Carr, David

The following data is extracted from The Indian Territory, Its Chiefs, Legislators and Leading Men.

David Carr was the son of Elijah Carr, first cousin of Paddy Carr and second cousin to Charles Weatherford, of Alabama, the latter being son of the great warrior and hero of Fort Mimms, while the former is well known in the history of his country. David Carr's mother was one of the Grayson family, of high reputation among the Muskogees. The subject of our sketch was born in 1841, and educated at the neighborhood schools; but, his parents dying when he was still a boy, he was deprived of many chances of enlightenment. He married, when scarcely twenty-one years old, Angelina Grayson, an aunt to Captain G. W. Grayson. She died the following year, and David married her sister, Caroline, by whom he had three children, Israel, now aged twenty-one years, Emma and Liddie. David's father was the owner of a large plantation and negroes near Fishertown, a part of which is now the property of Mr. William Fisher, but the war destroyed the value of the property, and David went on a small farm on North Fork known as the Hobulchehoma place, which he has since sold (in 1887) to Pilot Grayson. Mr. Carr entered politics through the doorway of the House of Warriors, filling an unexpired term to commence with, after which he went to the House of Kings by election for four years. He also occupied the honorable and highly responsible position of supreme judge for two terms, at different periods. During his last term an occurrence took place that has no parallel in the history of the Muskogees, and which, at the time, called forth almost endless criticism. It was the inauguration, or swearing in, of two principal chiefs within a period of one week. The election being over, J. W. Perryman and his party called at the residence of Judge Carr, announcing the election of the former and the necessity of the judge's official services. The party accordingly repaired to the House of Kings, and J. W. Perryman was there legally sworn in as first chief of his nation. Five or six days later Esparhecher and his party arrived, demanding the services of Judge Carr, and claiming that Esparhecher had a majority of the national vote. The judge could do nothing less, or more, under the circumstances than submit to their solicitations, and Esparhecher was also sworn in. The matter, however, was referred to Uncle Sam, the contending parties visiting Washington, where the dispute was decided in favor of Perryman, who accordingly took his seat as principal chief. Although Judge Carr is not a man of extensive book knowledge, yet he has gathered considerable good, practical experience, which, combined with the natural quickness and shrewdness of the Irish race (which blood predominates in him) renders him quite equal to emergencies on all occasions. During his youth he traveled through the States and Mexico, coming in contact with all classes of men. Mr. Carr has a farm of 100 acres in cultivation near Okmulgee, and a ranch fifteen miles in the country, with 1,200 head of cattle, besides horses and other stock. He is six feet high, of muscular build and prepossessing in countenance. He is kind-hearted, charitable and generous even to a fault, having a large host of friends among all classes of men.

Source: The Indian Territory, Its Chiefs, Legislators and Leading Men

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