BIOGRAPHY: William H. Carr; Meridian, Cayuga co., New York

transcribed and submitted by: Ann Anderson (ann.g.anderson at gmail.com)

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING CITIZENS OF CAYUGA
COUNTY NEW YORK
BOSTON
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY
1894

WILLIAM H. CARR, the leading merchant of Meridian, is one of its most
substantial and prominent business men, and an important factor in promoting
its advancement and prosperity. As a citizen he is held in high repute, and
by his excellent character and straightforward business course in life has
fully established himself in the esteem and confidence of his associates and
neighbors, winning an extensive and lucrative patronage in this vicinity,
his large store containing a complete assortment of general merchandise. He
is a native of New York, and proudly claims Cayuga County as the place of
his birth, which occurred in Port Byron, July 6, 1841.

 The Carr family came originally from Ireland, and possessed in a
remarkable degree the generous traits of the warm-hearted Irish race.
William T. Carr, Sr., who was born and reared in Orange County, New York,
came from there when a young man, and settled in Port Byron in 1800, being
one of the pioneers of this county. The land was then in its virgin state,
wolves, bears, deer, and wild turkeys being abundant in the forests, and
often a source of terror to the inhabitants. Mr. Carr was a tanner and
currier by trade, and pursued his occupation until his early death at the
age of forty-eight years.

 William T., Jr., and Sophia (McCraken) Carr, the parents of William H.,
were both natives of New York, the mother having been born in Washington
County, while her father's birth occurred in Orange County. He was a small
lad when his parents came to Cayuga; and his life was afterward spent in
Port Byron, where he was prosperously engaged in farming. He was a
well-known citizen, and much respected for his personal worth, and was a
stanch adherent of the Democratic party. In his religious views he was a
Universalist. His wife was an esteemed member of the Methodist church. Of
their four children only two are now living William H. and Frances, the
wife of Rev. L. A. Dibble, of Troy, N.Y.

 William H. Carr, the subject of this brief personal history, grew to
manhood in his native town, there receiving a substantial education in its
schools. At the age of seventeen he went to Saginaw, Mich., where he learned
the milling business, and was thus occupied for some years. He subsequently
turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, as more congenial to his tastes
and abilities, first opening a store of general merchandise in the town of
Ira, N.Y., where he remained six years, meeting with good success. In 1889
Mr. Carr established his present place of business in the village of
Meridian; and, by his upright and honorable transactions, courteous and
agreeable manners, and a ready willingness to oblige all patrons, he has
built up a profitable trade, being one of the largest dealers in this
locality, carrying a stock valued at from eight to ten thousand dollars,
with his annual sales amounting to from fifteen to eighteen thousand. His
business has rapidly increased; and, owing to its demands, he has in the
process of erection a large, two-story brick building, twenty-eight by
seventy feet, into which he will remove as soon as it is completed, and
where he will endeavor to still further accommodate his numerous customers
and friends.

 Mr. Carr was united in marriage in 1861 to Esther A. Somers, who was also
born in Port Byron. Their happy family circle has been enlarged and
brightened by the birth of four children; namely, Elizabeth, Ida, Grace, and
William H., Jr. Mrs. Carr is a woman universally respected for her
amiability and kindness of heart, and is a consistent member of the
Presbyterian church. Mr. Carr is liberal in his religious views and a
prominent supporter of the Democratic party. He takes an active interest in
the public welfare, and, although no aspirant for political honors, was
elected and served as Supervisor in Ira, a strong Republican town, in 1876
and 1877, and as Town Clerk in the same town several years, besides holding
minor offices, and is at present Notary Public. Socially, he is a member of
the A. F. & A. M. at Port Byron, Lodge No. 130, and of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen, No. 142, of Meridian, also belonging to the E. A. Union of
Cato.