Services for Amsey B Carothers, 76, pioneer builder and citizen of Rochester, were held at the Presbyterian Church in Rochester officiated by Rev. T.C. Cagle of Seymour and Rev. Fred S. Rogers of Stamford.

Mr. Carothers moved to Coryell County, Texas in 1870 and then to Haskell County in 1887. Mr. Carothers was a pioneer of the section and experienced the trials and hardships incident to pioneering.

Haskell County was wide open unsettled country when A.B. Carothers moved there in 1887, bringing with him 800 head of white-faced cattle which he turned loose on the open range and at the same time purchased 4200 acres. The cattle all wandered off or were stolen and in a few years, the title to the land was found faulty and it was lost as well. A.B. Carothers started over and painstakingly built up a sizeable holding of cattle and land and was considered one of the largest property owners of Haskell County.

Mr. Carothers gave 160 acres of land as a townsite and founded the city of Rochester when the Orient railroad built through in 1906. The new town grew rapidly and soon found itself without school facilities. Without asking for any outside assistance, A.B. Carothers built its first school house.

Mr. Carothers was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church at the time of his death, he held that position continuously for 50 years and gave generously to the support of the church. He assisted in the founding and was a trustee of the Reynolds Orphanage. A charter member of the Rochester Masonic Lodge, Mr. Carothers was active until his death.

He was the father of 11 children - Survived by his wife and his children - Mrs. Guy Speck, Oscar Carothers, G.C. Carothers, Mrs. Jim Davidson, Mrs. F.E. Gauntt, Mrs. S.T. Curtis, Mrs. R.A. Greenwade, W.H. Carothers, L.L. Carothers, G.A. Carothers, Mrs. B.F. McWhirter.

Pallbearers were all pioneers in their own right: Sam Chapman, Zed Wadzik, J.E. Hudspeth, R.L. Huddleston, I.B. Loe, Earnest Michael, R.V. Colbert, J.C. Bryant, O.P. Harlan.

The Stamford American
December 13, 1929
page 4

Provided by Searchers of our Past