JOHN P. CHARLTON, junior member of the firm of Hart & Charlton, proprietors and publishers of the Washington Democrat, was born January 5, 1842, in South Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn. His father, John Charlton, was reared to manhood in the Keystone State, and was here married to Maria, daughter of Peter Grounds, a native of Germany, who emigrated to America and made his home in the New World in North Strabane township, where he was a farmer and blacksmith up to the day of his death. He was a Whig in politics, and in church connection a Lutheran; he and his wife are now sleeping their last sleep in Washington German cemetery. The children born to John and Maria Charlton were Samuel R., John P., Joseph G., William J., Henry, Mary, Margaret and Thomas J. Mr. Charlton carried on a general store in Washington for some time, and during the later years of his life followed the huckstering business, his residence being alternately at Washington and Canonsburg. He died in 1853, and his widow (died at Canonsburg, January 27, 1893, aged eighty-six years. She was a member of the Christian Church. John P. Charlton received his education at the common schools of the neighborhood of his birthplace, and at the age of fourteen entered, as "devil," the office of the American Union in Washington, Penn., but after one year's experience there he found employment with Christman & Clokey, with whom he remained one year, at the end of which time he became a "typo" on the Washington Review. While in this last office, young Charlton, in 1864, warmed by a spirit of patriotism, laid aside the stick and took up the sword in defense of the Union. He enlisted in Company K, Third Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, which battery was assigned to the army of the James, and was most of the time stationed at Fortress Monroe. While here our subject was detailed to work in the Government printing office at Norfolk, Va., where he remained nine months and then rejoined his regiment. He was mustered out November 5, 1865, returned home, and after a brief rest resumed the peaceful art of printing In the office of the Cumberland Presbyterian at Waynesburgh, Penn. Coming to Washington, he worked on the reporter, then under the management of Moore & Armstrong, for three years. In 1869 he was nominated for the office of recorder of deeds of Washington county, and elected on the Democratic ticket; at the end of the term he was candidate for re-election, but was defeated. Mr. Charlton we next find assisting in the management of the "Valentine House," a leading hotel in Washington, Capt. Hugh Keys being then proprietor. In 1873 he was appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff William Thompson, which incumbency he filled with characteristic ability for three years. In 1876 He was nominated for sheriff of Washington county, but was defeated, and soon after the death of Mr. Thompson he took charge of the "Fifth Avenue Hotel" at Pittsburgh. in the capacity of administrator. After conducting this hostelry nine months be returned to Washington, where he was employed as foreman in the office of the Democrat, at that time under the management of A. H. Ecker, who died in February, 1881. In June, same year, a partnership was formed between our subject and Alexander Hart; under the firm name of Hart & Charlton, they purchasing the entire business and plant of the Democrat, which paper they still own and publish. On April 11,1866, Mr. Charlton married Mary C., daughter of John and Susan Wolf, and the children born to their union are named respectively John S., Susan C., Ella M., Gertrude and David M. Mr. Charlton's political predilections are ably and undisguisedly illustrated in the columns of the Washington Democrat.

Text taken from page 205 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by George and Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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