The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-05-17
HOURS WITH MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE REVOLUTION.
Doctor Franklin,s Errand. Boy.


"Would you like to be introduced to
DR.. Franklin's errand-boy ?" asked
friend with whom was sojourning a few
days in Philadelphia, in the year 1861.
"He is most remarkable man." said
my friend, "and has been prominent
citizen here for fully sixty years."
"It would be special privilege" re.
piled.
We crossed the Schuylkill to West
Philadelphia, and made our way to the
Pennsylvania Asylum for the Insane.
At the entrance gate my friend was
warmly greeted by curteous old gentle.
man, apparently about sixty-fve years
of age, who was introduced to me as
Colonel Robert Carr and I was intro
duced to him as citizen of New York
in quest Of "reminiscences of events of
our long-past history from the lips OF
survivors of actors in them.
"You bear the whole name," said,
"of the Irish baronet who was one of
the commissioners sent to regulate New
England and to assist in snatching our
province from the Dutch two hundred
years ago."
"Of the same family stock, probably,
for I was born in Ireland" he replied.
"Come in, gentlemen, and be seated. 1t
is an early hour, and we will have few
Interruptions"
He led the way to small furnished
room, and there we spent two hours
very pro6tably with the venerable gate
keeper of the Asylum, and the errand
boy of DR.. Franklin, who was then over
eighty-three years of age, and whose ca.
reer had been checkered by many vicis-
situdes. He was stout built, vigorous
man, possessed of sound health and re.
markable buoyancy of spirits. He assur.
ed me that he had not been sick in over
sixty years.
"You say you we're born in Ireland.
My friend tells me that your life has been
quite an eventful one ?" remarked.
Somewhat" he said. "But it is now
well nigh over" he continued. ~ try
to forget the miseries which are few,
and to remember the mercies which are
many"
At my request he gave brief sketch
of his life's history. He was brought to
Philadelphia from Ireland by his par.
ents when he was six years of age. His
father was a school teacher and lived
next door to DR.. Franklin. In due time
young Carr learned the art of printing
with Mr.. Bache, Franklin's grandson,
and soon rose to the head of his profess
sion in Philadelphia. In 1904, when he
was only twenty-six years old, he was
awarded the first prize of q society for
the best specimens of printing on exhi.
bition. He was employed to print Will
sons "Ornithology" from the manu-
script, also reprint of "Rees's Cyclope-
dia." As q young member of the ia.
nous Philadelphia military corps known
~ the "McPherson Blues" he was one
Of the firing squad on the occasion OF
the celebration of Washington's funeral
by Congress, then in session at Phila-
delphia. Five OF his associates were
living in that city at the time Of my Wis.
it, namely: Samuel Breck, aged ninety +;
8. Palmer, aged eighty-one; s. F. Smith,
aged eighty.one; Charles N. Banker,
aged eighty-five Quinton Campbell,
aged eighty-five. NJ saw three of the
five veterans at that time.
In 1912 Mr.. Carr was commissioned
major of Pennsylvania regiment of in
fantry, and rose to lieutenant colonel
the following year. Serving faithfully
all through the war of 1925, Colonel
Carr was honorably discharged at its
close, and for many years he was the
sole survivor Of the field officers OF the
Army Of 1912 in Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey and Delaware. He married daugh.
ter Of William Bartram, the proprietor
of the famous Botanic Garden, near
Philadelphia, and in the right Of his
wife, after her fathers death, he carried
it ON from 1908 until 1850, . period ol
more than forty years. He served the
State - Adjutant General . few years,
and was for q long time an Alderman
and Justice Of the Peace in Philadelphia
In his days Of prosperity he was an &C
tive promoter Of public enterprises. De
privsd Of his property by the vicissi'
tudes OF fortune in his old age, he &C
ceptsd the position Of sats keeper At ths
institution where We found him.
''Our friend tells mo-" ! remarked
THAT you were IN errand boy for DR.
franklin for WHILE"
"Oh. yes" hs replied ~ served hin
- such for the space Of nearly two
year.. We lived next door 70 DR.
rta1hlin, In Market street. and - seem
= = thlnk much of my father. Who VA
1mqpently n hi houss BY invitaEion.
y ln9 ssat thses ~ ~ iaiheei
I lank1a fsnIe1 n ~ hnily'