The McCarroll Families of Wapello County, Iowa

CHARLES T. McCARROLL.

On the list of Ottumwa's dead appears the name of Charles T. McCarroll, long prominently, actively and honorably associated with its business interests, being especially active in manufacturing circles. His life was at all times useful, purposeful and resultant, and in the accomplishment of his purposes he promoted not only individual success but also advanced the gen-

KY eral prosperity through the employment which he furnished to many workmen. A native of Ohio, he was born in Leesville, April lo, 1851, his parents being W. F. and Mary E. (Timmerman) McCarroIl. The father was a representative of one of the old families of the Buckeye state and there devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits until he came to Iowa, establishing his home in Ottumwa. He married Mrs. Mary E. Ross, nee Timmcrman, and she died when their son, Charles T. McCarroIl, was but two years of age. A daughter by a former marriage was Mrs. Mary E. Hennegan. After losing his first wife the father wedded Mary Millsack, and they had four children: J. B. and W. F., well known in Ottumwa as partners in the firm of McCarroll Brothers, hardware merchants; Mrs. Phoebe Biddison; and Mrs. Laura Kilby, of Ottumwa.

Charles T. McCarroll was a lad of fifteen years when he accompanied his parents to Wapello county, settling upon a farm near Kirkville. There he resided until 1871, when the family removed to Ottumwa, and he and his father entered the hardware trade under the firm style of W. F. McCarroll & Son, purchasing the business of William Kraner on Main street. Twenty years later the father passed away, but the business was still conducted under the old firm style until Februarv, 1898, when Charles T. McCarroll sold out to the Harper & Mclntire Company and entered upon the business of manufacturing stoves. He bought land on West Second street and erected a.building thirty by one hundred and eighteen feet, with an ell twenty by thirty feet to be used as a storeroom. He employed a large force of workmen, and he installed a large number of special machines, a number of which were patented by him. He not only engaged in the manufacture of stoves but also of huge tanks of his own invention. In 1901 he invented a tank heater and in 1907 a stove pipe thimble, which is the best on the market. He operated that plant until his death, which occurred on the 15th of Julv, 191 1. His manufactured products all displayed an excellence that secured a ready sale for the output and year by year the business increased, its trade covering a wide territory.

Mr. McCarroll was united in marriage November 6, 1877, in Wapello county, to Miss Emma L. Foster, a daughter of Thomas Foster, and they became the parents of three children: Mary, now the wife of Ralph McCullough of Seattle, Washington; Helen, now Mrs. Charles B. Jordan, of Minneapolis; and Laura, who is a graduate of Ottumwa high school and still at home. She is now connected with her mother in carrying on the business left by the husband and father, and has been superintendent of the McCarroll Manufacturing Company for three years. Mrs. McCarroll owns a farm in Washington township and a fine residence in this city. Both mother and daughter are ladies of excellent business ability, indicating their worth in the capable control of the interests which were left to them by husband and father. He was well known as a member of the Royal Arcanum and was a stalwart supporter of the republican party, which elected him to the office of alderman in the sixth ward. He was a charter member of the Wapello club. He was interested in all civic matters and supported every movement which he deemed of value and benefit to the community. His life was honorable, his actions many and sincere and he enjoyed the respect, confidence and good-will of those with whom he came in contact.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. B. McCARROLL.

y. B. McCarroll is sole owner of a hardware, stove, tinware and sporting goods business, conducted under the name of McCarroll Brothers, and Ottumwa classes him with her representative merchants. He early recognized the eternal principle that industry wins, and industry became the beacon light of his life, guiding him to the present goal of successful endeavor.

He was born at Leesville, Ohio, October 29, 1859, son of W. F. and Mary M. (Millisack) McCarroll, who were also natives of the Buckeye state. About 1865 they removed westward, settling at Kirkville, Iowa, where they resided until 1871, when they came to Ottumwa, where the death of the father occurred twenty years later, on the 24th of December, 1891, when he was sixty-eight years of age. His widow survived for about eight years and passed away in 1899 also at the age of sixty-eight. In early life the father followed farming, continuing in that occupation until he came to Ottumwa, when he entered the stove business under the firm style of W. F. McCarroll & Son, the junior partner being his son, C. T. McCarroll. He remained actively in the business until his death and from a comparatively small beginning developed it into an extensive wholesale and jobbing business. He also conducted a retail department, and his patronage was a liberal one, for his business methods and his enterprise commended him to the confidence and support of the public. At one time he was alderman of Ottumwa from the fourth ward, being elected to the office as the candidate of the republican party, of which he was a stalwart advocate. He made for himself a prominent place in public regard not only by reason of his success in business but also owing to his devotion to the general welfare and his co-operation in many movements looking to the public good. To him and his wife were born five children: Phoebe, the wife of P. C. Bidderson of Ottumwa; J. B.; Laura, the wife of E. L. Kilby of Ottumwa; W. F., deceased; and C. T.

J. B. McCarroll, whose name introduces this review, pursued a public-school education in Ohio and Iowa and on the 20th of June, 1876, when a young man of about seventeen years, began learning the tinner's trade. He was associated with his father in the management of the business until after the father's death, when J. B. McCarroll and his brother, C. T., succeeded to the business and conducted it until 1898. They then sold out to the firm of Harper & Mclntire. J. B. McCarroll then spent a year in settling up the accounts of the old firm. At that time his brother-in-law, P. C. Bidderson, was conducting the hardware business now owned by our subject, and when the accounts of the old firm had been settled up Mr. McCarroll took the management of the business, and his brother, W. F. McCarroll, became his partner. This relation was maintained until 1909. when, following the death of his brother, J. B. McCarroll purchased the widow's interest and has since conducted the business alone, although retaining the old firm name of McCarroll Brothers. He has been continuously connected with the hardware trade in Ottumwa for thirty-eight years and is today one of the leading merchants of the city. He carries a large and well selected line of hardware, stoves, tinware and sporting goods, and his patronage is extensive. He always endeavors to please his customers, and his promptness and reliability are features in his growing success.

In 1899 Mr. McCarroll was united in marriage to Miss Ida B. Amos, of Lima, Ohio, and to them were born three children, Ida Blanche and two who died in infancy. Mr. McCarroll is an active member of the Masonic fraternity and is now a past master of Ottumwa Lodge, No. 16, A. F. & A. M.; and a past commander of Malta Commandery, No. 31, K. T. He is likewise a charter member of the Elks lodge of his city, and he belongs to the Wapello and the Country Clubs. His religious faith is that of the spiritualist sect, with which his parents and grandparents were also connected. In politics he is a republican and the family were strong abolitionists in ante bellum days. Thus it was that the son was given the name of John Brown McCarroll. For forty-three years a resident of Wapello county, he is widely known and the many sterling traits of his character have gained him the favorable regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact through business or social relations.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES E. McCARROLL.

James E. McCarroU spent many years of his life as a farmer of Wapello county, where he owned and cultivated a good tract of land of eighty-one acres just north of the city of Ottumwa, on the Court Street road. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, October 14, 1847, and his last days were spent on the old homestead farm, where he passed away May 29, 1909, at the age of nearly sixty-two years. His parents were Scott and Susan (English) McCarroll, natives of Ohio. Removing westward they became early settlers of Wapello county, taking up their above upon a farm near Kirkville, where their remaining days were passed. They reared a family of ten children, eight of whom are now living.

This family included James E. McCarroll, who was but a little lad of less than three years when brought by his parents to Iowa in 1850. From that time forward he continued a resident of the middle west, and the greater part of his life was devoted to farming. For a considerable period in early manhood he engaged in general agricultural pursuits in Kansas, but returned to this county and invested in a farm of eighty-one acres, his place being situated just north of the city on the Court Street road. It is a good property, well developed and improved with many modern equipments and buildings.

Mr. McCarroll was married twice. He first wedded Lottie Sinnard of Kirkville. On the 30th of December, 1886, he married Miss Ida M. Millisack, who was born in Ashland, Wapello county, June 17, 1857, a daughter of J. W. and Catharine (Overholt) Millisack, whose biographies appear elsewhere in this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McCarroll were born three sons: Harrison, a resident of Sterling, Illinois; and Ray and Morris, both at home. Mr. McCarroll continued to engage in farming to the time of his death. In politics he was a Republican, stanch in his advocacy of the principles of the party. He did not seek office, however, as a reward for party fealty, but was content to do his public duty as a private citizen. However, he co-operated in various movements for the general good, and his worth was widely acknowledged.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.