Dr. James Carlton Carson, youngest child of Robert (2) and Rebecca (Rippey) Carson, was born in Seneca, Ontario county, New York, January 23, 1847. His preparatory education was received in the public schools and the Canandaigua Academy, and he then became a student at the University of Michigan. Subsequently he studied at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Prior to taking up his medical studies he had assisted for a time in the cultivation of the homestead farm. In 1870 he served as assistant physician in Brigham Hall, Canandaigua, New York; was second assistant physician in the Willard State Hospital, 1870-73; first assistant physician in the Willard State Hospital, 1873-83; superintendent of the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, 1883-84; superintendent of the Syracuse State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, 1884, to the present time ( 1911). For the past twenty years Dr. Carson has been a lecturer upon mental diseases, and for the same length of time has been associate professor of mental diseases in the Medical Department of the Syracuse University. He is a staunch Republican, but has never aspired to holding public office. His fraternal affiliations are with the following organizations: Alpha Kappa Phi (medical) ; the Masonic order; Citizens’ and Sedgwick Farm clubs, of Syracuse, New York; Syracuse Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution. He and his family are members of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Syracuse.
Dr. Carson married, at Geneva, New York, April 30, 1874, Jane M. Smith, born in Geneva, New York, November 3, 1852, daughter of Thomas and Susan (Catchpole) Smith, the former born in Kent county, England. February, 1818, died in Geneva, New York, where he was a nurseryman; the latter, born in Suffolk county, England, September 15, 1817; they had children: William H., Jane M., (mentioned above), Eliza, Louise H., Lanford (deceased), Theodore J., and Susan. Dr. and Mrs. Carson have had children: 1. Thomas Carlton, born July 8, 1877; was graduated from Yale University in 1901 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts; he is a nuseryman, and a member of the firm of W. & T. Smith, of Geneva, New York. 2. Robert Orton, born April 15, 1882, died December 3, 1886. 3. Elizabeth, born June 10, 1887.