Daniel W. Carlton, a pioneer settler of Nocatee, was a veteran of the Third Seminole War, cattleman, and patriarch of a prominent South Florida family.
He was born July 2, 1823, Wilmington County, North Carolina. With his parents, Alderman and Martha Maria (Alderman) Carlton, he moved to Georgia in the 1820s.
At Thomasville, Georgia on February 18, 1840, Daniel was married by the Rev. Crawford Tucker to Sallie Ann Murphy, born October 15, 1823 in North Carolina. Her given name also appears as Sarah, but she was known as Sallie.
It would appear that Daniel moved to Florida in late 1843 or 1844 as censuses show that his oldest sons, Reuben and Wright, were born in Georgia, and Albert, the third child, was born in Florida.
During the Third Seminole War, he served as a private from December 29, 1855 to August 1856 in Capt. Francis M. Durrance's Company, Florida Mounted Volunteers.
On August 20, 1856 Daniel enlisted as a private in Capt. Leroy G. Lesley's Independent Company, Florida Mounted Volunteers and was honorably discharged February 19, 1857 at Fort Brooke. At his enlistment he was later (January 24, 1902 and July 30, 1902) described by Sallie as being: 5 feet 8 inches, with grey eyes, light hair, light complexion, and farmer by occupation
In the late 1850s, the family resettled at Troublesome Creek, between present-day Wauchula and Ona, in Manatee (now Hardee) County, Florida. Daniel and Sarah A. Carlton were enumerated in household # 43/43 (the Fort Hartsuff area) in the 1860 Manatee census.
During the Civil War, Daniel initially ardently supported the Confederate cause
After the Civil War, Daniel appeared as a member of the Republican Party. He was one of an unofficial group, who with a committee, met on April 9, 1866 with the county commissioners of Manatee County, which body voted to move the courthouse from Manatee to what became Pine Level, the new county seat. At a mass meeting held at Pine Level on February 17, 1880, Andrew Green (son of James D. Green, for whom Fort Green was named) was appointed secretary of the Manatee County Republican Committee and Daniel Carlton was named to the County Executive Committee.
Daniel and Sarah were listed in township 33, household 80/80 in the 1870 census of Manatee County. In the 1870s, the family resettled at Nocatee in Manatee County (now DeSoto County). A cattleman, Daniel was taxed on 2,000 head of cattle, 4 horses, and 4 hogs in 1873. Daniel and Sarah were recorded in precinct # 9, Fort Ogden, in the 1880 Manatee County census.
Daniel and Sallie were of the Baptist faith and were members of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.
In November 1877, while the family was attending a camp meeting at Joshua Creek, it was noted that Daniel was: "...a veritable patriarch. He has 48 children and grandchildren, and has never lost a member of his family. Counting his sons' wives, there were fifty-six and all on the ground..."

Issue of Daniel Wilson and Sallie Ann (Murphy) Carlton:

1.Reuben Carlton, born December 16, 1842; died September 12, 1917; married (1) April 20, 1866, Elizabeth Crews, daughter of Dempsey Dubois and Piety (Collier) Crews; (2) October 14, 1897 Rhoda (Starling) Meredith.

2. Wright Carlton, born September 17, 1843; died October 11, 1929; married March 1, 1866 Mrs. Charlotte (Albritton) Hooker, daughter of Thomas H. and Frances (Waldron) Albritton.

3. Albert Carlton, born May 9, 1845; died September 1, 1925; married on October 11, 1868 Martha Winfield McEwen, daughter of Rev. William Penn McEwen and Rutha (Sheppard) McEwen.

4. Martha Jane Carlton, born February 3, 1847; died January 5, 1933; married on January 17, 1864 James E. Whidden, son of Willoughby and Eliza (Pennington) Whidden.

5. Alderman Carlton, born February 4, 1849; died 1940; married on January 7, 1868 Lucinda Payne, daughter of Joseph Payne and Henrietta (Smith) Payne.

6. Lewis Carlton, born January 15, 1851; died June 30, 1925; married on August 22, 1872 Mary Ann McEwen, daughter of Rev. William Penn McEwen and Rutha (Sheppard) McEwen.

7. James Carlton, born 1853; died 1940; married (1) Georgia C. Blount; (2) Lizzie ______.

8. Jeremiah Carlton, born December 9, 1854; died February 4, 1918; married on August 31, 1876 Eliza Jane Langford, daughter of Henry Langford and Jane (Whidden) Langford.

9. William Lacy Carlton, born February 18, 1859; died April 30, 1920; never married.

10. Charles Wilson Carlton, born November 18, 1860(?); died January 29, 1955; married on Dec. 15, 1885 Katherine Lillian McWilliams.

11. Stephen Isaac Carlton, born July 18, 1863; died Janury 21, 1918; married on March 22, 1887 Estelle Simmons.

12. Elam B. Carlton, born April 1864; died ca. 1908; married on June 7, 1887 Orlena Simmons, sister of Estelle Simmons.