Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. Published
by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago.  Reprinted by Southern Historical
Press.  p. 221.  Jefferson County.

ANTHONY JOSEPH CARROLL, legislator and lawyer, has had an unprecedented
record as the chosen representative of his district in the general
assembly, and the record is one that reflects the highest credit and honor
upon him.  He is one of Kentucky's native sons whose lives add luster to
their good name.  Born in Oldham county, September 2, 1864, he is a son of
Anthony Joseph Carroll, Sr., who was born in Ireland and came to this
state in 1845.  He married Eliza Collins, who was born on the Emerald Isle,
a daughter of James Collins, a capitalist of Dublin, who had extensive land
holdings in America, especially in the vicinity of Louisville.  In the
family of Anthony C. Carroll Sr., are three sons who have entered the
legal profession, namely: John D. Carroll, of New Castle, Kentucky, author
of the code and statutes of the state; Charles Carroll, an attorney of
Shepherdsville, Kentucky; and Anthony Joseph Carroll; while Thomas, the
fourth brother, resides on the old homestead in Oldham county.
     Mr. Carroll, whose name introduces this review, was educated in early
life by his mother, a highly cultured and intellectual lady.  Later he
attended Funk Seminary, at La Grange, where he was graduated in 1881,
after which he came to Louisville and accepted a position as reporter on
the force of the Courier-Journal.  He was connected with that journal as
reporter and city editor until 1888, when he was transferred to the staff
of the Times, the afternoon edition of the Courier-Journal.  In 1891 Mr.
Carroll was elected to the house of representatives from the sixth and
seventh wards of Louisville, one of the smallest but the wealthiest
legislative districts in the state.  He served during that session and
drew up the act regulating elections, thereby enforcing the Australian
ballot system, and incorporating into the same the provisions regulating
primary elections, which has been very efficient in purifying the ballot.
In 1893 he was re-elected without opposition from the same district, and
was nominated by the Democratic caucus by acclamation for speaker of the
house,--first time in the history of the house that the office was so
filled, while Mr. Carroll was the youngest man ever so elected.  He
served as speaker in the session of 1894 and again made a record that is
without precedent in the history of Kentucky legislation,--no appeal from
his decision having ever been taken.  In 1895 he was once more elected to
represent his district in the general assembly.  In the campaign he was
opposed by a Republican nominee, who, however, withdrew before the
election, and in view of this fact and the dissatisfaction expressed by
the Republican press, as there was no opposing candidate at the election,
Mr. Carroll refused to accept the office and resigned.  His vote at the
election in November was largely in excess of the vote given his party,
and he was the only Democratic candidate elected in Louisville.  His
resignation left the legislature on joint ballot sixty-seven Democratic,
sixty-eight Republican and two Populists, one of whom voted with the
Democratic and the other with the Republican members.  Mr. Carroll, such
was his high sense of honor, would not hold office about which there
could be the slightest tincture of doubt as to the fairness and legality
of his election.  A special election was ordered by the governor to take
place in December, 1895.  At this election Mr. Carroll, again the nominee
of his party, was opposed by Charles A. Blatz, a Republican of wealth
and excellent reputation and a prominent business man.  On the election
in this district depended the election of the United States senator for
Kentucky, for if carried by the Republican party they would have had a
majority on joint ballot.  A mighty effort was therefore put forth and a
vast amount of money expended by his opponents.  The contest attracted
the attention of the entire state.  Mr. Carroll was again elected, by a
majority of four hundred and fifty-two, although a larger vote, by over
two hundred, was then polled than at the general election in November,
showing the universal interest manifested by the people.  Again the party
made him their nominee for speaker of the house and also for the position
of chairman of the "Democratic steering committee," having charge of all
party and political questions in the legislature.  It is not flattery to
say that Mr. Carroll is one of the best parliamentarians in the entire
country; his record as speaker shows this.  His political record is free
from all the questionable practices which have sometimes marred the fair
fame of able party leaders.  With him principle is ever above party and
devotion to duty above personal aggrandizement.  He was one of five
Democrats who refused to vote for Senator Blackburn, and one of the
eighteen who declined to enter the Democratic caucus which nominated
that gentleman.  He voted continuously for Mr. Carlisle in all the joint
sessions held for the purpose of electing a senator from Kentucky.
     One other action of Mr. Carroll's showed the steadfast honesty of the
man in no uncertain way.  During the canvass for office he was opposed by
the organization known as the American Protective Association, on account
of his refusal to grant them a private interview.  The influence of this
organization was felt in many districts of the state, and especially in
Louisville, where the society was very strong.  Mr. Carroll's was the only
open denunciation of the order made by any candidate for office.  The
leaders of the society had proposed an interview, which should be entirely
private, and in reply Mr. Carroll wrote:  "Inasmuch as your proposed
conference with me would necessarily relate to my public record and my
views on public questions, I could never give my consent to `a strictly
confidential' interview.  It is my idea that public and political questions
should be discussed and considered openly; that they are not the proper
subjects for secret conclave or `strictly confidential' interviews, and
that no man's opinion should be formed or influenced by conditions or
considerations which cannot bear the light of publicity and the careful
scrutiny of all men.
     "In this connection you will pardon me for saying that another
consideration prompts my action in this matter, namely: That it offends
my convictions and my judgment to engage in a secret conference with a
committee of an organization which I believe to be a menace to our form of
government, a blow at the very foundation of our political institutions, a
slap in the face of civil and religious liberty, and a direct and flagrant
violation of the constitution of the United States, which we should all
defend, venerate and respect, and which I, as a public officer, have taken
an oath to uphold and obey."
     While engaged in newspaper work, and during his first term in the
legislature, Mr. Carroll studied law under the direction of Hon. Frank
Hagan, and in the spring of 1894 was admitted to the bar and entered into
partnership with Francis J. Hagan, a son of his preceptor, thus
establishing the firm of Carroll & Hagan.  Mr. Carroll has a civil
practice which has assumed extensive proportions.  He has represented the
state in a large number of cases, and is the attorney for the
Courier-Journal Job Printing Company, the Louisville Times and other
extensive business concerns.
     Socially he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
He was married June 6, 1894, to Miss Sarah F. Holt, a daughter of Chief
Justice W. H. Holt, of Frankfort, Kentucky.  Mr. Carroll is a member of
the Presbyterian church, and shares the esteem which is so universally
accorded her husband.

Carroll Collins Hagan Holt Blatz
=
Oldham-KY Henry-KY Bullitt-KY Ireland

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/carroll.aj.txt