J. F. Carson, the subject of this sketch, did not come to Racine until 1870, but has since been prominent in the affairs of the township and very widely known. He was born near Mr. Vernon, Maine, in 1843, and was a farmer's boy, employed early and late by all the duties that that vocation implies. Each winter James was allowed eight to ten weeks of a country school, and this was nearly all the education he received.

At the age of seventeen he went away from home to work for his uncle, having a cash capital of seventy-five cents to start in life with. In 1861 he went to work in a hotel in Natick, Mass., and in 1863 responded to the call of his county and enlisted in Co. 16, 4th Mass. Cavalry. His regiment was nearly all the time in the army of the James. He was among the first who entered Richmond after its capture in 1865. Carson was put on guard in the city for four months, when he was discharged, and went back to his childhood's home for a year.

After this he spent some time as hotel clerk in Natick, and in 1869 again went home to claim Miss Amanda Goodwin as his estimable bride. The lived at Mt. Vernon until they sought there western home in Racine. He purchased a half section of land, his uncle owning the other half. This uncle died the next fall and it all became the property of the nephew. To this he added 240 acres, until now he owns one of the finest and mst productive farms in Racine.

Mr. Carson has always taken an active part in local politics, being a staunch Republican from his youth up. He has held many town and village offices and has twice been representative from the north district. He served both terms and with credit being a member of several important committees. In October 1886, he removed his family to Grand Meadow village, where they now reside.

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Submitted to MnGenWeb by Darrel K. Waters