and benevolent. In appearance he was tall and commanding.
He was a great favorite with the people. He was for eight years successively elected to the House of Commons, 1750 to 1758, and Senator in 1791 to 1795. He was elected a member of Congress in 1797-'99. He married Margaret Moffett, sister of the wife of Colonel Joseph McDowell. He lived on the east side of John's River, about seven miles from Morganton.
One of his sons, Hugh Harvey, resides in Missouri and is the father of Mrs. Governor Parsons.
Another son (Joseph J.,) is a citizen of Ohio, and was elected a member of Congress from Ohio in 1843-'47.
One of his daughters married--Christman, and after his death married Judge Wake, of Kentucky.
THE CARSONS OF BURKE COUNTY.
John Carson was the progenitor of this family, so distinguished in the annals of our State.
He was a native of Ireland, born on 24th day of March, 1752; came to America and settled in Burke County about 1773.
He possessed naturally a powerful intellect, great decision of character, much capacity for business, quick, resolute, impulsive. He was consequently a man of prominent character and of much influence in his county, and for many years its leading magistrate.
In 1805 and 1806 he was a member of the Legislature from Burke County.
He lived on Buck Creek, accumulated a large estate, and raised a large family. He was twice married. His first wife, as before stated, was the daughter of "Hunting" John McDowell, and their children were James, Jason, Joseph McDowell, Rebecca, John, Charles and Sally.
His second wife was the widow of Colonel Joseph McDowell, who was the daughter of George Moffett, of Augusta County, Va., and the sister of Margaret, wife of General Joseph McDowell.
Their children were Samuel Price; William M.; Matilda; George and Jonathan L.
Colonel John Carson died on the 5th of March, 1841.
Joseph McDowell Carson, son of John Carson and Rachel McDowell, his first wife, was distinguished for his integrity and brilliant intellect. He practiced law for many years with eminent success. He much preferred the steady and uniform life of a jurist to the uncertain and fitful career of a politician. Yet he represented his county in the Legislature; in the Commons in 1812, 1813, 1814 and 1835; and in the Senate in 1832, 1836, and 1838, and was a member of the State Convention of 1835, to amend the Constitution. He lived on Green River, in Rutherford County. He married his cousin Rebecca, daughter of James Wilson, and had many descendants; Tench, who married a daughter of Vardy McBee; Rachel, who married Otis; Jason, who married Moore; Margaret; Charles; Joseph McDowell; John; Catherine; James; Milton.
One of his granddaughters, Rebecca, was the wife of the late Washington M. Hardy, librarian of the present House of Representatives, (1879.)
William M. Carson, son of Colonel John Carson, by his second wife, was born December 6, 1801.
He represented Burke County in 1838 and 1840. He had no fondness for political life, but was deservedly very popular, and received nearly a unanimous vote for the Legislature. But having no political aspirations declined public service.
He was twice married, first to Almyra, daughter of Samuel Wilson, of Tennessee; and his second wife was Catherine, the widow of Samuel P. Carson, daughter of James Wilson, of Tennessee. He lived on Buck Creek, in
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