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Benoni Fortner “Ben” Carr

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Birth	:	18 Dec 1857 Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana, USA
Death	:	19 Oct 1951 Nevada, Story County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Nevada Municipal Cemetery, Nevada, Story County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.0215683, -93.4610672
Plot	:	Block 2, Row 5, Plot 39. Lot 17
Description	:	From Nevada Evening Journal August 14, 1948 (page 1) Around the Town With Nell 'There's Nothing Like Getting One's Feet on Mother Earth' Says Ben Carr, 91 B. F. arr, 225 J avenue, who will celebrate his ninety-second birthday the 18th of December, has been a resident of Story County for 84 years. Born in Howard county, near Kokomo, Indiana in 1857 he came to Story county with his parents Mr. and Mrs. "Niley" Carr when he was seven years of age. The Carrs left Indiana for the prairie state of Iowa in 1864. ... Read More	From Nevada Evening Journal August 14, 1948 (page 1) Around the Town With Nell 'There's Nothing Like Getting One's Feet on Mother Earth' Says Ben Carr, 91 B. F. arr, 225 J avenue, who will celebrate his ninety-second birthday the 18th of December, has been a resident of Story County for 84 years. Born in Howard county, near Kokomo, Indiana in 1857 he came to Story county with his parents Mr. and Mrs. "Niley" Carr when he was seven years of age. The Carrs left Indiana for the prairie state of Iowa in 1864. There were five covered wagons in the caravan-- one of which brought Mr. and Mrs. Samuel White-- parents of Home and W. T. White of Nevada. Mr. Carr's uncle, Jimmy Carr, came to Story county from Indiana the year before. This uncle lived to be 101 years of age, the and his wife having lived together for 75 years. In New Albany Township The Carrs spent the first winter in New Albany township but the next year found them located on a farm belonging to Mr. Hawthorne just east of Nevada. Their log cabin was on the hill just his side of the present Northwestern viaduct. The railroad reached Nevada of July 4, 1864, the road running below their log house. Mr. Carr recalls that the trains would stop at the nearby creek for water and also for the sawed wood which was supplied there for the engines. One day a spark from the train fell upon a rotten place in one of the logs and in a short time, the log cabin and the worldly possessions of the Carrs were in ashes. The Early Village Mr. Carr remembers when Nevada was a struggling village. He recalls when the business part of town was down around the south park. He can remember when there was a log house on the W. L. Tipton corner, known as the McLain hotel... when courthouse square was half its present size and there was a row of houses and shoe shop along the south half... he can remember when the present site of the Ambrose store was full of muskrat houses. Mr. Carr remembers the tales of the winter night, December 31, 1863, when the first county courthouse (on the site of the present J. B. Walker home) was burned to the ground... And he remembers that it was rebuilt on the same site. Our nonagenarian remembers the hitching racks which adorned the street after the business part of town "moved over to its present location... and as for 'mud' he says that frequently a farmer would break a single or double tree when driving his wagon through Nevada's 'main-drag.' As he sits in his front yard on Saturday nights and sees the parked auto which line the street--many owned by the farmers who drive in over Story county's paved or gravelled highways--he can visualize the early day farmers with their democrat wagons--or top buggies for that matter, who always brought along a shoved to 'dig-out' if getting mired in the mus on the early day dirt roads. Living in the country as a boy he remembers that their farming was done with double shovel and one horse, then a two horse stirring plow. The single-shovel and one horse were used to mark the furrows and the corn was planted by hand. "I dropped corn all over Story county as a boy" he stated, as he contrasted that slow method with the modern methods of today. Good Fishing When Mr. Carr was a boy out on the Hawthorne farm east of Nevada, it wasn't necessary to go the Minnesota lakes for fishing... He says that there were several large ponds between his home and town that were filled with fish. He recalls his largest catch was a 15-pound catfish. Gone For A Time Mr. Carr was married to Abby Poole who passed away in 1931. Mr. and Mrs. Carr and their family spent a few years out of Story county, when they went to Guthrie county where he "attended the top" at the Black Diamond Coal Mine. They spent one year in Kansas and two in Nebraska. On their return to Story County Mr. Carr found that farm rental had increased in price and at the suggestion of Al Mills he took up mason work. The two men worked together at this trade for twenty years--and that was how Story county lost a good farmer, and Nevada gained a fine brick mason. "I laid the brick on many of Nevada's buildings. The Circle Theatre was one the them. I started at the bottom when the Iowa Sanitarium was built and continued to the top of its chimneys, " he stated. Without any doubt Mr. Carr plastered the interiors on a large share of the houses built in Nevada during his active years--he retired but ten years ago. Perhaps Mr. Carr will be longer remembered because of the fact that he went barefooted much of the time, even at work. He did the because he believed in it--and even at 91 he still enjoys it. "There is nothing like getting one' feet on the moist earth--that's nature" Mr. Carr commented in answer to an inquiry. 91 Years Young This may be the reason that at 91 he looks at least 10 years younger...that he can say "I eat with my own teeth, and read without glasses"...that he is in good health for his years... that he enjoys reading and listening to his radio in order to keep abreast of what is going on in this world... Ben Carr was the second youngest in a family which included brothers William, Jesse Edward, Daniel and sisters Phoebe Ellen, Mrs. Silas Mitchell and two half brothers, James Carr and George Manifee (the latter father of Mrs. David Sowers). Mrs. Mitchell, who died at the age of 87 a few years ago was the mother of Mrs. M. B. Townsend of 106 Q avenue. Mr. Carr is the only surviving member of his family. The half brothers James Carr and George Manifee, each lived until their 94th year. Mr. Carr's father passed away in Nevada at the age of 93 and his mother in the ninetieth year. Mr. Carr and his daughter Myrtle, Mrs. S. M. White, enjoy their pleasant home at 225 J avenue. Another daughter, Mrs. Laura Davis lives in Des Moines. At Leonard Home Mr. Carr has always been a lover of flowers and he expressed his interest in a beautiful and rather unusual hydrangea over at the home of his neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Leonard, 213 J avenue. This plant was sent Mrs. Leonard when she was in the hospital eleven years ago. It had two pretty blooms of the usual hot-house variety. On her return from the hospital Mr. Leonard set out the plant in their back yard. The first few years, while it grew into a large bush-like plant its bloom was scanty, or not at all--but when it began it wasn't satisfied with a few blooms of one color--both last year, and now again this year--it has been covered with around 30 gorgeous blooms--and this is the pay-off--they are varied in shade and color. Last year there were eight different colors in bloom at the same time. From Nevada Evening Journal October 23, 1951 (page 3) Last Rites For B. F. Carr Held At S.D.A. Church Funeral services for B. F. Carr, long time resident of Nevada, were conducted at the Nevada Seventh-day Adventist church Monday at 3 p. m., with Elder G. G. Davenport, Instructor in Bible at Oak Park Academy, reading the Scripture, obituary, and offering the main prayer, and A. Russel Hagen, pastor, preaching the sermon and conducting the graveside service at the Nevada cemetery. A musical prelude was furnished by Elaine Kirk on the violin, accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Otho Kirk. Vocal numbers during the service included vocal solos by Mrs. Russel Hagen "Till the Morning", Lawrence Johnston "The Old Rugged Cross," and duet by Lawrence Johnston and Carl Jorgensen "Beyond the Sunset"; Mrs. Carl Jorgensen was accompanist for these numbers. The Jorgensens are members of the faculty of Oak Park Academy. Casket bearers were Peter Ferden, F. G. King, Otho Kirk, William Leonard, P. K. Mathison and Albert Olesen. Mrs. Albert Olesen and Miss Rose Pardue were in charge of the floral offerings. In addition to these were many memorial offerings given in memory of the deceased for the missions. It was announced that Mrs. Myrtle White, daughter of Ben Carr and a member of the Nevada Seventh-day Adventis church is furnishing the money for the purchase of an outdoor bulletin board for her church which will be erected by members of the congregation. Obituary "B. F. Carr was born near Kokomo, Indiana on December 18, 1857. Had he lived another December 18 he would have been 94 years of age. He passed away October 19, 1951, following at ten-day illness, at Nevada, Iowa. The following is a quotation from the Nevada Evening Journal article about Mr. Carr's death: "This venerable, and highly respected citizen of Nevada, had come to Story county with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Annis Carr when he was a boy of seven years. There were five covered wagons in the caravan which left Indiana for the prairie state of Iowa in 1864. "On November 18, 1877 Mr. Carr was married to Abbie Poole in Story county, Iowa. His wife passed away on July 23, 1931. He was preceded in death by daughter, Rose (Mrs. Thomas Robinson of Sterling, Illinois), one son, Frankie, who died at the age of 6, and an adopted son, Russel, who died at the age of 21. "Mr. Carr is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Myrtle White, of Nevada, and Mrs. Laura Davis, of Des Moines; also by three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren; a nephew, John Carr, of Bloomington, Illinois, the last remaining member of his immediate family, and many other relatives. "While Mr. Carr lived most of his life in Story county he also spent some years in Guthrie county and near Pierce, Nebraska. It was while living in Nebraska that through his own reading of the Bible that Mr. Carr began the observance of the Sabbath. He was eventually baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist church during an Iowa campmeeting held at Des Moines. Mr. Carr's many friends testify to his devout Christian living, to his honesty, and his helpfulness toward every person he met. His life is an inspiration to better living for all of us who knew him." Out of Town Relatives Among the relatives here for the last rites from out of town were the son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Davis of Des Moines, the nephew of the deceased, John Carr of Bloomington, Ill. and other relatives from Colo and Ames.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Benoni Fortner “Ben” Carr's memorial?
Benoni Fortner “Ben” Carr's memorial is located at: Nevada Municipal Cemetery, Nevada, Story County, USA.
When did Benoni Fortner “Ben” Carr death?
Benoni Fortner “Ben” Carr death on 19 Oct 1951 in Nevada, Story County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Benoni Fortner “Ben” Carr's memorial?
Latitude: 42.0215683
Longitude: -93.4610672

Family Members:

Parent

Ananias “Niles” Carr

(1819 - 1912)

Jane Davis Franklin Carr

(1819 - 1909)

Spouse

Sarah Abigail “Abbie” Pool Carr

(1861 - 1931)

Siblings

James Nathan Carr

(1841 - 1935)

Phebe Ellen Carr Jackson

(1849 - 1879)

Children

Rose Carr Robinson

(1879 - 1916)

Mary Myrtle Carr White

(1880 - 1975)

Frankie Carr

(1891 - 1897)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Nevada Municipal Cemetery
Nevada, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0215683, -93.4610672

2. Saint Patricks Cemetery
Nevada, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0233803, -93.4629364

3. Evergreen Memory Gardens
Nevada, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0424995, -93.4682999

4. Knoll Cemetery
Nevada, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0489006, -93.4869003

5. Pleasant Run Cemetery
Nevada, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9864006, -93.4060974

6. Mound Cemetery
Nevada, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9899520, -93.3691480

7. Murphy Cemetery
Richland Township, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0569000, -93.3672028

8. Bloomington Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0466573, -93.5852182

9. Woodland Cemetery
Iowa Center, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9324989, -93.4064026

10. Oak Hill Cemetery
Richland Township, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0891991, -93.3550034

11. Ames Municipal Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0301208, -93.6061249

12. Pleasant Grove Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1063740, -93.5614370

13. Saint James Cemetery
Colo, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0088997, -93.3099976

14. Colo Cemetery
Colo, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0181808, -93.3083420

15. Story Memorial Gardens
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9933014, -93.6112976

16. McMichael Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0852203, -93.5915833

17. Arrasmith Cemetery
Franklin Township, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0855600, -93.5913900

18. First Christian Church Columbarium
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0270500, -93.6174100

19. Walnut Grove Cemetery
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9468994, -93.5903015

20. Cambridge Cemetery
Cambridge, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9067600, -93.5424400

21. Maxwell Cemetery
Maxwell, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8950500, -93.3996900

22. Sheffield Cemetery
Howard Township, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1369020, -93.5585790

23. Saint Thomas Aquinas Columbarium
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0224370, -93.6450840

24. Saint Johns Episcopal Church Columbarium
Ames, Story County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0224100, -93.6481040