A lifelong resident of the old Creek Nation, Rev. Robert CARR has found opportunity for usefulness and service to his people both as a farmer and for many years as a preacher. He is one of the old timers well worthy of the distinction of historical record.
He was born west of Fort Gibson on the Arkansas River in the Creek Nation, about 1845, a son of Thomas and Sally (Russo) CARR. His parents were natives of Alabama and were members of the Creek tribe. Thomas CARR was a well educated man, having been sent to a boarding school in Kentucky. The mother came to Indian Territory first, and she lived in the territory until her death, in 1871. She died about a mile from where her son, Rev. Robert, now lives. The father was a soldier in the Confederate army, and died at one of the refugee camps about 1863. His business was that of stock raiser. Of the two children the son Richard served all through the Civil war, and died in 1867.
Robert CARR during his boyhood attended the Asburry Mission School, and learned to read, but after that he had no further education. In a business way he has found employment for his energies and accumulated considerable estate by farming and stock raising. Since the close of the war he has had his home in what is now Hughes County, and his 110 acre homestead adjoins the little city of Wetumka on the southeast. Until Wetumka was founded, in 1900, the nearest town was Eufaula. All members of Mr. Carr's family have their allotments.
Rev. Robert CARR was for several years sheriff, or light horse captain, in the Creek Nation. In politics he is a democrat. In 1871 he joined the Missionary Baptist Church, and ten years later was ordained as a preacher, and has been active in the work ever since. For many years he traveled as a missionary among his own people and the Cherokees, and served as pastor of local missions.
In 1871 he married Elizabeth BARNETTE, who was a Creek Indian and was born near Eufaula, April 13, 1855. She has spent practically all her life in this one locality. Her parents were Daniel and Sally BARNETTE, the former a Creek Indian and the latter possessing half white blood. Mrs. CARR's mother died along the Red River during the war, while her father was a Confederate soldier and died near Fort Smith. Of the three sons and three daughters in the Barnette family two are now living, Louisa GRAY near Wetumka, and Mrs. CARR.
Mr. and Mrs. CARR lost three sons in infancy, and their five living daughters are: Mrs. Nettie FRAZIER, who lives in the same neighborhood as her parents, and has one child; Addie SMITH, of Wetumka; Ida MC COY, who lives at Wetumka, and has seven children; Lulu CANARD, of Wetumka, and the mother of one child; and Anius CANARD, of Wetumka, who has two children.
