Carey E. Carroll, ex-county attorney of Wabaunsee county, and one of the most successful lawyers in the state, was born in Shelby county, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1868, son of James and Margaret (Hodge) Carroll. His grandfather, Lawrence Carroll, was descended from Scotch-Irish ancestors. He was a farmer, but took up railroad contracting and helped to build the Hudson River railroad in the State of New York and the Big Four railroad in Ohio. For a time, in the early '40s, he lived in Toronto, Canada, but returned to the United States and located in Clark county, Ohio, and from there removed to Shelby county. During the Civil war he served in the hospital corps of the Union army, as hospital steward, and some years after the war was over the family moved to Nebraska, where Lawrence Carroll died, in 1886. James Carroll was born in Bellville, Canada, March 14, 1844. He moved with his parents to Clark county, Ohio, and when only thirteen years of age accompanied them to Shelby county, where he was reared, attended the public schools, and learned the practical side of farming on his father's homestead. Although only a boy at the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in Company F, Forty-seventh Ohio infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. He took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga and in many engagements along the Mississippi. This regiment was transferred to General Sherman's command, which made the famous march from Atlanta to the sea. Mr. Carroll was taken prisoner, but was paroled and was discharged as a paroled prisoner at Columbus, Ohio, in June, 1865. In August of that year he married Margaret Hodge, and within a few years began to read law and was admitted to the bar in Ohio, in July, 1871. For some time he carried on the active work of his profession in that state; but in 1880 he decided to move west and came to Alma, Kan., where he opened a law office and has since been actively engaged as a lawyer. He is one of the leading members of the insurgent branch of the Republican party and takes an active part in local affairs. Margaret Hodge is a daughter of John S. Hodge of Ohio. This family located in that state at a very early date. Margaret's grandfather was Eber Hodge, famed as a poet. Her father, John Hodge, was one of the "49-ers" who crossed the "Great American Desert" to California in a search for gold and lost his life there. He was the captain of a company of 100 prairie schooners that followed the California trail west from Leavenworth. Carey E. Carroll was only twelve years of age when his father came to Alma, but had already attended the public schools in Ohio, and as there was no high school in Alma at that time he was sent to the Spaulding Commercial College, at Kansas City, Mo., a year and three months, then returned to Alma and worked in his father's office, where he began to read law. On the creation of the Thirty-fifth judicial district he was appointed district court reporter and filled that position about seven years, under Judge William Thomson, and then resigned to accept a similar position under Abijah Wells, in the appellate court for the northern division of the State of Kansas. Mr. Carroll was admitted to the bar in 1895 and opened an office, but still continued reporting. In 1898, while still with Judge Wells, he was elected county attorney and served in that office two years, when he was appointed United States deputy marshal, with headquarters at Wichita, Kan., and served from 1900 to 1902, but resigned to become court reporter at Salina, under Judge R. F. Thompson of Minneapolis, and remained there until he was offered and accepted the position of private secretary to Judge Cunningham of the supreme court of Kansas. Judge Graves reappointed him to the position and he retained it until he resigned to take the appointment of official reporter under Judge Holt of Kansas City, Kan., but a year later tendered his resignation, to return to Alma for the regular practice of his profession. During all the time he was a court reporter he maintained his home at Alma, with the exception of six months at Minneapolis. In 1908 he was again elected county attorney of Wabaunsee county and served until January, 1911. His many friends have been surprised at the able way in which he filled the office of prosecuting attorney and at his broad knowledge of law. He filled this office with marked ability and to the entire satisfaction of his supporters. Added to his legal ability Mr. Carroll is an excellent business man. He has made money and invested in farm lands. In politics he is a Republican and stands high in the party councils. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic order, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, and Commandery, and he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Maccabees. For some years he has been a member of the school board of Alma and has served as city councilman.

In 1893 he married Myrtle M., daughter of C. O. Kinne, the postmaster at Alma, and they have three children: Marguerite B., Edwin A. and Lilia M.