1) I have written genealogical sketches for almost every known ancestor back 9 generations in blog posts based on 35 years of genealogical research in my 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies series. The genealogical sketch for my 2nd great-grandfather, David Jackson "D.J."Carringer (1828-1902), #24 on my Ahnentafel List), including record abstracts and sources, is 52 Ancestors - Week 17: #24 David Jackson "D.J." Carringer (1828-1902).
2) For the Claude AI biography, I attached the PDF of the genealogical sketch for the specific ancestor using the plus (+) sign, and then prompted the AI tool with: "You are an expert genealogist. Please create a draft biography from the attached file, including parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places), summarize life events, and add historical facts as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be engaging and suitable for family members."
(photo of D.J. Carringer in about 1900 from family sources)
3) The expanded biography of David Jackson "D.J."Carringer (1828-1902) created by the AI tool Claude Sonnet 4, lightly edited, is:
Biography of David Jackson "D.J." Carringer (1828-1902)
Early Life and Family Origins
David Jackson “D.J.”Carringer was born on November 4, 1828, in
Mercer County, Pennsylvania, to Henry and Sarah (Feather) Carringer.
He was the second child of ten and the first son in this large
Pennsylvania farming family. The precise record of his birth was
carefully preserved in the family Bible, a testament to the
importance his family placed on maintaining their family heritage.
D.J. was known by several variations of his name throughout his
life—David J., Jackson, and most commonly, D.J.—reflecting the
informal naming customs of 19th-century America. He grew up in the
agricultural community of Sandy Creek township in Mercer County,
where his father Henry worked as a farmer and owned substantial
property valued at $2,000.
The Henry Carringer household was bustling with activity, as revealed by
the 1850 census. D.J.'s siblings included Eliza (23), George (18),
Cornelius (17), Mary (14), Sarah (13), Henry (11), Loisa (9), Matilda
(5), and Harvey (2). The family also cared for D.J.'s grandmother,
Mary Carringer (82), who had been born in Maryland. At age 21, D.J.
had already learned carpentry, a skill that would serve him
throughout his life and distinguish him from his farming brothers.
Marriage and Early Adulthood
Tragedy struck the family in April 1848 when D.J.'s mother, Sarah,
passed away and was laid to rest in the Kelso Farm Cemetery in Perry
township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. This loss occurred just three
years before D.J. would start his own family.
On October 16, 1851, David Jackson Carringer married Rebecca
Spangler in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Rebecca was the daughter of
Daniel and Elizabeth (King) Spangler, connecting D.J. to another
established Pennsylvania family. The wedding ceremony was performed
by Reverend McAdams, and like his birth, this milestone was carefully
recorded in the family Bible: "Oct. 16 by Rev. McAdams, D.J.
Carringer Miss Rebeccah Spangler, Mercer Co. Pa. 1851 AD."
Children and Family Growth
D.J. and Rebecca were blessed with three children, though their
family would face both joy and heartbreak:
Harvey Edgar Carringer was born on May 6,
1852, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Harvey would remain close to
his parents throughout their lives, never marrying and eventually
accompanying them to Iowa, Colorado and California.
Henry Austin Carringer was born on November
28, 1853, also in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Henry would later
marry Abbey Ardelle Smith on September 11, 1887, in Wano, Cheyenne
County, Kansas. He lived a long life, passing away on November 30,
1946, in San Diego, California, at the remarkable age of 93.
Effie Eva Carringer was born on November 24,
1858, after the family had moved to Louisa County, Iowa. Tragically,
Effie died young on June 8, 1874, at just 15 years of age in
Caribou, Colorado. She was buried in Columbia Cemetery in Boulder,
Colorado, and her death deeply affected the entire family.
The Iowa Years: Pursuing the American Dream
Before 1858, D.J. and Rebecca made the significant decision to
leave Pennsylvania for Iowa, accompanying D.J.'s widowed father Henry
and several siblings in search of better opportunities. This westward
movement was part of the larger migration patterns of the mid-19th
century, as families sought fertile farmland and economic prospects
in the expanding territories.
By 1860, the family had settled in Columbus City, Louisa County,
Iowa. The census reveals D.J. working as a carpenter, with modest
holdings of $200 in real property and $100 in personal property. The
family was growing and thriving—Harvey was 9, Henry was 7, and
little Effie was 2, with both boys attending school.
Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit, D.J. purchased 40 acres
of farmland on May 5, 1862, buying the Northwest quarter of the
Northwest quarter of Section 17 in Township 74 from Catharine
McConnel for $300. However, economic pressures led him to sell this
same property to John H. Davis for $320 on March 3, 1864, earning a
modest $20 profit.
During the 1860s, the family relocated to Jackson township in
Washington County, Iowa, where D.J. transitioned from carpentry to
farming. This change reflected both the agricultural opportunities of
Iowa and the practical needs of supporting his growing family.
Farming Success and Struggle in Washington County
The 1870 census provides a detailed snapshot of D.J.'s farming
operation in Jackson township. His 40-acre farm was a modest but
productive enterprise. The agricultural schedule reveals the scope of
his operation: he owned 4 horses, 3 dairy cows, and 9 swine, with
livestock valued at $520.
D.J.'s farm produced impressive yields for its size: 452 bushels
of spring wheat, 400 bushels of Indian corn, 39 bushels of oats, and
40 bushels of Irish potatoes. The family also produced 200 pounds of
butter, 3 tons of hay, and 10 pounds of wool. The total value of farm
production reached $685 for the year ending June 1, 1870, with the
farm itself valued at $1,200 and farming implements worth $300.
This was clearly a family operation, with no hired workers. At age
41, D.J. worked alongside his wife Rebecca (38) and their sons Harvey
(18) and Henry (16), while 11-year-old Effie attended school.
Despite these productive years, financial difficulties eventually
overwhelmed the family. A public notice published in October 1872
announced the sale of D.J.'s farm and its contents, scheduled for
Friday, October 11, 1872. The sale included livestock, farming
equipment, and household furniture, with terms offering twelve
months' credit for purchases over $5 with approved security. This
forced sale marked the end of D.J.'s Iowa farming venture and set the
stage for the family's next westward journey.
(D.J. Carringer public sale notice in 1872 in Iowa, from family scrapbook)
Colorado Adventure and Heartbreak
The Carringer family joined the westward migration to Colorado,
settling in the mining town of Caribou in Boulder County in 1873.
This move placed them in the heart of Colorado's mining boom, where
opportunities abounded but life was often harsh and unpredictable.
Tragically, it was in Colorado that the family faced their
greatest loss. On June 8, 1874, their beloved daughter Effie Eva died
at just 15 years, 6 months, and 12 days of age. The local obituary
captured the community's sympathy: "The deeply afflicted family
have the sincerest sympathy of all the community. The form of their
loved one fades from earth 'but a fair maiden in the Father's
mansion, clothed with celestial grace, and beautiful will all the
soul's expansion, shall they behold her face.'"
D.J. purchased a cemetery plot on August 7, 1876, from Columbia
Lodge #14, ensuring his daughter had a proper resting place in
Columbia Cemetery in Boulder. Interestingly, D.J. was one of the
signers of the petition to incorporate the town of Caribou, filed and
granted on October 6, 1874, just months after Effie's death. This
civic involvement demonstrates his commitment to community building
even in times of personal grief.
Building a New Life in Boulder
By 1880, the family had relocated to Boulder proper, where D.J.
returned to his carpentry skills, working as a "carpenter and
joiner." The household included D.J. (51), Rebecca (48), Harvey
(27) who was farming, and Henry (26) who had learned millwright and
carpentry skills like his father.
The 1885 Colorado State Census shows an interesting career
evolution: D.J. had become a fruit grower at age 56, while Harvey
worked as a clerk. This transition to fruit growing likely reflected
both the agricultural opportunities in Colorado's valleys and D.J.'s
aging out of the more physically demanding carpentry work.
By 1896, the Boulder Directory listed D.J. as a fruit grower
residing on 2nd Avenue and 3rd Street in North Boulder, indicating
his established place in the community's agricultural sector.
California Dreams: The Final Chapter
By 1898, D.J., Rebecca, and Harvey had made their final move,
joining Henry Austin in San Diego, California. Henry Austin had
married Abbey Ardelle Smith in 1887 and had already established
himself in San Diego. The family was reunited in California, where
they would spend their final years together.
The San Diego Union reported on November 15, 1898, that "D.J.
Carringer has been granted a permit to build a cottage in Choate &
Seaman's addition, east of the city park, to cost $800." This
substantial investment demonstrated that despite his previous
financial struggles, D.J. had managed to accumulate enough resources
for a comfortable retirement.
The cottage was built on the northwest corner of what is now 30th
Street and Ivy Street in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, near his
son Henry's home on the southwest corner of what is now 30th Street
and Hawthorn Street. This proximity allowed the extended family to
maintain close relationships in their California years.
The 1900 census placed the D.J. Carringer family at the
corner of Horton and Ella Streets (now 30th and Ivy) in the 4th Ward
of San Diego, San Diego County, California. David J. Carringer was
born November 1828, age 71, married 49 years, born PA, father born
PA, mother born OH, no occupation, owns home free of mortgage. Wife
Rebecca was listed as born April 1833, age 67, married 49 years, had
3 children, two children living, born PA, parents born PA. Harvey E.
Carringer was born August 1852, age 47, born PA, parents born PA, no
occupation.
(D.J. Carringer and Henry Austin Carringer family in front of house in 1900, from family scrapbook)
Golden Anniversary and Final Years
On October 19, 1901, D.J. and Rebecca celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary with a party at their Brooklyn Heights home. The
San Diego Evening Tribune captured the occasion: "A merry party
of the friends of Mr. and Mrs. D.J. Carringer assembled at their home
on Brooklyn Heights last night to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary
of their marriage ... Mr. and Mrs. Carringer being the recipients of
many valuable and useful presents among which was included gold coin
and other substantial tokens of regard."
The newspaper noted that both were invalids at this time—D.J.
was 72 and Rebecca was 71—but the celebration was "an
especially enjoyable affair for the aged couple." This golden
anniversary celebration represented the culmination of a life journey
that had taken them from Pennsylvania to Iowa, Colorado, and finally
California.
Sadly, their time together was drawing to a close. Rebecca died on
December 13, 1901, of stomach cancer, just two months after their
anniversary celebration. D.J. followed her just over a month later,
passing away on January 20, 1902, from kidney and bladder trouble at
age 73 years, 2 months, and 17 days.
Legacy and Remembrance
David Jackson and Rebecca Carringer were laid to rest in La Vista
Cemetery in National City, California, with gravestones marking their
final resting place next to their grandchild, Devier David Carringer
(Henry's son who had died in infancy in 1890).
D.J.'s life story embodies the American experience of the 19th
century—the westward movement, the transition from craftsmanship to
farming and back again, the pursuit of opportunity across multiple
states, and the endurance through both prosperity and hardship. From
his birth in Pennsylvania through his adventures in Iowa and Colorado
to his final years in California, D.J. Carringer lived through and
participated in the great American expansion.
The family maintained careful records throughout their journey,
preserving births, marriages, deaths, and correspondence in their
family Bible and personal papers. Letters from D.J., Rebecca, and
Harvey to Henry's family describe their life in Colorado, while
schoolbooks and inscribed volumes in the family library preserve the
educational values they maintained despite their frequent
relocations.
D.J.'s story is one of resilience, family devotion, and the
pursuit of the American dream across the expanding continent. His
legacy lives on through his descendants and the careful records that
allow us to trace his remarkable journey from a Pennsylvania farm to
the sunny hills of San Diego.
4) A poem and song lyrics to commemorate the life of David Jackson "D.J."Carringer (1828-1902) can be found in "DJ's Journey" -- A Family History Poem and Song Created by Artificial Intelligence." The song created from the song lyrics can be heard in that blog post, here on Suno.com, and below:
5) An audio overview (essentially a podcast created by the Google ContentLM AI tool) discussing the life of David Jackson "D.J." Carringer (1828-1902) can be heard at https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/d1415e4d-d92f-4d90-a9ed-aed467e6d821/audio.
6) I lightly edited the Claude biography text to add more family detail and correct minor errors. Every large language model (LLM) AI tool writes descriptive text much better than I can write. I was an aerospace engineer in my former life, and my research reports and genealogical sketches reflect "just the facts gleaned from my research." The AI tools are very perceptive, insightful and create readable text in seconds, including local and national historical events and social history detail.
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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.
Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver
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