Mon Valley Biographies

 Surnames: Carson, Sprowls, Jones, Springer, Smith, Slisher, Lutes, Carter.
 

Roy I. Carson  (picture)
One of the native sons of Washington county who has attained success and a reputation in the
learned professions is Roy I. Carson, now one of the best known and most highly respected
attorneys in Charleroi and the eastern part of the county. He was born in Fallowfleld Township,
on the 28th of March, 1891, and is the son of Noah T. and Laura E. (Sprowls) Carson. The father
also is a native of Fallowfield Township, where his birth occurred March 26, 1866, and he is
still engaged in farming there, being numbered among the successful and influential citizens of
his community. He is a democrat in his political allegiance and has been active in local public
affairs, having served as a member of the board of school directors and for three terms as a
justice of the peace. He is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ebenezer.
His parents were John S. and Margaret (Jones) Carson, the former of whom was born on the same
farm in Fallowfleld Township, May 31, 1823, and died there September 24, 1882. He had devoted
all of his active years to farming, in which he was very successful, and he was widely known
for his splendid Christian character and personal integrity. His political support was given to
the Democratic Party.  His wife was born in Fallowfleld Township, January 4, 1827, and died
there December 16, 1870
 
John S. Carson was a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Springer) Carson, the former of whom was
born on the homestead in Fallowfield Township, December 21, 1788, followed agricultural
pursuits there all his life and died there, December 13, 1855. He was a member and trustee of
the Baptist church at Speers, Pennsylvania.  His wife was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania,
in 1791, and died in Fallowfield Township, February 19, 1872. John C. Carson was a son of
Thomas and Mary (Smith) Carson, the former of whom was born in Ulster, Ireland, about 1740 and
died in 1816 on the farm which he developed in Fallowfleld Township. He took out the patent for
this land in 1789 and the farm has remained continuously in the possession of the Carson family
to the present time, a period of one hundred and thirty-six years.  He was a veteran of the War
of the Revolution, having served in Captain Parkeson's company, under Colonel Crooks.  Three of
his brothers had accompanied him to America, one going to Kentucky, (then Carolina), and
another to Virginia (now West Virginia), while Thomas settled in Washington county. His wife
was a native of Ireland. She died on the farm which she and her husband had developed and they
both lie buried in Horseshoe cemetery in Carroll Township.
 
Laura E. (Sprowls) Carson was born in West Pike Run township, Washington county, November 5,
1871, a daughter of Asher and Eliza (Slusher) Sprowls, both of whom also were natives of West
Pike Run township, where they spent their entire lives on a farm, and both are now deceased.
 
Roy I. Carson secured his early education in the public schools and the Charleroi high school,
from which he was graduated in 1909.  He then entered Washington and Jefferson College, from
which he was graduated in 1913 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and while there he was
affiliated with the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. He then entered the law school of the
University of Pittsburgh and was graduated therefrom in 1916 with the degree of Bachelor of
Laws.  He was a member of the Delta Theta Phi fraternity of that university. He was admitted to
the bar of Washington County in September, 1916, and in October of that year was admitted to
practice before the superior and supreme courts of the state and the United States district
court. In September, 1916, Mr. Carson located in Charleroi and subsequently entered upon the
practice of his profession, in which he has continued to this time. He is a man of marked
ability, supplemented by a thorough and liberal education, and has gained a splendid reputation
as a lawyer of ability and skill, building up a large and representative clientele.
His practice was interrupted when, on September 18, 1917, he enlisted for service in the World
war. He was for awhile in training at Camp Sherman, Ohio, and was then made an instructor in
infantry tactics at Camp Gordon, Georgia, and Camp MacArthur, Waco, Texas. He was commissioned
a second lieutenant at Camp Sherman and was honorably discharged at Camp MacArthur, December 5,
1918.  He is now the solicitor for the Community Savings & Loan Association of Charleroi, the
First National Bank of Roscoe, and the Boroughs of Charleroi, North Charleroi, Roscoe,
Bentleyville and Twilight, as well as for a number of townships and school districts. He is a
hard worker, an earnest and constant student of his profession and is closely devoted to his
professional work. He has been very successful and has attained an enviable reputation among
those who have knowledge of his career since locating in this community.
 
Politically Mr. Carson is aligned with the democratic party and has served a term as a member
of the borough council. Fraternally he is a member of the Charleroi Lodge, No. 615, Free and
Accepted Masons; Monongahela Chapter, No. 249, Royal Arch Masons; McKean Commandery, No.80,
Knights Templar; Valley Council, No.49, Royal and Select Masters, at Donora; Syria Temple,
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Pittsburgh; Charleroi Lodge, No. 494, Benevolent Protective
Order of Elks; Charleroi Lodge, No. 1030, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Fallowfield Grange,
No.1382, of which he was master; and Charleroi Post, No.22, American Legion. He also belongs to
the Charleroi Rotary Club, Monongahela Valley Country Club and Nemacolin Country Club.  He is a
member of Charleroi Chamber of Commerce, of which he has been a director since its
organization. His religious membership is with the First Methodist Episcopal Church of
Charleroi, of which he is trustee.
 
On May 15, 1917, Mr. Carson was married to Miss Violet Lutes, of Fallowfield Township. She was
born March 5, 1894, in East Pike Run Township, a daughter of Leander and Mary (Carter) Lutes.
Her father was born February 22, 1856, in East Pike Run Township and died in Fallowfield
Township, May 9, 1911. For many years he was engaged in farming and stock raising but in later
life was engaged in the lumber and feed business in Charleroi.  He was a democrat in politics
and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife was born January 1, 1863, in
Washington, Washington county, Pennsylvania, and is now living in Charleroi. Mrs. Carson
received her educational training in the public schools of East Pike Run and Fallowfield
townships and in the Charleroi high school and the Southwestern State Normal School at
California, from which she was graduated with the class of 1912. She later took a course in art
at Baylor University at Waco, Texas. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church
and belongs to Chapter No. 122, Order of the Eastern Star, and to the Athena Literary Club,
both of Charleroi.  Mr. and Mrs. Carson are the parents of two children, namely: Howard
Francis, born November 9, 1919; and Roy Irwin, Jr., born November 9, 1921.
 

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