John D. Carr of Fayette City

JOHN D. CARR  - FAYETTE CITY - PAGE 241
Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Fayette County by Gresham and
Wiley, 1889, p241 
        John D Carr, one of the most enterprising and public-spirited men of the
county, was born near Recreation Park, Allegheny county, Penna, December
16, 1849. His father was the largest and most successful market gardener
in his day, of Pittsburgh and Allegheny county. The information that
enables the envied steward of the county home to outdo all our farmers
with farm products and vegetables was gathered during his boyhood days on
his father's extensive farm. "I have hoed the cabbage, cared for the
corn, and picked potatoes on the very ground now knowns as Recreation
Park," remarked Mr Carr recently, and his wonderful display at the late
county fair would indicate that his early training had been improved by
time. 
        On reaching man's estate, Mr Carr was apprenticed to a marble cutter. He
learned the trade thoroughly and was recognized as a skillful mechanic.
He assumed the charge of, and became superintendent of the Pittsburgh
Marble Works of W W Wallace, the largest establishment of its kind in
Pennsylvania, holding this position until 1783.  In the same year he came
to Fayette City and started in the marble business on his own account. He
met with great success, and his work was rapidly securing a reputation,
when in October, 1884, his shops were destroyed by fire. 
        In January, 1885, he was elected Steward of the County Home, his
excellent management of this trust has been faithful, sensible and
humane. His efforts have always been directed in the interest of the
taxpayers of Fayette county, and no fair man of either political party
has ever accused him of being dilatory in the discharge of his duties.
His official career has ever been open to the most rigid investigation,
and he has always been able to rise above party prejudice in the
management of his important charge. 
        A more eloquent tribute to a faithful servant could not be written than
the official letter appended:
State of Pennsylvania
Committee on Lunacy, the Board of Public Charities
Office, Number 1224 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
A J Ourt, MD, Philadelphia, Secretary
January 8, 1887
John D Carr, Esq, Steward Fayette County
Almshouse, Uniontown, Penna
My Dear Sir:
I have just learned that some changes have been made in your Board of
Directors.  This, I hope, will not interfere with your re-appointment to
the position you have so creditably filled. In my official visits to your
county home or almshouse, I have observed with pleasure the tidy
appearance of the inmates and their cheerful and contented disposition,
indicative of the interest you have always manifested in our several
interviews for the welfare and comfort of the indigent poor under your
charge. 
The cleanliness of the apartments of the inmates and of the institution
in general, have not, I am sure, escaped the notice of the humane and
Christian gentlemen who constitute your board, and will compare favorably
with any almshouse in the State.
I have taken the liberty of writing you at this time these few lines of
commendation as an expression of my appreciation of your unexceptionable
abilities as a steward, and also to assure you it will give me great
pleasure to be informed of your re-election to a position the duties of
which yourself and wife have conscientiously discharged,
Very truly yours.
Ands J Ourt
The Pittsburgh TIMES of yesterday contains this notice:  "It is expected
that Governor Beaver will this week name the commission of three to
revise the poor-laws of the State, in accordance with an act of the late
legislature. There is considerable speculation regarding the make-up of
the commission.  Already half a hundred names have been sent to His
Excellency. A gentleman, one posted in charitable affairs, gave it as his
opinion yesterday afternoon the Commission will be composed of R D
McGonnigle of this city; John D Carr of Fayette county; and James Hall of
Northumberland county. The annual convention of poor directors of the
State will be held in Altoona early next month, and it is probable the
commission will hold their first meeting in that city at that time.
McGonnigle and Carr are recognized as authority in poorhouse matters."
He was elected on the democratic ticket, and took charge of the Asylum in
April, 1885. As noticed previously, he was re-elected in 1889 and is the
present incumbent. He served ten years as school director while at
Fayette City, and was secretary of the board during that time with the
exception of one year.  He served also as a member of the borough council
for several years.
In 1871 he was married to Miss Amanda M Cook of Fayette City, a daughter
of James M Cook, then a farmer of the county, who now resides in
Michigan. They have seven children living; the eldest, Wooda N Carr, for
a few years past the brilliant young editor of the Uniontown NEWS, was
born February, 1871, and is now attending school preparatory to entering
the profession of the law. The other children are: John D Carr, Jr,
Charles H Carr, Walter Russell Carr, Edna E Carr, Ethel C Carr, and Katie
B Carr. 
John D Carr's parents, Nicholas Carr and Catherine Burns Carr were
natives of Ireland, who came to America when quite young and were married
in this country. Nicholas Carr was a man of strong mind and fine business
qualifications. He did a large business as a drover and cattle dealer,
and died in 1879 at the age of sixty nine years. His wife died in 1868 at
the age of forty five years.
John D Carr is a member of the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias, and
of the Royal Arcanum. He is P M of Masons, and member of the Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania. 
John Carr possesses great force, energy and determination, and has that
thorough-going disposition which takes right hold of great projects with
both hands, and drives into thick and thin in spite of all obstacles and
opposition, and generally accomplishes whatever he undertakes. 
In politics he is truly democratic and solely a democrat from instinct.
There is none of the demagogue in his nature, nor of the "rule and ruin"
policy. He believes in no "milk and water" politics, but on the contrary
is aggressive and favors hewing close to the line, letting the chips fall
wherever they may. He is of that class of men who, whenever and wherever
placed as representatives of the people's interests, are always true to
the trusts reposed with them, regardless of consequences.