Yesterday I sent info on H.H Carson and Rev. Geo W. Carson. Here is the
story of the 3rd Carson brother who came to Michigan from Seneca County,
Ohio after the Civil War ended.
This appeared in the Argus abt 1901:
AN EVENTFUL LIFE,
Was that of Samuel S. Carson, One of the Pioneers of Chesaning
Samuel S. Carson, the subject of our sketch this week, was born in Harrison
County, Ohio, June 26, 1834, and is therefore nearly 68 years of age. Up to
within a short time he has been an active, well preserved businessman, and
when calling at this house this week
found him quite cheerful, though having been quite sick, and able to sit up
and to give us the following interesting data regarding his life:
When two years of age he was taken by his parents to Seneca Co., Ohio
where his parents took up a one-fourth section of government land. Other
settlers also moved in and cleared land, and they built a round red school
house, where the subject of this sketch was educated. There was not a sawed
board in the building. The floor was made of puncheons split from logs and
the roof clapboards. The fireplace was large enough to take ten-foot logs.
There was not one break in the whole building, which was located on his
fathers farm. He studied till ten and eleven oclock on lessons, with a
tallow candle for light.
Used to hunt rabbits, coons and possum, make maple sugar and syrup, and
had a good time generally. Did not however, have buckets and spiles as now,
but made troughs out of trees and spiles out of elders. A patch of flax was
always raised and when harvested the mother would spin and weave it into
cloth, of which the clothing was made. In the same way the wool from the
sheep was utilized for woolen goods.
When 20 years of age Samuel thought he would go west and seek his fortune
after the falls work was done. Left home in December and footed it to
Owosso, Mich, where a brother pioneer had settled. There were no railroads
there then, no brick buildings, only a small village with woods surrounding
it. He drove an ox team for his brother to get out logs for the D&M. R.R.
The snow was four feet on a level that winter.
The following spring went to Saginaw and came down to Chesaning. Went
across the river to east side and struck an Indian trail called Dr. Desbrous
trail. Did not see a house, man or road until reaching Bridgeport. He saw
lots of dead deer along the trail. The pelts were taken off, but the
carcass was not counted worth anything.
Worked for Court Emerson that summer and in the fall returned to Ohio and
taught school that winter. Came back to Chesaning in the spring and worked
at different places during the summer. In fall took a trip on foot to Grand
Rapids, and thence by boat to Chicago, Milwaukee and Green Bay. This was
the fall of the first great fire in 1856. Then returned to Owosso and on to
Ohio, where he attended college one term and taught again in the winter. In
March, 1863, married Miss Sabra Miller, who is still the companion of his
declining years. Remained in Ohio until the fall of 1865, being in the army
from 62 until discharged in 65. That fall came to Michigan and bought
the farm west of Chesaning where he lived for 25 years. After moving to
Chesaning was elected justice of the peace. When sworn in he says, I swore
to support the constitution of the United States and the state of Michigan
and the laws that govern them, and considered I was the servant of the
people and not the people my servants. While justice I bought books with
which to study the laws, and found from these that they were founded on
three principal elements, justice, reason and common sense, and that they
were established for two general purposes to protect the innocent, and to
punish the guilty. There were several liquor cases brought before me for
the violation of the liquor laws while I was justice, and in every instance
I endeavored to do as I had sworn I would, and support the constitution of
the United States and the laws of Michigan.
It is unnecessary to review the cases referred to, as they are generally
remembered, and it is believed Mr. Carson endeavored to do his duty as
justice of the peace. He also used his brother soldiers well in the pension
business, and is a public-spirited man, interested, though ill now, in the
best interests of the town.
____________________
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at
http://www.hotmail.com