The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-07-27
PEACE OFFICER
A KENTUCKIAN
]. X. CARSON BLUE GRASS NATIVE
Chief Keeps HoOd River One Of Cleanest
Towns in Oregon Father Of
Big Family

You may travel many leagues and
inspect many towns before you find
cleaner. morally as well as otherwise,
little town than Hood River. Even in
the early spring months when scores of
nomad travellers. nondescript human
beings, tramps and outcasts, are trav.
cling up and down the Columbia river
gorge, the undesirable element is kept
moving, and but few robberies, burg.
laries or petty thefts are ever heard of
in Hood River. Woe be to the tramp
that happens to endeavor to linger too
long around here or down in the jungles
of willows and cottonwood.
! II the hobo fingers he will soon see,
very likely, a tall. serious faced man,
wearing heavy blue coat. designating
his authority of police officer, bearing
down upon him. The owner Of the face
and the coat will be J. X. Carson, a
man known to every Hood River man,
woman and child.
II the unwelcome visitor complies
with Marshal Carson's request and
seeks temporary residence in some
quarter far removed, all well and good.
Mr.. Carson will accompany him, per-
haps to the edge of the city, silent and
serious. II the tramp attempts to OBJ
ject or make excuses. he will soon dis
cover that he has met with an arbi-
trary minion of the law. Different
remarks of the men with whom he
deals in the jungles affect, Mr.. Carson
in different manner. Sometimes it will
appeal to his sense of humor and he
will emit a dry laugh as he enforces
his commands. Sometimes he grows
angry and begins to talk. When this
occurs, as tramps who have travelled
this way have learned. something is
imminent. Mr.. Carson is not averse
at times to giving recalcitrant hobo
sound thrashing.
But MIR. Carson is a pretty good
Judge of human nature. Often in his
rounds of the jungles he will run across
some bit Of human driftwood that is
harmless, man who is in need Of help
and sympathy, man not all lost, one
who just needs helping hand to lift
him from the rut. j. K. never hesi-
tates when he finds such human be-.
ing. He has helped many .man to
secure work. 1t is rare that he is ever
fooled in his judgment.
By night and day. summer and win
ter. j. X. Carson is on the lookout for
the good of the town Of Hood River.
Some of his townspeople no doubt crit
icise at moments. No public official
ever escaped criticism. Mr.. Carson
does his duty as he sees it. He perhaps
realizes that the commentator of his
actions overweighs the criticism.
J. X. Carson is native of Kentucky.
He was born near Somerset May a,
1864. He was member of family
of IL children, seven sons and four
daughters. Mr.. Carson's father passed
away in 1899. His mother died:in 1903.
The south is noted for its big families.
Mr.. and Mrs. Carson are believers in
the old fashioned custom. They have
six boys and six daughters. All of the
children are living.
Peculiarly, many of Hood River
peace officers are Kentuckians. Sheriff
Johnson, brother-in-law of Marshal
Carson, halls from the Blue Grass.
Deputy Sheriff Hart is another Ken
tuckian. Robert Lewis, MIR. Carson's
predecessor, was native Keptuckian.
MIR. Carson was a farmer boy, but at
an early age began railroading and
soon entered the mercantile business.
He was united in marriage to Miss
Sallie A. johnson, of Boone county,
Kentucky, on January 8, 1891. Fol.
lowing his wedding Hood Rivers pres
ent city marshal spent two years en-.
gagged with a Mckinney, KY. mercan-
tile firm. He then became proprietor
Of the leading hotel of the Blue Grass
city.
Later he entered the general mer-
chandise business for himself. Fol-
lowing his fathers death Mr.. Carson
returned to his mothers farm. where
he remained until the latter Z. death.
| In 1903 he came with his family to
Hood River. Mr.. Carson began work
Immediately with ]. H. Gill, who was
at that time in the mercantile busi'
ness. Later he was employed by W..
M. Stewart in the latter's hardware
and furniture store. For the:past three
years he has been chief of police.
| No man in Hood River is more en-
thusiastic over fraternal organization
work than J. X. Carson. On his 2lst
birthday he was initiated in the Nc
Kinney, KY, lodge A. F. & A. M. He
held various Offices of the lodge. AT.
ter coming to Hood River he entered
other Masonic organizations, and is
now member Of all local bodies, from
the Blue Lodge to the Commandery of
Knights Templar. He is member Of
AL Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine
in Portland. In 1912 Mr.. Carson was
High Priest of the local Chapter.
Royal Arch Masons. At the recent
meeting of the Royal & Select Masters
of Oregon, MIR. Carson was made Grand
Sentinel for the state.
/ MIR. Carson has been a prominent
member of the Order of the Eastern
Star. He is a Past Chancellor Com
mander of the Knights OF Pythias.
Mrs. Carson is also prominent in
Eastern Star circles. She is now
| ri, n L. rLn,ka~