Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920
Biography of Florence Moss Carr (Mrs. George W.), 1876-1936
By Alena Leudert, undergraduate student, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Florence Moss was born August 29, 1876, in Wise County, Texas, to James F. and Susan J. Moss. Florence Moss married George William Carr in 1896. The Carr family moved from Dallas to Portales, New Mexico, in 1903, pursuing lumber business prospects. The Carrs spent most of their time in Portales, but they also lived in nearby Fort Sumner. By 1920, George Carr established the Carr Lumber Company with his brother-in-law, John Virgil Mauk. John and Ida Moss Mauk were also from Texas before they relocated to New Mexico.
Living in Portales connected the Carrs to a prominent Portales family, the Lindseys. Washington Lindsey became governor in 1917, while serving as lieutenant governor. Lindsey appointed George Carr to a government position, and Deane Lindsey brought Florence Carr onto one of her committees. In May 1917, Florence Carr represented De Baca County on the Woman's Auxiliary of the State Council of Defense, headed by Deane Lindsey, and designed to coordinate women's defense efforts in the state during the war. Lindsey, a strong advocate for woman suffrage in New Mexico, hosted the Women's Auxiliary at the governor's mansion for a tea after their meeting.
Florence Carr's record as a suffragist is difficult to trace; yet, her friendship with Deane Lindsey should be a strong indicator of her support for woman suffrage. The History of Woman Suffrage, volume 6, lists Florence Carr as a notable suffragist in New Mexico.
Florence M. Carr died on June 6, 1936, and she is buried in Portales Cemetery in Portales, New Mexico. G.W. Carr outlived her, remarrying Mattie Mitchell Carr on October 23, 1937. He died on January 28, 1962, and he is also buried in Portales Cemetery.
SOURCES:
"Dinner Honors Newly Weds." Clovis News-Journal (Clovis, N. Mex.). November 4, 1937, p.6. Newspapers.com.
Find A Grave. Florence M. Carr. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13377046/florence-m-carr.
Harper, Ida Husted, ed. "New Mexico." Chapter XXX in History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 6: 1900-1920. New York: National American Woman Suffrage Association, 1922, 434-439. [LINK]
Jane (Mauk) Hillard. Obituary. Wheeler Mortuary. Portales and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico. February 2013. http://wheelermortuary.net/book-of-memories/1495787/Hilliard-Jane/obituary.php.
"Names Richardson Financial Agent." Farmington Times-Hustler (Farmington, N. Mex.). June 7, 1917, p.2. NewspaperArchive.com.
"Organize Woman's Auxiliary." Lovington Leader (Lovington, N. Mex.). May 11, 1917, p.1. Newspapers.com.
"Records of the Past; Old Palace Notes: Southwestern Archeology Art and Science." Santa Fe New Mexican. August 8, 1916, p.4. Newspapers.com.
United States Census 1880, s.v. "Florence Moss, b.1876 in Texas." HeritageQuest.
United States Census 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, s.v. "Florence M. Carr, b.1876 in Texas." HeritageQuest.
"Week Filled with Social Events at Governor's Mansion." Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N. Mex.). May 14, 1917, p.5. Newspapers.com.