Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 532 - 533 

ROBERT CARSON, who is a prominent representative in the lumber trade of Wichita, owns and operates a planing establishment on West Williams street. Here are manufactured porch columns, pilasters, cornices, balusters, doors, sash, blinds, and everything of the kind in this department of the building business. His factory has the reputation of turning out invariably first-class work, and as a reliable man, thoroughly attentive to his duties, and prompt in meeting his obligations, Mr. Carson stands well among his fellow-citizens.

            Our subject is the offspring of an old American family of Scotch descent who were first represented in this country by the paternal grandfather, who crossed the Atlantic and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1803, before the Queen City had given any evidence of its future importance. There were then but a few houses upon its present site, and Grandfather Carson was the privileged witness of its extraordinary development and growth. He had married a New Jersey lady, and they became the parents of nine children, among whom was Robert, the father of our subject.

            Robert Carson, Sr., was born in Cincinnati in January, 1819, and during his boyhood and youth became familiar with the various employments of farm life, assisting his father in building up the primitive homestead. Later he turned his attention to milling and bridge building, and being a natural mechanic, thereby saved hundreds of dollars, and in due time was a man of wealth and influence. He married Miss Hannah Nichols, who was born in New Jersey about 1822, and they became the parents of eight children, namely: Elizabeth, Ellen, Jennie, John, Jonathan S., Robert, Jr., of our sketch, Enoch P. and George.

            The father of our subject died in 1864, at the age of forty-five years, at his home near Spring Valley, Greene Co., Ohio. He was a stanch Democrat, politically, and held many local offices of trust and responsibility. A kind and indulgent man in his family, he also bore an excellent character among his fellow-citizens, and his word was considered as good as his bond. The mother is still living, now residing in Haysville, Sedgwick County.

            Robert Carson, of our sketch, a native of the city of Cincinnati, which had grown, greatly since the birth of his honored father, there first opened his eyes to the light Nov. 3, 1849. He was reared by his parents, received a common-school education, and at an early age began learning the trade of carpenter. He soon developed into a contractor and builder, and having inherited in a marked degree the abilities of his father, was elected a Justice of the Peace in Cincinnati, when but twenty-one years of age, which office he held for a period of three years. Subsequently he was appointed Deputy Sheriff in Cincinnati, and was an attache of the Sheriff's office there for a period of two years. When released from his official duties he returned to his business of contractor, which he followed in Ohio until 1879. That year witnessed his advent into this county.

            Mr. Carson soon after his arrival in Kansas, located on a farm near Haysville, where he remained two years, whence he removed, in 1881, to Wichita. Agriculture seemed less desirable as a calling than his former pursuit, and in June, 1886, he put up his planing-mill on South Main street. The following March he purchased the ground occupied by his main factory, upon which he subsequently erected the present building, and that year did a business aggregating $24,000. His transactions have steadily increased, and. Mr. Carson has

in contemplation the erection, in the near future, of an addition to his mill to still further facilitate the business which is crowding upon him. His building is equipped with first-class modern machinery, which was put in at a cost of $5,000. He keeps himself well posted upon the details in connection therewith, and avails himself of modern methods and inventions, determined not to be behind in one of the most important industries of the day.

            October 13, 1873, while a resident of his native city, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Lida, daughter of William and Sarah (Winesburg) Stevenson. The former is a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, and now lives here. Mrs. Stevenson was a native of Wheeling, Va., and died in 1862. Mrs. Carson was born in Randolph County, Ind., Aug. 16, 1852, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of three children--Florence D., Grace L. and George W. He and his estimable wife enjoy the friendship and society of numbers of the best people in Wichita.

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