Cicero T. Carson
Cicero T. Carson was born on the farm on which he now resides, in Concord Township. Delaware County, Ohio, February 23, 1837. He is a son of William and Eliza (Thompson) Carson, and a grandson of Samuel and Abigail (Black) Carson.
The Carsons came to Delaware County among the pioneers and Samuel Carson acquired a large body of land in Ohio, amounting to about 1,200 acres. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He died December 25, 1834. in his sixty-second year. He married Abigail Black, who died March 22, 1838, in her fifty-sixth year. William Carson, the father of Cicero T., was born in March, 1802, before the family left Pennsylvania, and he died in Delaware County, Ohio, May 9, 1873, in his seventy-second year. He was the eldest born of a family of five sons and two daughters, the others being: Mary, who remained unmarried; Samuel, who went to California in 1849, was killed in Oregon, by the Indians; John B., who married Jane Carson, of Chillicothe, moved to McLean County, Illinois, where he died; James, who married Isabella Johnson, moved to the vicinity of Topeka, Kansas where he died; Joseph M., who married Anna Mary Isenberg, died in Delaware County: and Nancy Jane, who never married. All members of the above family have passed out of life.
William Carson was a small boy when his its came to Ohio and settled first at Chillicothe, in Ross County. He was 19 years of age when his father settled on the east bank of the Scioto River, opposite to the present State institution, the Girls Industrial School. When William Carson married he brought his bride to the house in which they thereafter lived and where their children were all born. They were six in number, two of whom died in infancy. Cicero T. was the second born in the family and the others who survived were: Joan Abigail, Mary E. and William W. Joan Abigail was married (first) to Thomas B. Johnson and accompanied him to the South, where he died prior to the Civil War. She returned to Delaware county and was married (second) to John H. Shearer, who was then the editor of the Marysville Tribune, to which his son, John Shearer succeeded. Mary E. Carson was married (first) to Edward Goddard, of Lexington, McLean County, Illinois, and (second) to Dr. James Southard, of Marysville, and is the widow of the latter. She resides on Oak Street, Columbus, Ohio. William W. Carson married Rebecca Chenoweth, and he is survived by his widow and one son and three daughters. The son conducts the Hocking grocery store at Delaware.
Cicero T. Carson attended school at Delaware, Ohio, until he was 14 years of age, and when 17, he went to Memphis. Tennessee, and subsequently took a business course at the Male High School, in Germantown, Shelby County. Tennessee. He remained in that State for two years and then returned to the North and became bookkeeper in the Marysville Bank. After a business experience of two years he spent one year in the University at Delaware. In 1860 he went as far west as Atchison, Kansas, where he was engaged in teaching school when the Civil War broke out. He remained there for two vears, during this period having enjoyed the privilege of casting his vote in favor of the admission of Kansas as a State of the Union, and voted for Abraham Lincoln, which was his first vote, and then returned to Ohio and took up his residence on the farm where he now lives. After his return he entered the Federal Army, enlisting in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with the rank of sergeant. This regiment was stationed at Fort Tillinghast and witnessed the first work done on Arlington Heights, in preparing the beautiful grounds for a sacred resting-place for the Nation's slain. He remained in the service until the close of the war and was honorably discharged at Camp Chase, at Columbus.
On December 24, 1874, Mr. Larson was married to Carrie Yeend, who died March 2, 1900. She was a most estimable lady, one whose many personal attributes endeared her to all who knew her. She was born at Cheltenham. England, and was a daughter of John R. and Mary (Swain) Yeend. When she was seven years of age, her parents came to America and settled in Geauga County. Ohio, where she was reared and educated. She was appointed the first matron of the Girls' Industrial Home, and she continued in that position for five years. Having no children of their own. Mr. and Mrs. Carson adopted an orphan babe. Minnie C. when she was but three days old, whom they reared to happy womanhood. She subsequently married Elijah Howard and they have one daughter. Carrie Lillian.
Mr. Carson has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since his marriage. Shortly after that event he purchased a farm of almost 300 acres, in Delaware County, on which he resided for over 20 years, but sold thai property in 1903, and then moved hack to the old homestead, where he still continues to farm, in association with his son-in-law, Elijah Howard.
The Springview Methodist Episcopal Church, in Concord Township, was named by Mr. and Mrs. Carson, it being chosen on account of its proximity to the White Sulphur Springs. During the years following its founding Mrs. Carson was a very active member and she and Mr. Carson started the Sunday school which was the real beginning of the church which was later erected. Mr. Larson remains one of the church trustees. Both he and his wife were interested in the Liberty Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and assisted its early efforts very materially. Mr. Carson takes no active part in political campaigns.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens by James R. Lytle