My Carson Family

My great-great grandfather William Toms married Jane Carson, who was the daughter of James Withrow Carson (1790-1846) and Catherine Canceller (also spelled Cansler, Ganzler, or Genseller).  James Withrow Carson was a son of General John C. Carson (1766-1846) who on 2 Feb 1789 married Mary Withrow (1770-1856). General Carson was a son of John Carson and, I think, a McFarland.

An interesting article on the Carson family was printed the Forest City [N.C.] THIS WEEK newspaper's series, "Bridges to the Past," a genealogical column by Mrs. Ernest Newton and Roy Brooks which has been published as a bound volume. This article appeared in Vol. II, pp. 159-160 (March 10, 1976):

The Carson family settled in Rutherford around 1780

The following data on the Carson family of Rutherford County was furnished to us by Mr. C. Kenyon Withrow of Hollis. It was originally written more than 50 years ago, by James Carson Elliott. For clarification and understanding, Mr. Withrow has inserted parenthetical explanatory notes throughout the articles.

Except for these parenthetical notations, the article is reprinted verbatim as originally written by Mr. Elliott about 1920. Mr. Withrow gives us the following background data on James Carson Elliott:

James Carson Elliott who wrote the following Carson story probably in the 1920's, was born July 12, 1845 and died on June 17, 1936. He married Biddy Gettys, a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Chitwood) Gettys. He apparently recorded the events in his life and did some writing as he grew older. His brother-in-law was Melvin L. White, who wrote for years under the pen name, "Corncracker White". White was the writer of "A History of Amos Owens." James Carson Elliott's main literary contribution was "The Southern Soldier Boy" written in 1907 in which he intimately describes his life and events as a soldier in the Confederate Army.

At the time he wrote this story of the Carson family, he was old and nearly blind. Some entries have been made and placed in parenthesis in order to keep the reader aware of whom he was writing.

Our Carson Family

Our Carson family which came from Pennsylvania and settled in Rutherford County in 1790. (Correct evidence indicates they arrived in this county closer to 1780). A grown-up family of three brothers, Daniel, John and William and four sisters, Mrs. William Gettys, Mrs. Lewis Lively, Mrs. Gordon and Mrs. Oliver.

They came from near Gettysburg. Their oldest brother, Walter Carson emigrated to Indiana where he raised a family. (Walter Carson was in Rutherford in 1790 and 1800 at least, and apparently lived in Rutherford County for some time before moving on to Indiana.) Daniel had married a McFarland, and John and William were single. John Carson (Married) Mary Withrow, daughter of Capt. James Withrow, who served in the War for Independence and took part in the defeat and capture of Col. Patrick Ferguson, 300 English regulars with 800 Tory militia. They came to Colony that had came in the early sixties and founded Little Britten Presbyterian Church.

They were Longs, Andrews', Watson's, Guffey's, Morrison's and others and were Whig patriots.

William Carson married Dorcas Huey and got a good bunch of Negro slaves by her. (Dorcas Hughey was daughter of James Hughey and grand-daughter of John Withrow, and niece of Capt. James Withrow). He was Sheriff of Rutherford County 27 years and my grandfather. James Withrow Carson was his favorite deputy and succeeded him, but died during his third term. Bled to death by a doctor at 56 years old. William's daughters married Rev. Louis McCurry, John K. Wells, John Lattimore and Sam McFarland. They all raised families.

Brigadier General of the Militia, General John (Carson) represented Rutherford County in the State Legislature one term. He got a more direct public road cut out between Rutherfordton and Lincolnton running south of Cherry Mountain and crossing first little broad river (First Broad) at Gardners ford. (Locally known today the Old Lincoln Road, and earlier called the Flint Hill Road). His (John Carson's) sons were James W., John, George, Pinkney, Morrison, and Oliver Carson.

James W. Carson (son of Gen. John Carson) married Catherine Canstler, daughter of John Canstler and Barbara Rudisell, German pioneers from Lincoln County. (Cantsler) settled on Robeson Creek and built the first wheat mill. (Now known as Andrews Mill).

He had 1200 acres of good creek land. They (Canstler's) had one son, Phillip Canstler, who moved to Macon County and two daughters, Catherine, and one (Julia Ann) who married William Depriest and raised a large family. John Canstler died of fever at age of 65 years and his widow lived with her son-in-law, James Withrow Carson who finally owned the original estate, kept up the mills and run a tan yard. His (James W. Carson's) oldest son, John C., a teacher, a Presbyterian preacher, and a doctor. He married Margaret Cates of Meraville, Tenn. He moved to Henderson Co., 185-. He served in Confederate army as Surgeon. His oldest son, John, was killed at Petersburg, Va. 18th of July 1864.

I saw him die. Dr. Henry (Carson), dentist, and youngest daughter survive.

Dr. Phillip Carson (son of James W. Carson) married Mary Moore. Her mother was a Logan. Their children who live are Zeb Carson of Charlotte, NC and Joseph Carson of Texas, and Mrs. George Depriest of Shelby.

William P. Carson (son of James W. Carson) married Roesana Withrow, (daughter of James Withrow and Erixona Wells Withrow) his second cousin. Only their youngest daughter lives.

Lawyer Joseph Carson (son of James W. Carson) married Mary Sloan. They raised one son, James Carson, a lawyer who served one term as State senator and was State Solicitor when he died leaving his widow with several children.

Adolphous B. Carson (son of James W. Carson) was married to Martha McFarland who (had) one daughter. Second marriage was to Miss Weeks. Left with one daughter. He died in Confederate Army at Petersburg, August, 1864.

Dr. Thomas Carson (son of James W. Carson) dentist, married Liley (Delilah) Harrill. He served in Dickerson's Co., 34th NC Regt., and surrendered at Appamatox. Children being Henry, Dick, John and Miss Alice Carson.

James W. Carson's daughter, Jane, oldest daughter, married William Toms. They had three sons in Confederate army. John and James were killed and Thomas was twice wounded. Only Mrs. Roxie Weeks of that family lives.

A second daughter, Barbara, married William M. Elliott. I, James Carson Elliott, their oldest son, enlisted as a recruit in Co F, 56th Regt at Halifax, N.C. 1863 and served until 245th of March 1865 when I was taken in the battle of Fort Steadman with 2000 comrades and confined at Point Lookout, Md., until the 12th of June and got home on 20th June 1865 sound and whole, the most fortunate one of our two families. Had 9 first cousins in that War, only 2 survived both wounded twice.

And I have outlived all I knew in the (war). And I have a son living, Plato Elliott with 25 months record in World War. Of our family, brother William of Lyons, Ga., and Mrs. Mary J. White. She had three sons in the World War.

Mary Carson (daughter of James W. Carson) married Irvin Allen. They lived on Mills River in Henderson County. One son, Thomas Allen, has represented Henderson County in the State Senate.

Youngest daughter (of James W. Carson), Martha, married William Rutherford. They moved to Arkansas. He died young, left no heirs. She never remarried.

(In my Elliott family) brother William has the most distinguished son, William S. Elliott, who worked his way to the top of the U.S. Treasury and served as Register of the Treasury two years under Wilson and one year under Harding, making the largest financial reports under the gold standard of any nation in the world. He had 1054 employees under him. He has since been in banking business in Georgia and President of the Banker's Association of Georgia. I have a grandson 25 years old, William M. Elliott of Golden, Colorado, assayer in U.S. Mint in New York City.

I was in Shelby yesterday and saw George Depriest who said he gave Uncle William's Bible containing a full history of the older Carsons (apparently he didn't say who he gave it to.) You can see I am nearly blind. Love to all, James C. Elliott. 

Last Updated Monday, September 04, 2000 02:30 PM