CARSON FAMILY

    One of the pioneer families that settled in Elliott was the Emmett Carson family, many of whose descendants still reside in or near Elliott. Emmett and his brother Andros came to Elliott March 20, 1882.

    Emmett, sometimes known as Will or Bill, soon established a fine reputation as a carpenter in the growing community and many of the houses and buildings he built still stand and are in use today.

    Andros, known lovingly as “Uncle Doc” to all the family, elected to stay with the Eli Guess family for six months. He taught school around Elliott for two years, furthered his education and taught school for four years in Kansas. He then went to Chicago where he attained his medical degree from Rush Medical College.

    Andros and Emmett were sons of William Carson who was born in Pennsylvania. William married Marian Guess of Ohio in 1845. They had 14 children. They moved to Illinois in September 1865 with four horses and two covered wagons.

    Emmett was 10 years old at the time of the move from Ohio to Illinois. Emmett and his wife, the former Catherine Sparr, were the parents of 13 children. Two were born in Illinois, the others in Elliott.

    Emmett and his wife Catherine lived for a while in a small house directly across from the present Church of Christ. The house is no longer standing, but at the time the Carson family lived there, the church site was a cottonwood grove where Evangelist Billy Sunday regularly set up his big revival tent. He was a close friend of Emmett, who obliged by singing in the choir. Billy accompanied Emmett on horseback jaunts about the county. Billy with his fire-and-brimstone delivery, was well known to the older Carson children.

    Emmett’s 13 children included Charley, Everett, Bill, Walter, Harry, Gail, Glee, Werrin, Clifford, and two daughters, Grace and Celeste. Grace still resides in York, Nebr. Several of the children went to Nebraska and on to Colorado to settle, while Walter, Harry, Charley and Everett chose to make Elliott their home.

    Dr. Andros Carson, known for his ready wit, eventually added a fine new building to the growing community. The medical building, built by his brother Emmett, is now occupied by the Bob Morgan Insurance office.

    Emmett built many business houses and homes in Elliott, Red Oak and Griswold, and the surrounding rural area. Included was the Osborn home that housed the Elliott Telephone Co. at one time, and is now occupied by Inez Carlisle. He also built the house kitty-cornered from the Elliott Garage for Hank Leonard and his wife. At one time it was operated as a boarding house by Mrs. West.

    Harry Carson still resides in Elliott, as do two of his sons, Charles and Donald. His daughter Donna Mae makes her home with him. One son Dick, is deceased. A daughter, Catherine, named for her paternal grandmother, resides in California.