- HON. SOLOMON C. CARR, residing on section 19, in the town
of Milton, is one of the
- honored pioneers of Rock County, and one of the leading citizens
not only of the community but of the State. By his work in the
Patrons of Husbandry, he has gained a wide reputation, of which
he may justly be proud. He was born on the 19th day of December,
1830, in New York, and is a son of Peleg S. and Deborah (GOODRICH)
CARR, who were natives of Rensselaer County, N.Y. The father
was descended from Scotch ancestry, and the mother was of English
origin. Peleg CARR followed the occupation of farming throughout
his entire life. He grew to manhood in his native county, and
was there joined in wedlock with Miss GOODRICH, who proved a
true helpmate to him. In 1839, with the desire to better his
financial condition, he resolved to emigrate to the West, where
the advantages were superior to those afforded by the older States
of the East. Accompanied by his family he reached the Territory
of Wisconsin on the 26th day of May, 1839, and the next day bought
a claim of 480 acres in Milton Township, Rock County. The land
was uncultivated, and except on one acre not a furrow had been
turned, and not a fence had been built or an improvement made.
He moved into a little log cabin, which became the first home
of the family in this county. Underneath its roof they shared
the trials and privations incident to frontier life, and witnessed
the growth of town and county. Ten children were born to Mr.
and Mrs. CARR, six sons and four daughters: Polly A. became the
wife of Nathaniel ROSE, and both are now deceased; She was born
Jan. 24, 1817; Ezra S., born March 19, 1819, studied medicine
and attained to a place of prominence in the ranks of his professional
brethren; Nelson lives in California, aged sixty-seven; Emeline
was born August 14, 1826, and married Robert POWELL; she is now
deceased. John S., born June 18, 1822, died in 1850; Solomon
Carpenter was the sixth in order of birth; Eleanor M., born Jan.
26, 1833, is the wife of Henry POWELL, a conductor on the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad, residing in Chicago; Elijah
M., born March 11, 1835, is a prominent fruit-grower residing
in San Luis, Obispo Co.,Cal.; Sarah C., born November 15, 1836,
became the wife of H. W. MAXON, and is now deceased; Joseph G.,
born March 19, 1840, is represented elsewhere in this work. As
the children reached a sufficient age they were afforded good
opportunities for securing and education, and were thus fitted
for useful and responsible positions in life.
- Mr. CARR, the father of this family, died at his home in
the town of Milton, Sept. 28, 1846, at the
- age of fifty-three years. He was permitted to enjoy his new
home only a short time, but had the satisfaction of knowing that
his family was well provided for. His wife survived him many
years, dying on the 24th day of September, 1874. They were sincere
and earnest Christian people, devoted members of the Free Will
Baptist Church. For many years the members in the community assembled
in their cabin each Sunday morning for worship and lifted their
hearts and voices in praise and gratitude to the Giver of all
good.
- Solomon C. CARR has been a resident of Rock County since
the age of nine years. His education
- was received in the schools of the town of Milton, where
for more than half a century he has had his home. He was reared
to manhood on his father's farm, and throughout his life has
followed agricultural pursuits. Enterprising and progressive,
from the early history of the community he has been numbered
among its leading citizens, one whom any State might be glad
to enumerate among her inhabitants. On the 31st day of December,
1851, he led to the marriage altar Miss Isabella MACKEY, a native
of the Keystone State and a daughter of George T. MACKEY, one
of the pioneer settlers of Rock County. The same year he bought
the old homestead farm, comprising 240 acres of fine arable land,
which is situated on section 19 and 20, in the town of Milton.
The young couple there began their domestic life, and the home
was gladdened by the presence of four children there born unto
them. Under its sheltering roof their childhood days were passed,
and they grew to manhood and womanhood. William S., the eldest,
who was born Jan. 9, 1853, and is now in the railroad employ,
residing in Warsaw, Wis., was married in May, 1883, and has two
children - Cecil G. and Minnie G.; Mnemosyne I., born Oct. 28,
1855, is the wife of William C. KING, a book publisher, of Springfield,
Mass., and they are the parents of two children - Grace Bell
and Ethel May; Florence S., born May 26, 1861, is a practicing
physician of Springfield, Mass.; Kittie Euphrosyne, the youngest,
born Oct. 18, 1866, was married, Dec. 4, 1888, to Clinton E.
MARQUETTE, a resident farmer of the town of Milton. Mr. and Mrs.
CARR have spared neither expense nor labor in providing their
children with good educational advantages, and they have all
become honorable and useful men and women who do credit to the
name.
- Rock County has few citizens who have gained for themselves
so prominent a position as has Mr.
- CARR. As a farmer he is practical and progressive and has
done much for the agricultural interests of the State. His farm
is one of the finest in the community, the land is highly cultivated,
the barns and outbuildings are models of convenience, and his
machinery is of the latest improved kinds. His pleasant home
is the abode of goodwill, and the hospitable host and hostess
extend to one and all a kindly greeting. In political affairs
Mr. CARR has also taken a deep interest, and has been one of
the leaders of the Republican party in this community. In 1865
he was nominated as a candidate for the General Assembly, and
triumphantly elected, receiving 651 votes against 233 cast for
his opponent. In 1874 he was again elected to the same office,
and was a member of the House at the time of the passage of the
Potter Law. He acted upon the railroad and other committees,
and while in the Legislature gave to every question which came
up before the House his careful consideration. By his thoughtful
investigation he was prepared to cast an intelligent ballot for
the interests of the people in general, which he did without
fear or favor. A man of strong convictions, when once his mind
is made up and he has decided as he believes in the right, neither
ridicule nor praise, censure nor flattery could turn him.
- The labors of Mr. CARR in behalf of the Patrons of Husbandry
have been of untold benefit to that
- organization, and he has been sustained and aided in his
work by his four brothers, who are also prominent leaders in
the grange. For the past eight years he has filled the position
of Worthy Master of the Wisconsin State Grange, and spent much
of his time delivering lectures on agriculture. Truly the CARR
brothers have done much for the farming interests of this country,
and have devoted their time and talent also to the development
of the mind, believing that knowledge is necessary to the successful
agriculturist. In the winter of 1888-9 Solomon C. CARR, Worthy
Master of Wisconsin Grange, made a visit to California, where
he delivered a number of lectures in behalf of the Patrons of
Husbandry. He was everywhere greeted with well-filled houses,
and his labors so endeared him to the hearts of California's
hospitable people, that, to quote from one of their papers, "It
brought him so closely to our hearts that we almost feel that
he is one of us." On arriving at Santa Rosa he entered a
large gathering, and, surrounded by the public, was introduced
to his brother whom he had not seen for thirty-five years. Three
brothers were there present, Hon. S. C. CARR, J. G. CARR and
Nelson CARR, all Masters of Granges. The other brother, E. M.
CARR, is also a prominent worker in the order, but was not present
at the reunion. Surely the sketch of these honored men is worthy
a representation in the permanent record of Rock County, of which
they have all been residents, while two are yet numbered among
its leading and valued citizens.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 925-926.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|