Byron James Britton was born near Avon Center, Lorain county, Ohio, Oct. 12, 1840, where he lived with his parents until about fourteen years of age, when the family moved to Noble county, Indiana.
When the war spirit swept the country after the first guns of Fort Sumpter, he enlisted as a dragoon under McClellan. These forces were afterward united with the 12th Ill. Cavalry and Mr. Britton continued with them throughout the remainder of his time of service. He saw service in the Dept. of the Potomac as McClellan's dragoon and later in the Dept. of the Gulf. He was mustered out in April, 1864. After his return from war he learned the carpenter trade.
On Dec. 25, 1873, he was united in marriage to Sarah Tyler. To this union four daughters and one son were born, Miss Grace E. Britton, Los Angeles, Cal., Mrs. Belle Bendure, Bartlett, Ks., Mrs. Nellie Hill, Cherryvale, Kans., and Mrs. Winifred McNeal, who with the mother is residing on the old homestead. The son, Elmer E. died in infancy. Mr. Britton came to Kansas in 1877, taking a government claim in what is now Elk county. On this claim he lived until the time of his death which occured July 3, 1910. At the time of his death he was 69 years, 8 months and 21 days of age. He was a member of the G. A. R. Post of Howard, Kansas.
Note: Dragoon is the traditional name for a soldier trained to fight on foot, but transport himself on horseback, in use especially in during the 17th and early 18th centuries.
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