CARR, Samuel P. - 1890 Bio (1825-1904)

CARR, FOLTZ, MITCHELL, ORNDUFF, SMALES, DOWNEY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/29/2007 at 21:23:35

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 418 and 423

Samuel CARR, resides on section 22, Polk Township, Jefferson County. He is one of the few survivors among the early settlers of 1840, one of the few left to tell the story of pioneer life with its hardships and trials, its excitements and pleasures. In a half century great changes have taken place, leaving few of the old landmarks of that early day and the wonderful transformation has brought from an uninhabited wilderness a county peopled with an intelligent and enterprising class of citizens who are supplied with all the comforts and conveniences known to civilized life. In the pioneer times one had to go to Burlington or Keokuk to market and to the Des Moines River to mill. The roads were often almost impassable, the farm machinery was crude, traveling was done by stage or in private conveyances, and log cabins were the homes of the settlers, but now we have the latest improved agricultural implements, lines of railroad cross and recross the county and the pioneer homes have long since given place to commodious and tasty farm residences and elegant city mansions. A vast outlay of time and labor has been expended to bring about this result, the greater part of which has been borne by the pioneers, among whom is Samuel CARR. In all works for the upbuilding of the county's interests, he has faithfully performed his share and deserves no little credit for the same.

Mr. CARR is a native of Ohio and the fourth in a family of nine children. He was born in Fayette County in 1825, his parents being Jahu and Sarah (FOLTZ) CARR, who were born in Virginia. Their removal to Jefferson County occurred in 1840 and Fairfield Township was chosen as a favorable location, but after four years they removed to Polk Township. In 1849, they went to Missouri, but after three years returned to Fulton County, Ind., where he engaged in farming until 1870, in which year we again find him in Jefferson County. He afterward made a visit to Oregon, and died there in 1876. His wife had long since passed away, her death having occurred in Ohio, in 1838, at an early age. Of their family, Reuben died in Indiana, in 1885, leaving a wife and children; Philip is married and resides in Ohio; John died in Indiana; Samuel is the next younger; Mary died in Indiana in 1880; and Elizabeth is now Mrs. MITCHELL, of Davenport, Iowa; James is married and resides in Indiana; John died in this county in 1860; and Sarah is now Mrs. ORNDUFF of Oregon.

Our subject passed his early boyhood days in his native State, being in his fifteenth year when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the Territory of Iowa. He assisted in opening up and clearing the farm and shared in the hardships and disadvantages incident to life on the frontier. He began life for himself as a farm laborer and continued working by the month until twenty-five years of age, when in 1850, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha SMALES, a native of Illinois. Her father, John SMALES, was born in Virginia, but her mother, Mrs. Sarah SMALES, was born in Illinois, where her death also occurred. The father afterwards came to Iowa and died in Wapello County, in 1875. Unto Mr. and Mrs. CARR were born seven children and of the five living, William is the eldest; Harvey is married and resides in Polk Township; Sarah is now Mrs. DOWNEY of Black Hawk Township; Nellie and John are still at home.

Mr. CARR began operations for himself on rented land in Locust Grove Township, but after five years he had saved a sufficient sum to make an investment and in 1861, purchased sixty-one acres, forty of which had been broken. He improved it and placed it under a high state of cultivation but in 1875 sold and purchased an improved farm of one hundred and forty acres, his present home. Among other improvements which he has made is a comfortable residence which he erected at a cost of $1400. He has also extended the boundaries of his farm until he now reaps the harvest from one hundred and eighty acres, which being highly cultivated yield a ready return. He also raises a good grade of stock and altogether his career has been a prosperous one. In political sentiment, he is a Republican and has served as a member of the School Board. Frugality and industry have characterized his life work and the capital with which he embarked in business was health and energy. He is now a leading farmer as well as a respected citizen and honored pioneer of Jefferson County.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.