Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Carrier, R J ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 3:05 am Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907 R. J. Carrier, president of the Carrier-Low Company, manufacturers of paper boxes, conducting an extensive and profitable business at Rockdale, has been a resident of Joliet since 1905. He was born in St. Johns, Michigan, in 1872, a son of Cassius M. and Addie A. (Allen) Carrier, of an old Michigan family. The father was active in politics in his county and served as sheriff and in other offices. Both he and his wife are now deceased. Reared in the place of his nativity and educated in the public schools there, R. J. Carrier afterward went to Denver, where he attended the high school. Later he was a student in night schools in Chicago, studying law for four years, after which he was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1894, but never practiced, although his knowledge of the law has been of decided benefit to him in his business life. During that time he was secretary, treasurer and manager of the Howe & Davison Company, paper box manufacturers, with whom he was connected for twelve years, when he resigned his position and organized his present business in February, 1904, under the name of the Carrier-Low Company. The business was capitalized for forty thousand dollars, with R. J. Carrier as president; William Gibson, secretary; and J. W. Low, treasurer and superintendent. The firm was organized for the purpose of manufacturing folding boxes, which are made from boxboard. The factory is equipped with the latest improved machinery and they have the largest glueing department in the country. The main building is seventy-five by one hundred feet and two stories in height, built of brick. There is also a boiler and engine room forty feet square and they employ one hundred workmen in the manufacture of paper boxes for cereals, matches and other goods, which they supply by contract to the firms, their trade extending from coast to coast. This has become a very extensive and important industry, their capacity being now five hundred boxes per day. The plant was first opened at Chicago, but was removed to Rockdale a year ago. From the beginning the enterprise has proved profitable and in the three years of its existence an extensive trade has been developed. Mr. Carrier was married to Miss Gertrude A. Howe, of Chicago, a daughter of W. B. Howe, the pioneer inventor of folding paper boxes for crackers, best known in connection with his invention of the Uneeda Biscuit boxes. He died about six years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Carrier have two children: Phylip H., six years of age; and Adelaide H., two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Carrier resided for some time at Hinsdale, but are now building a fine residence in Joliet. Mr. Carrier gives his political support to the republican party. He has attained high rank in Masonry and now holds membership with the blue lodge, chapter, commandery and Mystic Shrine, belonging to Medinah Temple of Chicago. He is a member of the Union League Club of Joliet and of the Golf Club, and he and his wife hold membership in the Congregational church. He is recognized as a progressive business man, a valued addition to the manufacturing circles of Joliet, and his comparatively recently established enterprise is now one of the flourishing industrial interests of the city. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/carrier2430nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb