Name: Harry Edward Carson (1888–1973)
Born: 27 March 1888 in Mapleton, Maine
Child 1: Baby Carson (1926–1926)
Child 2: Henry Smith Carson (1927–2002)
Died: 19 January 1973 in Presque Isle, Maine
Buried: Ashland Municipal Cemetery, Ashland, Maine
 

 

Harry Edward Carson was born to George and Selena (Raven) Carson on 27 March 1888 in Mapleton, Maine. Here's his birth record, but it was recorded in 1938 when Harry was 50. 

Maine Birth Record — Harry Edward Carson
Maine Birth Record — Harry Edward Carson

Harry's parents divorced in 1894 when he was six years old. His first appearance on the US Federal Census was in 1900, where he was living with two of his older brothers, Frank and George, in Mapleton. They are on lines 88–90.

1900 US Census — Mapleton, Maine
1900 US Census — Mapleton, Maine

By 1910, Harry had made his way to Oxbow, Maine. He was living at that time with Wilmon Fleming's family. It appears that Harry and Wilmon may have been working odd jobs together, based on the occupation field on the census. Harry appears on line 41 in the image below:

1910 US Census — Oxbow, Maine
1910 US Census — Oxbow, Maine

Harry enlisted in the U.S. Army on 19 September 1917. His World War I Registration cards are below:

World War I Registration Card — Harry E. Carson
World War I Registration Card — Harry E. Carson
World War I Draft Registration Card — Harry E. Carson
World War I Draft Registration Card — Harry E. Carson

He served as a private in the supply company for 303rd Field Artillery Regiment of the 151st Field Artillery Brigade of the 76th Infantry Division at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and probably handled the ammunition for the heaviest field artillery we had at the time, the French-designed 155mm howitzer. On 18 June 1918, a month before the 303rd FA Regiment was deployed to France, Harry was transferred to  the 151st Depot Brigade. He did not see any action overseas and was honorably discharged six months later on 4 December 1918.

After leaving the military, Harry moved back to Oxbow and was living with his sister Vesta's family at the time of the 1920 census. You can see the Flemings and Harry on lines 82–86 in the following image:

1920 US Census — Oxbow, Maine
1920 US Census — Oxbow, Maine

On 12 July 1924, Harry married Florence May Smith in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada. Their marriage record:

New Brunswick Marriage Record — Harry Edward Carson and Florence M. Smith
New Brunswick Marriage Record — Harry Edward Carson and Florence M. Smith

Harry and Florence's first child was a boy born stillborn on 30 May 1926. I haven't found any records indicating whether or not he was given a name.

Just over a year later, Florence gave birth to Henry Smith Carson in Houlton, Maine on 22 August 1927. He was named after Florence's father, Henry Asa Smith.

A year and a half later, Harry appears to have suffered some sort of injury or illness, per this note in the newspaper:

note from the Presque Isle Star-Herald, 17 January 1929
note from the Presque Isle Star-Herald, 17 January 1929

The family was living in Oxbow at the time of the 1930 census. Harry was listed as working in the woods at the time. They appear on lines 44–46 in the image below:

1930 US Census — Oxbow, Maine
1930 US Census — Oxbow, Maine

Sometime in the 1930s, the family moved to Ashland, Maine, where Harry would live out the rest of his life. The 1940 census shows the three Carsons living with Florence's father, Henry A. Smith, who was a guide and taxidermist, on lines 62–65 in the image below. Henry A. Smith would pass away later that year. 

1940 US Census — Ashland, Maine
1940 US Census — Ashland, Maine

In 1950, Henry S. Carson was still living with Harry and Florence in Ashland, but he'd soon marry Viola McGuigan and start his own family. The three of them appear on lines 19–21.

1950 US Census — Ashland, Maine
1950 US Census — Ashland, Maine

Harry passed away on 19 January 1973 in Presque Isle at age 84.

Obituary of Harry Carson in the Bangor Daily News, 22 January 1973
Obituary of Harry Carson in the Bangor Daily News, 22 January 1973

Harry was buried in Ashland Municipal Cemetery. Florence would join him there 10 years later.

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