1925 Biography - James T. Carroll

John Thomas Carroll, James Thomas Carroll. The firm of Carroll Brothers, logging contractors, composed of John Thomas Carroll and James Thomas Carroll, is one of the best-known ones in Franklin Parish. While the firm's headquarters are maintained at Gilbert, John Thomas Carroll resides on his plantation near Gilbert, and James Thomas Carroll lived at Bradley. Lafayette County, Arkansas, for two years, then moving back to Gilbert, Louisiana.

John Thomas Carroll was born in the Pine Ridge district of Webster County, Mississippi, March 7, 1887. James Thomas Carroll was born on the same farm, January 1, l889, and the are the sons of George Thomas and Serena B. (Clark) Carroll, who were born either in Webster or an adjacent county of Mississippi, he in 1853 and she in 1862. They reside at Gilbert, Louisiana, on John Thomas Carroll's plantation. He was engaged in farming, and at different times conducted sawmills and mills for making railroad ties, his operations since the maturity of his Sons being conducted tinder the firm style of G. T. Carroll & Sons. George T. Carroll is a son of William Carroll, a native of North Carolina, who served as an officer in the Confederate army, and after the close of the war came South to Mississippi, and there held the offices of justice of the peace mid sheriff. Eleven children were born to George T. Carroll and his wife, and five of the sons and three daughters are still living: Belma, who is president of the Wisner Nector Company at Wisner, Louisiana, was son of the first marriage; John Thomas; James Thomas; Isaac Nathaniel, who is a second lieutenant in the regular army, is stationed on the coast in North Carolina. He enlisted after the close of the World war and has won his promotion: and Uria Clark, manager of the John Thomas Carroll plantation; Mar Lockie married J. C. Winters of Moorhead, Mississippi; Mable married John Morgan of Lepanto, Arkansas; and Beatrice, the youngest, living at home.

John Thomas Carroll and his brothers attended the free schools of Mississippi. They went into the timber business early, and John Thomas and James Thomas Carroll have remained together in their operations until March 1, 1925, their father continuing with them until 1912. when the firm of Carroll Brothers was founded. This firm operated in the Mississippi Delta until 1917 when removal was made to Louisiana, since which time the firm has been supplying the Fisher-Hurd Lumber Company of Wisner with its logs. Employment is given to 125 men in the workof getting out the logs. The product of the Fisher-Hurd Lumber Company is used by the Fisher Body Company of Detroit, Michigan. While they are now very successful, the Carroll brothers have worked hard for their present position. When they entered the timber business James T. Carroll used to cut the timber and John T. Carroll transported the logs to the mill with oxen, and their day's work lasted as long as they could keep awake. Both brothers, in addition to their logging interests, operate individual plantations. They are firm believers that any man can succeed if he is willing to work and save, and then invest wisely what he has accumulated.

In 1913 John Thomas Carroll was married to Miss Leller Triplett, a daughter of S. E. and Daisy Triplett of Tenn Ridge, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll have one son, Thomas Earl. Mr. Carroll is a Baptist and Mason, and his wife is a Methodist. They are very fine people, and their plantation near Gilbert is oftentimes the scene of delightful social events when they entertain their many friends with true Southern hospitality.

James Thomas Carroll was married on March 4, 1914, to Johnnie Elizabeth Ross, who died March 6, 1915. He next married Eva Nell Sides on April 4, 1917, who died March 6, 1918. He then married on May 4, 1919, Lela Mayo. To this union were born the following children, James, Jr., born July 18, 1920; Edna Earle, born December 25, 1921; George Haskell, born February 4, 1923; Robert Lee and Ralph Gill (twins), born November 2, 1924. It so happened that these children were all born on a Sunday.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 119-120.