Our story begins with the children of John J. and Tellitha Emmaline (nee Hussong) Carr.
Their first child, Margaret Ann (daughter one!) was born on 8 June 1858 in Story City, Story County, Iowa. On 5 November 1858, William Morgan (son one!), was born in Story County, Iowa. Just over three years later, Amelia Jane (daughter dos!) is born in Story County, Iowa, on 7 March 1861. Five years later, the family welcomed Joseph Mae (son the second!) on 18 June 1866, born in Story County, Iowa. Just over two years later, on 2 October 1868, James Austin (son numero three!) is born in Story County Iowa. Their last child, Tellitha Lilly Viola (daughter four minus one), was born in Story County, Iowa on 5 January 1869.
If you are a careful reader–or one who is annoyed at writers who repeat themselves–you likely noticed that all of the children were born in the same county: Story. We could’ve just listed out the kids and said, “oh by the way, they were all born in Story County. The End.” But it’s our story, and that would’ve been a dull way to tell it. And so, the Story (our story!) must go on. We know it’s painful, but just think about how it felt for those six Carr kids. Lucky souls.
To sum up, these six siblings were born in Story County, Iowa. By 1880, the entire family relocated to the small valley region of Roaring River, Barry County, Missouri. They appeared to be inseparable, but they weren’t. Sometime in 1885, James Austin and wife Almeda “Medy” migrated to Van Buren, Crawford, Arkansas. Around the same time, all the girls and their families (Margaret Ann and husband James Nichols, Amelia Jane and husband George Nichols, and Lilly and husband David Beymer) moved to Dickson, Benton, Arkansas. By 1910, Joseph Mae and Mary Katherine had moved to Richland, Crawford Arkansas, and William Morgan and Dove moved to King Prairie, Barry County, Missouri.
As the family scattered, their parents attempted to keep in touch through letters.
One such letter1 dated: 2 March 1887
Dickson P.O. Benton, ArkansasDear Son and Daughter,
I am plowing out ground for old man Nichols down on his farm in Tanyard Holler. We have rented about 12 acres from him. We have built us a house…. west of the south 40 acres… of the old man Nichols. Joey says that the girls won’t have him… James Austin and Meedy…. they live down in Crawford County on Lees Creek about one mile from Van Buren. They have another girl, her name is Lily Viola Parolee. Wash and Jane is well. They have three children. Mother says for you to come down and bring Berty. From all of us to Morgan and Dove.
(Signed) J.J. Carr and family.
Other family correspondence indicates that John J. and Tellitha eventually settled in Crawford County, Arkansas with James and Almeda.
In her blog post, James Austin’s granddaughter fills in the details after the three brothers (and sisters) go separate ways.
Read the post: Three Carr Brothers…
Sources:
1. Carr, Albert L. “The Carr and Whitten Families of Albert Lee Carr.” Ridge Haven Heritage Library, Unpublished Staple Bound, 1980, www.librarycat.org/lib/RidgeHaven/item/238660855.
Images:
Amelia Jane Carr and Children. 1912 Benton County, Arkansas. Lula, William Jesse, Delpha May Nichols (LtoR) and their mother Amelia Carr Nichols (seated). Courtesy Betty Gay Stewert 1995.
William Morgan Carr. Image courtesy of Albert Lee Carr 1984.
Margaret Carr and George Nichols. Courtesy Betty Gay Stewert 1995.
James Austin Carr. Courtesy Vi Carr Parsons 1980.
We have never been offered a photo of Lilly Carr Beymer. If you have an image you’d like to share with family members, please contact us.