My Genealogy Hound

Alfred F. Poulton, lawyer, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, November 4, 1849, the son of Alfred and Lydia (Lyder) Poulton, natives of Loudoun County, Va. The father came to Palmyra in 1857, where our subject was reared to manhood; he was educated at St. Paul’s College and Episcopal school of that place, under Dr. W. B. Corbyn. Our subject was deputy circuit clerk of Marion County for three years, and read law somewhat, but finally studied under Hon. W. M. Boulware, of Palmyra. Since he was admitted in 1870 he has been in successful practice at Canton, and made a specialty of real estate law, collections, and probate business. He was city attorney of Canton for two terms, and served as mayor for three terms, the debt of the city being placed on a sound basis during his administration. Our subject is a Republican, and in 1878 was their candidate for judge of probate court, and although he failed of election he ran 300 votes ahead of his ticket. He aided in founding the Canton News, and was its political editor in 1880. He has been chairman of the county Republican committee, and from 1874 to 1878 was United States commissioner for the Eastern District of Missouri, but soon resigned the office on account of private business. He is Past Master, a Royal Arch Mason, and Past High Priest of same, and Past Grand in the I. O. O. F. lodge. During his temporary absence from the county, in 1884, he was made the Republican candidate for representative, and requested his opponent to make a joint canvass of the county, but the latter declined. He led his ticket, but his party were too much in the minority, and he was defeated. He has represented the county in several Republican State conventions, and is well known in Northeast Missouri.