Submitted by Lisa Hamilton Thanks Lisa!

Goodspeed, 1889
P. J. Carr is now living a retired life, but has led an active career and was one of the most successful merchants and planters in this section. He was born in Logan County, Ky., November 5, 1816, to Daniel and Martha (Jones) Carr, they being born, reared and married on Blue Grass soil. P. J. Carr is the eldest of their four children, the other living members being Mary E. (wife of David Robison, now living in California), and Seth G. The father first moved from Kentucky to Illinois in 1836, and in that state died in 1847, a member of the Baptist Church, his wife's death having occurred in 1824.

P. J. Carr was married in Johnson County, Ark., in 1861, to Miss Levina Willes, who was born in Kentucky in 1825, but her death occurred in 1874, after she had borne her husband two children: Cynthia J. (wife of M. H. Hobbs, manager of Mr. Carr's store at Knoxville), and one child that died in infancy unnamed.

Mr. Carr engaged in the mercantile business in Knoxville in the fall of 1887, but this establishment is now under the management of his son-in-law, Mr. Hobbs. Besides this, Mr. Carr is the owner of 250 acres of valuable land, of which 140 acres are under cultivation, improved with good house, barns, etc. He has long been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and as a citizen and upright man has not his superior in this section of the country.

His son-in-law, Mr. M. H. Hobbs, is a Virginian, born in 1850 to W. F. and C. E. (Stalke) Hobbs, they being Virginians also, and married in that state. Ten children were born to their union of whom the subject of this sketch is next to the youngest. His father died in Virginia in 1868, and his mother in 1884. After the death of his father M. H. Hobbs came to Arkansas to attend school at Little Rock, but at the end of four months he received word of the serious illness of his father and immediately returned home. In 1874 he returned to Arkansas, and in 1877 brought the first stock of goods to what is now known as Knoxville Station, he having the honor of naming the town.

In 1887 he sold his store to P. J. Carr, now his father-in-law, and is now managing the business for him. He was the first station agent at that place, which position he held for eight years, and was the first postmaster of the town, being appointed in 1877, and served until 1881. He was married in 1878 to Miss Cynthia J. Carr and their union has resulted in the birth of four children: Philip J. (deceased), William F., M. H. and Hutakah E. Mr. Hobbs and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he belongs to Knoxville Lodge No. 30, of the I. O. O. F.

Lisa Hamilton submitted the above data from Goodspeeds; she did so to help others, is not researching the above person or families mentioned therein.

Return to Johnson County Families® Index