J. Clarence Carr
J. Clarence Carr, one of the most active young business men in the city of Marion, Indiana, is a prominent figure in the real estate world in this section of the state. He is of that type of modern business men who are firm believers in the practicality of progressive methods of doing business and who are not afraid of innovations. Although of Southern birth and parentage, Mr. Carr shows none of the traits commonly associated with the easy going Southerner. He is active and energetic and although still a young man he has made a reputation as a business man of ability.
J. Clarence Carr was born on the 21st of December, 1871, in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He is the son of Solomon J. and Mary (Vaughn) Carr, both of whom were born in Virginia in the early days of the country from England. Solomon J. Carr was a large land owner and a contractor in Virginia, and he died in that state in 1875. Mrs. Carr lived until 1903. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are now living. These are Darius W. Carr of Windsor, Virginia; Claudius L. Carr, of Lewisburg, West Virginia; and J. Clarence Carr.
The childhood and youth of J. Clarence Carr were entirely spent within the bounds of his native state. He received his earlier education in the common schools of the state and later spent two years in a military academy at Suffolk, Virginia. He began his business career as a shoe salesman for his brother at Newport News, Virginia, and later went to Norfolk, where he managed a shoe store for another brother. He remained here for two years and then he engaged in the management of a merchandise brokerage office in the same city. After two years in this line he determined to come further west and so in 1896 he came to Marion, Indiana. Here he first engaged in the merchandise brokerage business, but after a year of this he decided there was a greater opening in the real estate field and so became engaged in real estate, insurance and first mortgage real-estate loans. He has built up a flourishing business and in addition has established a fine reputation for fair and upright dealing, a fact that is constantly increasing the volume of his business.
Mr. Carr is a member of the First Methodist Church, and in addition to being one of the stewards is very much interested in Sunday School work, being secretary of that body. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the I.O.O.F. and the Ben Hurs.
Mr. Carr was married on the 31st of December, 1893, to Miss Carrie E. Jones, of Norfolk, Virginia. She is the daughter of Reverend C.J. Jones, D.D., who for two years was the pastor of the Christian Temple in Marion. He died in 1907. Mrs. Carr is a woman of culture and education and she and her husband are very popular in the social world of Marion.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner