, 1883 when Frank was born.
 

In March, 1885 the family remained in King county, but by that time had moved to Vashon Island located just west of Seattle in Puget Sound. That was where Caleb and Pocahontas would complete their family and live out their lives.
 

It is difficult to say whether the Bartons lived and farmed in more than one location on Vashon. In March, 1885 and in 1889 they were tilling the soil in "Vashon", but by 1900 the location of their farm was specified to be an area of the island known as Chautauqua.
 

On 7/26/92 in Washington State Caleb applied for a U.S. Government disability pension based on his period of Civil War service. Although we know the pension request was granted, without access to his pension files the details of his monthly stipend are unknown.
 

Pocahontas Wyckoff Barton died on Vashon Island on 8/9/09. Details of her passing are not available. She was fifty three years of age. She was/is buried in the Vashon Cemetery.
 

At the time of the 1910 U.S. Census widower Caleb had retired from farming and was employed as a letter carrier on the Island. Under his roof were children Frank, Annie and Clara. A decade later, he was living alone and recorded no occupation.
 

The census of 1930 found Caleb residing in the Lisabeula ** Vashon home of married daughter Anna, her husband and young son. Although not documented, it was likely there that he died on 1/26/36. Cause of death was listed as chronic myocarditis and arteriosclerosis.
 

At passing former Civil War infantryman, Caleb Barton was 86 years and 15 days of age.  The old soldier was/is buried in the Vashon Cemetery with Pocahontas.
 

Not long after his father’s passing son Frank applied for U.S. Government military headstone to mark his father's grave. The application was made on 1/6/36. The request was granted on 3/18 and the stone shipped to Seattle/Vashon on 4/15. To this day it stands over Caleb's final resting place.
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*The Lisabeula region of Vashon is located on the western side of the island.

Buried at Vashon Island Cemetery