Volume 10 , Issue 3

Pioneer Samuel Truitt Carrico - Alva, OK

Here is another Northwest Oklahoma Pioneer, Samuel Truitt Carrico, that we found in A Standard History of Oklahoma, pg.1602, Vol IV, by Joseph Thoburn. Maybe some CARRICO descendants out there would be interested in this information.

Samuel Truitt Carrico was one of the men who participated in the "Run" into Cherokee Strip, September 16, 1893. Captain Carrico gained his rank, title by valiant service as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war. Captain Carrico for more than 20 years had been closely identified with the business, civic life of the City of Alva, Oklahoma.

Prior to the opening of the Strip, he was a resident of Kansas, and secured one of the choice homesteads at Alva, in Oklahoma Territory, where he opened the first "Real Estate" office. Captain Carrico retired around 1916 from business, and was one of the notable pioneer characters of Northern Oklahoma.

Samuel Truitt Carrico was born November 17, 1840, on a farm in Greene County, Illinois, and was the only male survivor of this branch of the Carrico family, in 1916, which was of Spanish origin. His parents were Silas and Catherine (Decker) Carrico.

Silas Carrico was born at Athens, Ohio, April 18, 1818, his father being a native, Silas Carrico grew up in Illinois and was a substantial farmer there until 1904, when in advanced years he came to Alva, Oklahoma and died in that city May 5, 1905, aged 87 years eighteen days. The business of farming sums up his activities, and he was a man of substantial influence in the community where he lived so many years.

Silas Carrico was a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Methodist church. Silas Carrico married Catherine Decker in 1839.

Catherine Decker was a daughter of James D. and Eliza (Truitt) Decker, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Wales. Catherine died at Carrollton, Illinois, in 1897. She was for many years devoted to her church. There were 7 children in the family, two sons and 5 daughters:

Samuel Truitt.;

Eliza, died at the age of four years;

George Rutledge, died at the age of two;

Mary C., died December 24, 1863;

Laura, married L. K. Sitler, lived at Enid, Oklahoma, mother of three children: Roger S., Louise Lamar, and George;

Lucy C. Vigus, lived at Tulsa, widow of Titus C. Vigus, had four daughters and one son: Carrico, Sadie, Barbara, Port C. and Lucy;

Harriet E. Brown, married John L. Brown, their one son and 3 daughters were: Belle, Kathryn, and Inez, who were residents of Chicago, Illinois; and Fred S.

Captain Samuel Carrico was one of the men who dates the beginning of their education in a log schoolhouse. That school was back in Greene County, Illinois, and he later supplemented the district schooling with a course in the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College at Chicago, where he was graduated June 14, 1859. A few days later he began his practical duties as bookkeeper and salesman at Carrollton, Illinois and in 1860 became clerk on a Mississippi steamboat -- the Luther M. Kennett -- Captain J. R. Keach, Commander.

The military record of Captain Carrico begins with his enlistment on November 11, 1861, in Company B. of the 61st Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as a Private. February 5, 1862, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of the company. October 16, 1862, he became First Lieutenant. May 1, 1863, he was commissioned Captain and resigned May 29, 1865.

That regiment had all told 63 officers, and of these only 12 were living in 1916. Captain Carrico was the ranking officer of the old regiment, and was the only survivor who reached the rank of Captain at the date of his muster in as an officer, February, 1862. His service as a soldier took him all over the country south of the Ohio River, and he was in many important battles, including the great conflict at Shiloh and subsequent engagements up to and including Nashville, Tennessee, December, 1864. Samuel Carrico was fortunate in escaping wounds or capture.

With nearly four years of military service to his credit, Samuel Carrico, after the war, engaged in the merchandise business successfully until 1884. In that year he became an early settler at Harper, Kansas, and continued merchandising there. In October, 1885, he was appointed postmaster at Harper, and held the office until he resigned in 1890.

When Captain Carrico arrived in the Cherokee Strip in September, 1893, he was fortunate in securing a location on land near Alva, Oklahoma Territory on the West. He put up one of the first buildings in the new town, and the distinction of opening the first "real estate" and "loan office." His business grew, prospered. From the first he was one of the men of commanding influence in that locality in northwest Oklahoma. He served as chairman of the Government Townsite Commission of Alva, which issued titles for town lots.

Captain Carrico was a Democrat in politics. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was at one time commander of his post in Illinois. He was a charter member of Raboni Chapter No. 25, of the Royal Arch Masons at Alva.

On March 5, 1866, he married Cornelia C. Bates, daughter of Peter J. and Rebecca (Rummell) Bates. Cornelia C. (Bates) Carrico was born June 30, 1845, at Whitehall, Illinois, and died July 7, 1912, at Alva, Oklahoma. Her father was a native of New York State and her mother of Maryland. Cornelia was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The marriage of Samuel T. and Cornelia Carrico endured for more than 46 years, and were born 5 children, one son and four daughters:

Belle, living in Alva;

Minnie, living at Alva;

Edward Sherman;

Nellie;

Reba K., wife of Prof. Guy M. Lisk, superintendent of the city schools at Alva, Oklahoma.

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