Samuel W. CARSON, dealer in general merchandise at Tunnel Hill, Johnson County , Ill., was born in Johnson County in 1866.  He is a son of H. C. CARSON, who was born in Saline
County, Ill., and was a son of Uriah and Mary (PEW) CARSON, both natives of Tennessee, who removed from that State to Saline County, Ill., at a very early day, in fact before the
State was admitted into the Union.  They had a large family, all of whom were born in Tennessee except H. C. and a brother.  Mary CARSON died in middle life, but Uriah CARSON lived
to be very old, and left a small estate.  H. C. CARSON was first married to Elizabeth STONE, who bore him three sons and two daughters, all of whom have died except Elizabeth, wife of
James ESTES.  He was married again, this time to Miss KILLGORE, daughter of Jonathan and Susan (KELLY) KILLGORE, who came from Kentucky to Illinois with eight children in
January, 1849, and settled first as squatters in Elvira Township, where within three years they bought land.  Mrs. CARSON was born in Trigg County, Ky., in 1829, and was one of eight
children, one son and seven daughters.  Her mother died in Elvira Township at about fifty years of age, but her father died in Arkansas.

The mother of our subject, Samuel W. CARSON, was first married to William MATHIS when she was eighteen years of age, and her husband died about two years afterward, leaving her
with two children. She was then married to Daniel JACKSON, who was thrown from his horse and killed within one year, leaving her with one son.  She was next married to Mr. CARSON,
by whom she had nine children, seven sons and two daughters.  The survivors of these children are as follows:  Uriah C., a practicing physician and farmer of Saline County, Ill.; James B., a
farmer of Johnson County; Franklin P., a single man at home on the farm; Nancy J., wife of George LEONARD, a farmer of Tunnel Hill Township; Samuel W.; and Jerome K., who is married
and living at home with his mother and brother, F. P.  The father of this family was well and favorably known to the people of the county, having been prominent in public affairs, and serving
as Sheriff of the county some years.  At his death he owned eight hundred and forty acres of land and left an estate of about $30,000.  His death occurred January 27, 1879, when he was
sixty-six years old. The mother of Samuel W. CARSON is still a strong and healthy woman, looks after the affairs of the farm, and does much of her household work. The father of Samuel
W. was in some respects a remarkable man, having made most of his property after the doctors pronounced him in the last stages of consumption.

Our subject was reared on the farm and had good educational advantages until he left home at sixteen years of age. At this time he accepted a clerkship in his brother P. J.'s store at Tunnel Hill, and remained with him until the latter's death, August 7, 1890, at the age of thirty, when he left a wife and two children.  Samuel W. CARSON opened his store in November, 1891. He is a
single man, and has a promising future. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity.