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Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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CHARLES CARROLL is Superintendent and Manager of the Electric Railway, Light and Power Company of Sedalia, and is ex-President of the City Council. He is very prominent as a Democratic politician, and in 1885 was honored by being elected Alderman from the Second Ward. In 1887 he was re-elected, and again in 1889, serving six years altogether. During this time he was Chairman of several important committees, and for four years was President of the Board and also Acting Mayor. For the past decade he has been Chairman of the City Central Democratic Committee. It is just fifteen years since he came to Sedalia, being then in the railroad employ, and his ability as a mechanic soon became recognized. When the company with which he is now connected chose him to take charge of their many interests, they displayed great wisdom and discernment, for he is practical in his methods, and thoroughly qualified to fill his responsible position.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were natives of Ireland, but his father, Thomas Carroll, was born in Rutland, Vt. The latter was a locomotive engineer, having learned the business on the old Lehigh Valley Railroad, which runs between Mauch Chunk and Beaver Meadows, and afterwards his run was between Albany and Susquehanna. For a few years he lived in Albany, but his death occurred while he was foreman in the shops at Oneonta. Being in his seventy-fourth year and somewhat deaf, he was accidentally killed by the cars November 6, 1892. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh New York Infantry, for nine months. In front of Ft. Hudson, in 1863, he received a sunstroke, and for two days lay in the rifle pit unattended; he recovered, however, when taken to the hospital. He also belonged to the Sharpshooters, and did gallant service. When there was no longer any need of his services he was mustered out with his regiment and honorably discharged. At the time of his death he was a member of E. D. Farmer Post, G. A. R., of Oneonta, N. Y. Politically he was a Democrat. His wife, Ellen, was born in Concord, N. H., but her father, John McKean, was a native of Ireland. At an early day he crossed the ocean, and for several years was a merchant in Concord. Mrs. Carroll died in December, 1892, aged seventy-one years. Both she and her husband were devoted members of the Catholic Church.

Charles Carroll was born in Middleburg, N. Y., December 11, 1854, and is one of six children who are still living. He attended the public schools of Albany for some time, but was only in his twelfth year when he was apprenticed as a machinist in the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad shops. He continued with that corporation until May 13, 1880, when ill-health caused him to resign his position as foreman at Oneonta. He had risen by degrees from a humble capacity, and was at one time master mechanic at Binghamton.

Desiring to try a life in the West, Mr. Carroll came to this city soon after giving up his former position, and up to the spring of 1886 was a machinist in the shops of the Missouri Pacific Railway, also being foreman of the round-house. Then for the eight months following he was salesman for James O’Brien, of this city. In 1888 he was tendered the superintendency of the Electric Light Company here, having charge of the construction of the plant and lines. Later the company was merged into the Electric Railway Light and Power Company, he being Superintendent of Construction. The plant already has a capacity of three hundred and seventy-five horse power, but it will shortly be necessary to enlarge it. The company has built over fourteen miles of street railway, extending to all parts of the city, and gives regular employment to over fifty men. Mr. Carroll is financially interested in the concern and is one of the Directors.

In 1883 Mr. Carroll and Katie Sullivan were married in this city. She was born in Alton, Ill., but grew to womanhood in Sedalia. Two daughters, Mamie and Nellie, have come to gladden the home of this worthy couple. The family is identified with St. Vincent’s Catholic Church. Mr. Carroll is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Order of Elks, is an officer in Equity Lodge No. 126, A. O. U. W., and is a past officer in the Knights of the Maccabees and the Catholic Knights of America.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Pettis County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Pettis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Pettis County, Missouri family biographies here: Pettis County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Pettis County, Missouri here: Pettis County, Missouri Map

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