Luster Carroll was born on May 28, 1872, in Woolam, Gasconade County, Missouri. He was the oldest child of Hardin Carroll, and Nancy Stovall.[1] 

          Not much is known about Luster’s life from his birth until he was 24 years old. Then on July 2, 1896, he married Cora Mae Souders, in Steeleville, Crawford County, Missouri.[2]  Cora was the daughter of Jacob Andrew Souders, and Rebecca Eonia Gibson. There is no surviving information as to where Luster and Cora initially made their home. But on July 6, 1897, Luster purchased forty acres from Cora’s cousin Samuel Christian Souders for $325.00. This land was in the township of Oak Hill, in Crawford County, Missouri.[3] 

          By June 30, 1900, Luster and Cora had three sons, William Allen, Jacob Harrison, and Roy Thomas.[4]  A year later they had their first daughter Ivy Jane.[5]  On November 15, 1902, Luster and Cora sold the 40 acres they had purchased shortly after their marriage for $250.00, for a loss of $75.00.[6]  It’s not clear if Luster and his family continued working the land or if they moved elsewhere, but Luster continued farming.  Then in November of 1907, Luster purchased the Keeler farm from John R. Briscoe, a well-to-do local farmer.[7]  This was the home where the rest of the growing Carroll were destined to be born. In April 1903 James Andrew came into the world. From 1904 to 1917 the Carroll’s had six more children, Pearl Nellie, Maude Florence, Arvil Edward, Robert Virgil, Grace M., and Russell Alfred. Sadly, Russell died on February 8, 1919, from pneumonia, he was only a year and a half old.[8]  Luster was a diligent worker. Sometimes he hired himself out to other farmers or worked on the County Roads. As the years passed the older Carroll children moved out, got married and initially settling in St. Louis.

          The Carroll home was small.  There were two rooms, and an attic.  Luster and Cora slept on the main floor and for a while all eleven Carroll children slept in the attic, climbing a ladder to sleep in straw or on straw mattresses.  There was no indoor plumbing or electricity.  For water they walked a quarter of a mile each way to a spring.[9] 

          In the early twenties, Luster started complaining to Cora of pains in his chest. The Carroll’s were able to support their large family, but they never had extra money available for things other than necessities. Because of this, Luster never sought medical attention. When Jim Carroll was around eighteen, he told his parents he was going to St. Louis to get a job in construction. They gave their blessing, but not before Luster pulled him aside to make a request. He asked Jim, “If anything was to happen to me, will you promise to take care of your mother, and your siblings who are still at home?”  Surely Jim thought this was a little strange, but he agreed he would if that circumstance arose. Soon after Jim left for St. Louis.[10]

          Luster continued to work hard, and he dealt with the pain.[11]  At some point he must have decided that enough was enough. On March 22, 1924,[12] about 10am, Luster told Cora he was going out to the barn to turn out the horses. This was not a task which normally required much time. When he had not returned after an hour, she went to check and see if he needed any help. Cora was horrified to find him hanging by a rope in a corner of the barn. Nearby she found that he had left a note. The note stated that he did not want Cora or the rest of the family to blame themselves. He was “just tired” of life and ill health.[13] The next day Luster Carroll was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Oak Hill, Crawford, Missouri.[14]

          Jim Carroll honored the promise he made to his father. He returned home to take care of his mother and siblings. Jim took the reins of the farm, working hard to support the family so his siblings could finish school, get jobs, and eventually get out on their own. As each sibling left, they either failed to offer to take Jim’s place, or he insisted they should move on with their own lives. By April 1930, his siblings were working and supporting themselves.  Jim was living with his mother and sister Pearl in St. Louis. He worked in construction as a cement worker.[15] 

          Eventually Cora found a job working in a downtown hotel, and Pearl also found employment. After almost 9 years, having fulfilled his promise, Jim no longer was tied down to the future of others. He was finally able to strike out on his own and see what the future held for him.[16]                  

 

[1] Death Certificate

[2] Marriage License

[3] Warranty Deed

[4] 1900 U. S. Census

[5] 1910 U. S. Census

[6] Quit-Claim Deed

[7] Newspaper

[8] Death Certificate

[9] Firsthand Lucille Carroll

[10] Firsthand Lucille Carroll

[11] Firsthand Lucille Carroll

[12] Death Certificate

[13] Newspaper      

[14] Death Certificate

[15] 1930 U. S. Census

[16] Grandma Lucille Carroll

​