CARR, John - 1912 Bio (1875-1935)

CARR, SMALES, FOLTZ, KENYON, CLINE

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/11/2005 at 16:57:44

From the “History of Jefferson County, Iowa” – 1912, Volume II
Pages 424-425

JOHN CARR

“John CARR, who is carrying on general farming on section 22, Polk township, was born on the farm, upon which he is now residing, on the 2d of April, 1875, his parents being Samuel and Martha (SMALES) CARR, whose marriage occurred in 1850. The former, who was born in Fayette county, Ohio, was the fourth in a family of nine children, his birth occurring May 25, 1825, and the latter was a daughter of John SMALES, a native of Virginia. The paternal grandparents of John Carr, Jehu and Sarah (FOLTZ) CARR, were both natives of Virginia. Jehu CARR removed to Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1840, locating in Fairfield township, and four years later removed to Polk township, where he remained for many years before coming to Oregon, where his death occurred in 1870. Mrs. Jehu CARR passed away while they were residing in Ohio. Samuel CARR came to Iowa with his parents when fifteen years of age and assisted in the opening and clearing of the farm which his father undertook to cultivate. Until he was twenty-five years of age he was employed as a farm laborer by the month but, having saved sufficient money to start in a more independent career, he rented a farm in Locust Grove township for five years and subsequently in 1861 purchased his first land, a sixty-one-acre piece, which he cultivated until 1875, when he disposed of it and purchased the farm where John CARR is now residing. Among the improvements which he made upon his farm was the building of a home costing fourteen hundred dollars, which at that time was a costly farm residence for Jefferson county. His death occurred here, on the 6th of September, 1904, his wife having passed away on the 2d of March of the same year.

John CARR remained at home until twenty-one years of age. He attended school in Polk township in district No. 6 and assisted his father in his agricultural pursuits but on attaining his majority his father gave him forty acres of land, which he began cultivating independently and at the same time doing some farming for his father. After the latter’s death he purchased one hundred and forty acres from the estate and is still engaged in farming this in addition to his original tract. In his management he has shown skill and ability in both general farming and feeding stock and is recognized as one of the progressive and successful younger farmers of his township.

On the 10th of January, 1906, Mr. CARR was married to Miss Nora Dollie KENYON, a daughter of Robert Burns and Mary (CLINE) KENYON. In politics Mr. CARR has always given his support to the republican party and, although he is actively interested in the success of its measures and its men, he has never sought office for himself. The demands made upon his time by his agricultural pursuits and the pleasures which he finds in his own home are so great that he has never desired lodge connections or fraternal affiliations. Mrs. CARR is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Packwood. By indefatigable energy and constant application to the scientific development of his farm Mr. ARR has won a good measure of success and is today accorded a high place among the ranks of agriculturists of his district.”

I am copying this for genealogical purposes and am not related to said individuals.