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Colonel Edward Colby Carey (1871–1948), son of Brigadier General Asa Bacon Carey and Laura Melinda Colby

Ruth Palmer

Edward "Ned" Carey was born on 20 April 1871 in Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory.1,2 He died on 16 or 19 February 1948 in Southern Pines, Moore County, North Carolina, age 76.2,3 He is buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Southern Pines.4 He married first Ruth Palmer on 1 August 1895 in St. Mark's Cathedral in Salt Lake City, Utah.3,5 They divorced between 1910 and 1914. Edward married second, as her second husband, Anne Kneeland Smith of Rutland, Vermont on 16 November 1914 in Lowell, Massachusetts.3 Anna, the daughter of Arima D. and Emma (Kneeland) Smith, was born about 1871.3 She married first David N. Haynes.3 Edward and Anna divorced in 1930 in Bay County, Florida.3 Edward married third Caroline Tarver of Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia in 1935.1 Caroline, the daughter of Henry A. and Fannie (Holcombe) Tarver, was born on 7 February 1897 in Albany.4,6 She died on 23 November 1965 in Sumter County, Georgia.3,4 She is buried in the Oakview Cemetery in Albany.4

In 1880 Edward was nine and living with his parents in Washington, D.C.7

Edward was appointed to the United States Military Academy by Senator Elkins of New Mexico for the class of 1892.1,8,9 Struggling with plebe math and absent on sick leave, he was required to join the class of 1893.1,8 His roommate Jamie Jamerson wrote that Ned, "was not one to use recreation hours for extra boning but rather cultivated popular fiction and tennis. Nothing seemed to worry him and he was an even tempered, tolerant and unassuming person."1

Edward graduated in 1893 and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the 16th Infantry on 12 June 1893. He served at Fort Douglas in Utah between 30 September 1893 and 17 September 1896. He served at Fort Spokane in Washington between 16 September 1896 and 14 April 1898. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in the 16th Infantry on 26 April 1898.10

He served with his regiment in the Spanish-American War and was engaged in the assault on San Juan Hill on 1 July 1898.11 After the battle, Edward was wrongly reported dead:5

"Death of Lieut. Cary

Capt. Geo. H. Palmer, his son, Lt. Guy G. Palmer and his two sons-in-law, Capt. Noble and Lt. Carey were with the brave 16th U.S. Infantry at Santiago. The sad news is received of the death of Lt. Carey, who fell like a hero at the head of his men. His widow (formerly Ruth Palmer) has many friends here who will mourn with her in her great loss. A telegram says: 'Captain McFarland of Company E, Sixteenth Infantry, fell dead at the brow of the hill. His men wavered. Lieutenant Carey took his dead captain's place, and the men went on under a withering fire. Carey went down, shot through the heart. Again Company E wavered. Gen. Hawkins yelled like a madman and they went on. Captain Cavanaugh planted the flag on the summit of the hill, our men were over and the victory won.'"

Edward's description of the battle:

In Brastworks, near Santiago de Cuba
July 4, 1898

Dearest Mother:

Here I am safe and sound after one of the most terrible battles I expect the world has ever seen. We started from camp around 4:00 a.m. July 1st on the march to the front, and after three hours march began to be under fire: the next two hours were the most awful you can imagine. We were marching along a trail through thick woods with no sign of an enemy and with bullets dropping like hail all around us. About every ten steps men were dropping out, either wounded or killed. One man was killed instantly about a foot from me, and dozens were wounded around me, but, thank God, I was not hit. You can imagine what it was like when in K company of 67 men, 18 are wounded, 4 killed and 3 missing, Capt. McF[arland], also being slightly wounded in the back of the head by a bursting shell. This happened later, however.

After marching up the trail for about two miles we finally got into a sunken road running at right angles to the trail. Here we collected behind the bank of road, for there was no organization left: in fact two companies had become entirely separated from the regiment. Here we stayed for nearly ten minutes, with a hail of bullets going over our heads, but pretty well protected. (Up to this time we had lost three officers, Morrison killed, Spence and Woodbury wounded.)

In front of us, about 1,000 yards, was a block-house on a high hill from which the fire was coming and which we were to attack... He gave no command to move forward from this position. Lieut. Ord of Gen. Hawkins’ staff came with orders for us to move forward but no one took command and finally Ord called for five brave men to go forward and this started us and I was one of the first five to go through the wire fence in front of us into the open field in front. This field lay between us and the hill on which the block-house was situated. Our advance carried forward the 6th Infantry and a few of the 9th Cavalry (dismounted), which were on our left flank, and on we went in one long line with men dropping at every step.

Capt. McFarland is a dandy and was ahead of everyone except Lieut. Ord (He poor fellow was killed at the top of the works by a wounded Spaniard.) Well anyway we went up the hill, and just as he, Capt. McF., neared the top he was hit by a shell but only stunned for a time. We found their trenches filled with dead and dying Spaniards and several dead officers were in and around the block-house. We took possession of their works and commenced fire on their men who were falling back on another block-house. We held this hill until re-enforcements came, and then after the most awful day it is possible to imagine, we sat utterly exhausted.

Towards evening we were moved out to the left of the block-house about half a mile, and entrenched that night on the ridge.

At daylight the next morning the battle opened up again, two of our companies being in the entrenchments, the rest, among them myself, as I was temporarily in command of the company, were lying behind the hill. About 8 o’clock shrapnel shell began to burst all around us. I was sitting talking to a Major of the 10th Infantry (Eskridge) when a shell burst over our heads killing a soldier about a foot from us and mortally wounding Major Eskridge. This shell killed three and wounded nine men.

Well mother dear I won’t say anything more about war, for I, like every officer and soldier in this whole army, have had enough, and war is certainly an awful, terrible, dreadful thing. At present a flag of truce is in force but fighting may commence at any time, so that long before you get this I may be killed or wounded, but you can know that I shall die bravely if it should come.

I will try and cable you if I ever get into Santiago all right, but don’t expect a cable as it may impossible to send a message. So don’t worry until you hear some bad news. Hope indeed that I am all right when this reaches you, but if anything should happen, I want you to know that no one has ever had a better or sweeter mother than I have. Tell Father I thought of that staff appointment at St. Paul when we were going to the Spanish works, but even then I would rather have been where I was.

With lot and lots of love to Father, Edith and to you mother dear.

Your loving son, [Edward Carey]

Edward participated in battles around Santiago de Cuba until 7 November 1898. He was a captain in the 34th U.S. Infantry from 30 July to 24 September 1899. He was promoted to Major in the 42nd US Volunteer Infantry on 17 Aug 1899 and joined the regiment in Manilla on 28 December. He was honorably mustered out on 27 June 1901. He served as a captain in the 30th Infantry in the Philippines until March 1904.10

Edward returned to New York from London on the Minneapolis.12 He was acting commanding officer at Fort Reno between January and March 1907.13

According to the census, in 1910, Edward was a 39-year-old army officer living in a lodging house on Newbury Street in Boston. He had been married for 14 years. Two other lodgers in the same house were David Haynes, a 48-year-old broker, and his 42-year-old wife Anna S. They had been married for 20 years and had no children.7

Edward later served in Boston, Hawaii, and along the Mexican border in 1916. During World War I, he served with distinction as a colonel in command of the 903rd Infantry.1

According to the census, in 1920, Edward and Anna were living in Fort Leavenworth. In 1930, Edward was retired and living with Anna in Bayhead, Bay County, Florida. In 1940, Edward and Caroline were living in Sandhill, Moore County, North Carolina.7 "The years from 1920 to 1948 were largely spent in shooting quail, fishing, raising bird dogs, gardening and golf."1

Children of Edward Carey and Ruth Palmer:

i. Laura Carey, the daughter of Edward Carey and Ruth Palmer, was born on 15 January 1898 in Fort Spokane, Washington.3,4,6 She died on 2 October 1991 in Fort Belvoir, Fairfax County, Virginia.3

She married first Major Edwin Luther Sibert on 10 May 1919 in the Church of the Incarnation in New York City.5 He died on 16 December 1977. She married second Lieutenant General Charles Edward Hart [as his third wife] on 21 January 1984 in St. Dunstan's Church in McLean, Virginia.3 Edward, the son of James W. and Grace Louise (Duncan) Hart, was born on 17 June 1900 in Maryland and died on 9 December 1991 in Fort Belvoir.3 He married first Virginia Byrd Hereford on 7 January 1924 in the Mount Vernan Place M.E. Church.5 He married second as her second husband Anne Harris Counts on 2 September 1971 in Christ Church, Alexandria Virginia.3 Anne, the daughter of William Ray and Mary Ramsey (Saunders) Harris was born on 3 January 1900 in Texas.3 She died on 16 December 1977.3 She married first Brigadier General Gerald Alford Counts.4

Laura is buried with her first husband in Arlington National Cemetery.4 Edward Hart is buried with his first two wives in Arlington National Cemetery.4

Ruth Palmer Carey mentions her daughter Laura Carey Sibert and her son-in-law Edwin Luther Sibert in her will.14

Laura Carey of Indianapolis, Indiana applied for a passport on 14 September 1917 in Edgartown, Massachusetts. She intended to leave New York City on the Panama to visit friends in Panama on about 24 September. [Her aunt] Edith C. Walker of Vineyard Haven identified her. She was to travel with Mrs. Harding [the wife of Chester Harding, Governor of the Panama Canal Zone]. Her applications described her as 19 years old, five feet five inches tall with dark brown hair and a fair complexion.15

Photos below of Laura with her mother and Laura with her husband:

 

References

1. Edwin L. Sibert, "Edward Colby Carey," prepared for the Association of Graduates of the USMA, 17 January 1950.

2. U.S. Department of War, Adjutant General's Office, Statement of Death of Edward C. Carey, 2 Mar 1948. "The records of the Departmen of the Army show that Colonel Edward C. Carey, 013649, United States Army, Retired, who gave his date of birth as 20 April 1871, died 19 February 1948 at Chase Convalescent Home, Southern Pines, North Carolina, as a result of uremia due to generalised arteriosclerosis and nephrosclerosis. This official statement furnished 2 March 1948 to Mrs. Caroline T. Carey, wife, Box 606, Southern Pines, North Carolina. By authority of the Secretary of the Army, Edward F. Witsell, Major General, The Adjutant General of the Army."

3. Vital Records

"North Carolina Death Indexes, 1908–2004," database, Ancestry (2007: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8908). Died 16 Feb 1948, age 76, in Moore, NC.

"Utah, Select County Marriages, 1887–1937," database, Ancestry (2014: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60198), Edward Colby Cary, born about 1871, and Ruth Palmer, 1 Aug. 1895 Salt Lake City.

"Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840–1915," database with images, Ancestry ( 2013 : https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2511), Edward Colby Carey, 43, son Asa B. and Laura (Colby) Carey, second marriage, divorced and Anna S. Haynes, nee Smith, 46, daughter Arima D. and Emma (Kneeland) Smith, second marriage divorced.

"Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001," database with images, Ancestry (2005 : https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8837), Edward C. Carey and Anna S. Carey, 1930.

"Georgia, Death Index, 1919–1998," database, Ancestry (2001 : https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5426), Caroline T. Carey died 23 Nov. 1965 Sumter County, GA, age 68.

"Virginia, U.S. Marriage Records, 1936–2014," database with images, Ancestry (2015 : https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9279) > 1971, no. 37201, image 202.

"Virginia, U.S., Death Records," database with images, Ancestry (2015 : https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9728) > 1991, no. 39787, image 289 (Laura Hart) and no. 45099 (Edward Hart).

Laura Carey second marriage certificate, death certificate

"U.S., Carded Birth Records in Military Hospitals, 1884–1916," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62370), Laura Carey, b. 15 January 1898 Fort Spokane, WA, parents Edward C. Carey and Ruth Palmer.

4. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 28 December 2022), memorial pages for

Edward Colby “Ned” Carey (20 Apr 1871–19 Feb 1948), Memorial ID 38822601, citing Mount Hope Cemetery, Southern Pines, Moore County, North Carolina; Maintained by PAllred (contributor 48048940).

Carolyne Tarver Carey (7 Feb 1897–23 Nov 1965), Memorial ID 52972122, citing Oakview Cemetery, Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia; Maintained by Brenda Arnett Darbyshire (contributor 47229861).

Laura Cary Sibert (15 Jan 1898–21 Oct 1991), Memorial ID 49199344, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia; Maintained by John C. Anderson (contributor 47208015).

LTG Charles Edward Hart (17 Jun 1900–9 Dec 1991), Memorial ID 52601948, citing Arlington National Cemetery; Maintained by Russ Jacobs (contributor 46633397).

5. Newspaper Articles
Untitled, Salt Lake City Tribune, Sunday, 21 Jul. 1895, 9. "Captain and Mrs. George H. Palmer have sent out invitations for the marriage of their daughter Ruth and Mr. Edward Colby Carey, which takes place on Thursday, August 1st, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark's Cathedral."

"Death of Lt. Carey," Monmouth Republican Atlas, Monmouth, IL, 8 Jul. 1898, 10.

New York Herald, New York, New York, Sunday, 18 May 1919, p. 38, digitized article, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com). [Note that Laura's mother should be Mrs. Ruth P. Carey.]

"Society," Evening Star, Washington, D.C., 8 January 1925, 8–9. (Edward Hart's first marriage)

6. Social Security

7. U.S. Federal Census Collection, searchable databases, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/usfedcen)

1910 MA > Suffolk > Boston > Boston Ward 11 > district 1423, image 27 Edward, lodger in a boarding house, army officer, married 14 years, Also in the house David and Anna S. Haynes, married 20 years. He a 48 year-old broker, she 42, no children.
1920 KS > Leavenworth > Fort Leavenworth > district 95, image 16 Edward C, 48, born in NM, army officer; living with Anna S., 47 and born in Vermont.
1930 FL > Bay > Bay Head > district 19, image 6 Edward C. 58, born in NM, veteran, living with Anna S., 58
1940 NC > Moore > Sand Hill > 63-23B, image 20 Edward C. 69, born in NM, army officer, living with Caroline T., 43, born in Georgia.

8. "U.S. Military and Naval Academies, Cadet Records and Applications 1805–1908," database with images, Ancestry (Ancestry, 2008 : https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1299).

9. "U.S. School Catalogues, 1765–1935," Ancestry (2012 : https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2203), entry for Edward Colby Carey.

10. George Washington Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy 5, supplement (Saginaw, MI, Seeman & Peters, 1910), 512, 563, son of Paymaster General Asa B. Carey.

11. "Encyclopedia of American Biography, 1800–1902,"database, Ancestry (1997 : https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3128). "CAREY, EDWARD COLBY, soldier, was born April 20, 1876 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He served with his regiment in the war with Spain and was engaged in the assault on San Juan Hill, July 1, 1898. In 1899–1900 he served in Philippine Islands as major forty-second United States Volunteers."

12. "New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957,"Ancestry (2010 : https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7488), T715, roll 475, image 311.

13. Stan Hoig, Fort Reno and the Indian Territory, (Fayetteville, University of Arkansas Press, 2000), 233.

14. Will of Ruth Palmer Carey, author's copy.

15. "U.S., Passport Applications, 1795–1925," database with images, Ancestry (2007: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1174) > passport applications 1917–1918 > roll 405, image 88.

 

20-Jun-2023