History

John Hazzard Carson was born in Ireland. He came to the colonies in 1773. His older sister, her husband and family accompanied him. In 1775, he traveled via ship from Philadelphia to New Bern, North Carolina. From there he traveled to western North Carolina where he began claiming and purchasing land. In 1793 he began building the structure we presently call “Carson House.”

Carson and several of his sons were involved in local, state and national governmental affairs. They were prominent farmers, businessmen and entrepreneurs.