On another page of this work may be found a view of the residence and grounds of Thomas Carroll, in the beautiful and picturesque village of Philmont. The owner of this beautiful and cosy (sic) home is a hale, fine-looking gentleman in the prime and vigor of manhood, who, by his unaided exertions, has acquired a very comfortable fortune. He is the son of John Carroll (now deceased), and one of a family of six brothers and three half-sisters. He was born at Stockport, in Columbia Co., N. Y., May 20, 1840. At four years of age his father removed his family to Haverstraw, and afterwards to New York, Brooklyn, and various other places, following his occupation of calico-printer and woolen-manufacturer.

     The mother of our subject died when he was thirteen years old, leaving his father with a family of seven small children. Up to this time Thomas had few advantages for [p. 252]  acquiring even the rudiments of an education, he having been put to work in the mills at a still earlier age. After his mother's death he was legally adopted by Mr. George Golden, of Greene Co., N. Y., with whom he made his home until his majority. At seventeen years of age he became desirous of learning the paper-manufacturing business, and, after obtaining the consent of Mr. Golden, he hired out to Mr. William R. Dingman, of Leeds, Greene Co., where he remained three years, during which time he became a practical paper-maker. At the age of twenty-one, in 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances Jones, a daughter of Jeremiah Jones, of Philmont.  He was at that time at work for Horton Harder, in his paper-mill in Philmont. He was engaged as a workman, superintendent, and lessee of the Excelsior paper-mills of Philmont for a period of eighteen years, during which time he also leased and ran the Philmont paper-mill for one year. In 1875, his lease having expired, he retired from active business, with the exception of buying out the Port Byron Paper Company, which mill he ran for about one year, and then sold out, and engaged in dealing in stocks, bonds, and mortgages. Mr. Carroll presents in his career as a business man, a useful lesson to the poor, struggling, but ambitious boy, starting as he did with nothing but willing hands and untiring energy, and by prudence and economy accumulating the nucleus of a fortune and an independent position among men.