Dale County AlArchives Biographies.....Carroll, Major April 25 1851 - living in 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 18, 2004, 3:25 pm Author: Brant & Fuller (1893) MAJOR CARROLL, farmer and business man of Ozark, was born near Ozark, April 25, 1851. He is the son of Maj. James Carroll and Pennie Kennedy, the former of whom was born in Johnson county, N. C., in 1805, who grew to manhood there, and who was married in 1834, in Johnson county, N. C. He came to Alabama and settled in Dale county in 1837, and became a large realty and negro owner, of which latter he liberated twenty-five at the close of the war. He was a man of judgment and managed his large plantation until the close of his life. His death occurred August 13, 1878. The mother of our subject was born in Lenoir county, N. C., in September, 1810, where she was married in her twenty-fourth year, and became the mother of nine children, four of whom now survive. She died September 23, 1865. The Carroll (originally spelled McCarroll) family in America are descendants of James Carroll, who came to America at an early day and settled on the Atlantic coast. He was the son of Duncan McCarroll and Isabella (Dallas) McCarroll. Major Carroll was brought up in Dale county, devoting most of his time to labor on the farm. At the age of nineteen he engaged in business for himself, and afterward, in company with his brother, opened up a small store in Ozark, in which he was not successful, and at the expiration of four months he closed his store and engaged once more in farming. In this business he has ever since been engaged. He was exclusively occupied with farming until 1881, when he bought forty acres of choice land located within the limits of Ozark. This property he immediately began to improve, opening an avenue through it, building several tenant houses and making other improvements. This proved to be a good investment. In the meantime he erected a substantial brick cotton warehouse, 100x150 feet in size, with a commodious brick store room attached. He then engaged in weighing cotton. He then had side tracks laid to his warehouse, and other first-class shipping facilities. This building with its improvements he sold to the farmers' alliance in 1880. He then erected a substantial brick block with commodious store rooms below and offices above. He now owns in his own right over 2,800 acres of land, and cultivates a portion of it each year. He also owns much valuable city property, all his business having been conducted according to strict business methods, and all his transactions having been straightforward and honest. On January 11, 1872, our subject was married to Miss Sarah E. Branch, daughter of John W. and Emma (Hook) Branch, the former of whom (John W.) was a native of South Carolina, son of William Branch. The Branch family was founded in America by John Branch, and his son, Brittain Branch, was the father of William Branch, who was the grandfather of Mrs. Carroll. John Branch was born April 14, 1822, and was married in Colleton district, S. C., December 8, 1849. He was a farmer, and was in the Confederate service in the last war, serving as a private in the Twenty-seventh Alabama infantry. He came to Alabama, settling in Russell county, where he lived for a number of years, moving to Dale county in 1857. He has always been a man of sound judgment and influence, whose opinion upon various matters has been much sought and highly valued. He still lives. The wife of our subject was born in Russell county, October 15, 1853, and she was married here in her eighteenth year. She has had nine children, as follows: Anna, wife of Ursus McNeil, of Ozark, Ala.; James W., deceased; Major O.; John W.; Emma P.; Marvin C.; Sallie B.; Samuel J. and Corinne. Our subject is a member of the municipal board of Ozark, is junior warden of Ozark lodge, No. 349, A. F & A. M., has always been a democrat, and takes an active interest in. public affairs. He was at one time a member of the farmers' alliance, but severed his connection with than party when he became dissatisfied with its methods. In March, 1892, he was elected a member of the board of directors of the Alabama Midland railroad company. He is a stock-holder in the company, and also in several building and loan associations in Ozark. He started in life with $800 in cash, and from that small sum has built up his large fortune. He attributes his success in life to strict attention to business, and to square and honorable dealing with all men. He encourages all measures calculated to improve his sown and county, and has done much to the building up of the city. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, and holds the office of steward in the church. His wife is also a member of the same church, and both stand deservedly high in the estimation of all. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 809-810 Published by Brant & Fuller (1893) Madison, WI This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb