Representative Ezra Child Carleton

Ezra Child Carleton served as a Representative from Michigan in the United States Congress from 1883 to 1887. A member of the Democratic Party, Ezra Child Carleton contributed to the legislative process during 2 terms in office.

Ezra Child Carleton’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Ezra Child Carleton participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Ezra Child Carleton (September 6, 1838 – July 24, 1911) was a U.S. representative from the 7th district of Michigan. Carleton was born in St. Clair, Michigan, where he attended the common schools and graduated from the Port Huron High School in 1859. He engaged in business as a hardware merchant in Port Huron, running the business “Wim Stewart & Co” with two business partners. In 1881, he received the Democratic nomination for mayor of Port Huron, a position he occupied from 1881 to 1882. In 1882, Carleton was nominated to run against John Treadway Rich to represent Michigan’s 7th congressional district in the U.S. House. The Detroit Free Press reported that Carleton was popular in several important wards and could pose that he could pose a threat to Rich, a prediction proven correct when he won the election that November. He served in the House from March 4, 1883, until March 3, 1887, in the U.S. House representing Michigan’s 7th congressional district. He was succeeded in office by Democrat Justin Rice Whiting. After leaving Congress in 1887, Carleton returned to his former mercantile pursuits in Port Huron. He was the Democratic candidate for the 7th District in the election of 1894, losing to Republican Horace G. Snover. Carleton died in Port Huron and is interred there in Lakeside Cemetery.