Washington Singleton was born in Madison Co., Tennessee on June 5, 1845. He was the son of John Leonard Singleton and Nancy Susanna Scott. John indicated he was from North Carolina and Nancy was from the Cherokee Nation in Tennessee. When Washington was born, his father was 26 years old and his mother was 15 years old. The family moved from Tennessee between September 1848 and September 1850. By the 1850 Census, the family lived in St. Francois Co, Missouri. At that time, Washington had one older and two younger brothers.
By 1857, the family had settled in Douglas Co., Missouri and according to the 1860 Census, Washington was still living with his parent, but he was one of nine children; he had two sisters and six brothers, with him being the second oldest.
On April 5, 1862, Washington enrolled in Captain Moore’s Co., Mo. State Militia, which subsequently became Company H, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. He was enrolled at Linn Creek and he had dark eyes, black hair, a dark complexion and he stood five feet eight inches tall. He indicated he was a farmer and that he had been born in Hamilton Co., Tennessee.
On August 16, 1862, Washington was in the Battle of Lone Jack, he was wounded and he lost his $50 horse. He was sent to the hospital in Jefferson City, but was listed as “present” on the September-October Muster Roll. By December 20, he had acquired another horse valued at $100. On March 18, 1863 he was listed as having deserted, and by the May-June Muster Roll, he was “In Arrest”. He remained in arrest or confinement until the January-February 1864 Muster Roll by which time he had been fined three month’s pay by a Court Martial. From then on, he was present for duty except for a short period when he was granted a furlough. He mustered out of service on April 13, 1865. At that time he had only been paid to the end of October 1864.
Sometime in 1863, perhaps when he was absent without leave from his company, he married Mary Elizabeth Breedlove. He was eighteen years old and she was fifteen years old. Mary was born in Missouri on April 30, 1848 and was the daughter of Charles Breedlove and Amelia Mildred Dameron. On September 27, 1865 their first daughter, Eliza A. was born, followed on April 25, 1867 by a son, John William. Then they had another son, James Isham on February 21, 1869. According to the 1870 Census, the family was living in “Boon”[e] Township, Douglas County. Washington was a farmer, had a Personal Estate Value of $400, and could read and write. Mary, on the other hand could not read or write. They were living next to his father and mother and some of his siblings.
Sometime in 1870 another daughter, Loretta, came into the world, followed the next year by a third son, Charles F., born on February 8, 1871 and then in 1874 by another daughter, Millie. John William died on October 25, 1875. In 1876 they added another son, Thomas J., and in 1878 their fifth son, Martin, was born. The 1880 Census showed Washington, Mary and seven children were living in Benton Township, Douglas Co., Missouri. The only one missing was John W. They also had a domestic servant named Jane Ritter living with them. Washington listed himself as a farmer.
On May 11, 1881, Cynthia A. joined the family and Spencer D. came along on October 9, 1884. On August 21, 1886 Washington’s mother, Nancy passed away, and in November of that year, Martha J. was born. On August 25, 1887 Washington filed for a Veteran’s Pension and received Certificate No. 587999. Washington reported that he had some service in Co. D Webster Co. Home Guard and in Co. H, 2nd Battalion MSM. Considering how long he served in the 8th MSM, it is not clear when he would have done any service in these two units. Regardless, his service with the 8th MSM was sufficient to earn him his pension.
On May 30, 1889, Barney was born and on October 28, 1891, Alfred Napolion entered the Singleton family. Another son, Otto, was born on June 4, 1894, but he died shortly after he was born. According to the 1900 Census, Washington, Mary, Martin, Cynthia, Spencer, Martha, Barney, and Napolion lived in one household in Benton Township, Douglas County. By that time, Mary and Washington had produced fifteen children, of which eleven were still living. Washington was a farmer and he owned his farm but it was mortgaged. Washington could read, write and speak English, but Mary could only read and speak it and Martin could neither read nor write the language. They were living next to two of his sons and just down the road from one of his brothers with his family.
Washington’s father, John passed away on August 1, 1901 and his son Thomas died on December 20, of the same year. On December 26, 1905, another son, Martin, died.
He refiled for his Veteran’s Pension on June 13, 1907. On the 1910 Census, Washington and Mary Elizabeth were still in Benton Township and he owned the home free and clear. Living with them were two of their grandsons. Of their many children, eight were still living, and at least two of their sons were living fairly close to them. On August 24, 1910, Washington’s brother Martin passed away. Then on May 31, 1914, Washington died at the age of 68 and was buried in the Ava Cemetery in Ava, Missouri. Mary Elizabeth lasted another year and died on November 2, 1915 and was buried beside her husband of over fifty years.