Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
FRANK P. CARROLL. If there is one thing which distinguishes the American tradesman or business man from those of any other country it is the faculty with which any and all occupations are readily taken up by him and made successful. In the older countries it was customary for the son to follow the father's pursuit. "Follow your father, my son, and do as your father has done," was a maxim which most of sons were expected to adopt. In this country we find few men of the present generation engaged in the same pursuits as were their fathers, except among the farming element. Frank P. Carroll, chief engineer in the Frisco's North Side shops, Springfield, has turned his hands to various things and proved that farming was not the only occupation which he could make successful.
Mr. Carroll was born May 2, 1863, near Frankfort, Clinton county, Indiana. He is a son of Moses Carroll, who was born at Troy, New York. He grew up in his native state, attended school and learned the carpenter's trade there, later removing to Clinton county, Indiana, where he established his home. He is now deceased. He married Hannah Clark, a daughter of A. B. Clark, of Clinton county, Indiana, and a native of Kentucky, from which state the family removed to Indiana in 1840. Ten children were born to Moses Carroll and wife, four of whom died in infancy; the others were named as follows: Louisa J. is a widow and resides at Zion City, Illinois; Wilson B., who was a carpenter and engineer, is deceased; Mattie, also a widow, is engaged in dressmaking at Phillipsburg, Montana; Relda is the wife of Ellis Kiser, a draftsman by trade, and they reside in Springfield, Missouri; Mary, commonly known as Mollie, is the wife of Gus Widmeyer, a farmer of Greene county, this state, and Frank P. of this sketch.
The subject of this review spent his boyhood in Clinton county, Indiana, and received his education in the common schools. When seventeen years of age he went to work as a farm hand, later worked as fireman in a flouring mill in Boone county, Indiana, for two years, then came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1884, and went into the dairy business with his brother-in-law, J. N. Kern, remaining in this line of endeavor two years. The next two years we find him employed at an electric light plant and in various other positions. He also worked at the old Coon Tobacco Works, under George H. McCann, who was president of the concern. Our subject worked here as engineer from 1888 to 1900, in which year he was made chief engineer, and continued in this capacity with the plant until it was absorbed by the American Tobacco Company, whereupon he went to the South Side or old Gulf shops, and was assistant engineer here for two years. He then went to California, where he remained a year as chief engineer for the Italian-Swiss Wine Company at Kingsburg, that state. Returning to Springfield, Missouri, he took a position as gas and steam fitter with the Springfield Gas Company and worked at this two years, then farmed a year, having previously purchased a farm near the Valley Water Mill. He then came back to Springfield and worked as chief engineer at the Frisco Hospital for two months, then was chief engineer at the Metropolitan Hotel for some time, after which he worked as night engineer in the North Side Frisco shops, remaining there from September, 1905, to May 12, 1910, when he was promoted to chief engineer there, which position he still holds. He has thirty hands under his direction and as in all his former positions is giving entire satisfaction.
Mr. Carroll was married in 1890 to Dora Gardner, who was born on the old Phelps farm in Greene county, Missouri. She is a daughter of Allen A. Gardner, of Springfield. She grew up in this county and was educated in the common schools.
To our subject and wife four children have been born, namely: Myrtle is single and lives at home; Leonard married Mattie Leamon, and he is employed as typewriter repairer at the Gardner Office Supply Company in Springfield; Frank is employed as typewriter repairman at the office of the Underwood Typewriter Company in Springfield; Paul is attending school.
Our subject and wife celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary on November 5, 1914. They reside on Clay street.
Politically Mr. Carroll is a Republican. He belongs to the Christian church. He is a member of the National Order of Stationary, Engineers No. 9, the Springfield division.
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