..."Frank Carroll -Tennessee (probably) brother of Steve Bennitt Carroll, visited M.J. Carroll in Treadway, Texas. He was selling white Rotary Sewing Machines. He had a handwriting as that in a penmanship school book. Frank Carroll, on this visit, spoke of sister 'Kitty' whom Mary Ella Carroll favored - (physical resemblance)."
There it was, the name 'Kitty'. I have read and re-read that paragraph many times. I missed 'Kitty' perhaps because I was so intent on researching and trying to identify Abner Franklin Carroll, who Irene referred to as Frank Carroll.
The photo of Kitty is from my Great Grandmother Martha Jane Marley Carroll's 1900's Album, and has been on my 'Unknown' list for years. All along I felt she had to be related to Great Grandfather Stephen Bennett Carroll, but a sister? Not on his ancestry profile along with Frank and twin brothers Ely and Charlie. The closest name to Kitty was the Carroll brothers grandmother Katherine. So who is Kitty? It's back to ancestry's search!
She was....Katherine Elizabeth 'Kitty' Carroll Arnett. Born in 1884 in Dyer County, Tennessee. Married Joseph E. Arnett on Christmas Eve in 1903. Mother of daughters Christine and Reba and son Corliss B. Arnett. Listed in US Census from 1910 through 1940 (last Census released). On Find A Grave, she Rests In Peace beside her husband Joseph in Fairview Cemetery, Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee. Inscription on stone...married Dec. 24, 1903...no birth date, no death date, no links to any Carroll Family. Kitty's husband died in 1961, daughter Christine in 1974, daughter Reba in 1989, and son Corliss in 1978. No mention of 'Kitty' in any of their profiles after the 1940 Census.
What a mystery! Even knowing her full name and year of birth, I have not found a single clue as to who her parents were. After hours of researching any and all Carrolls who could possibly be her parents, I am considering the idea that Kitty may have been adopted by Stephen and Frank's parents Seymour Douglas and Julia Carroll. Their youngest son Frank was born in 1881, and after four boys, perhaps they wanted a sister for Frank to grow up with as his brothers were all much older. Somehow that scenario fits the time period, Franks mentioning of her, and Martha Jane knowing Kitty as her sister-in-law.
What is even more promising from this scenario is the resemblance of Kitty's young picture (blurry as it is) to another 'Unknown' photo in the Album. Could it be that Kitty and her daughters came to Texas to visit Frank?
It could have happened!
Kitty....IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY!!!
UPDATE: Ten Years Later
January 2026
Hello Kitty...I found your Parents. They were ther all along...it was a Census release timing and not having a death date. Which is still not known. Everything stated previously has been confirmed. You are the youngest child of Seymor Douglas and Julia Ann Akin Carroll.
It is likely my Great Grandmother Martha Jane Marley Carroll included the picture in her 1900's Album along with other Carroll family pictures. Including your brothers Abner Franklin and my Great Grandfather Stephen Bennett Carroll.
If none of these three women are not you, Kitty...who are they?!
In the last ten years of researching the Carroll Family Tree, a distant cousin contact believes they may be the great granddaughter and great great granddaughters of John Madison Carroll...your Father Seymor Douglas Carroll's brother. One thing for certain...they had their photo made by J.A. Lindgren Studio in Cleburne, Texas. Where your brothers Stephen Bennett and Abner Franklin lived. By the way, your Aunt Palmyra Thedford lived in Cleburne, too!
Tennessee to Texas!!! Confirmed in the 1900 Census. Stephen B. Carroll 27, married 3 years to Mary Jane 'Jennie' Marley Carroll with 2 boys Othello 2yrs. and Merrett Douglas 1 yr.
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