JOHN CARMACK
The founder of the Carmack family in Southwestern Virginia was
John Carmack, who, in colonial days entered between two and three
thousand acres of land in Washington county, Virginia, and Hawkins
county, Tennessee, nearly all of which land remains still in the possession
of his descendants. His son John was a soldier of the Revolutionary
war, and was wounded at Bunker Hill. Pleasant Carmack, son of
the soldier John, learned the trade of cabinet maker, then settled to
farming in Washington county. He married Hannah, daughter of
Captain William Gray, of Washington county. She was born in 1804,
and died in 1866, and for twenty years preceding her death was
afflicted with blindness. Her father was born on the ocean, while his parents
were voyaging to their new home in Virginia. He grew to manhood
in Washington county, where he became an extensive stockman.
John, son of Pleasant Carmack and his wife, Hannah, was born on
his father's estate, on the State line between Washington county, Virginia,
and Sullivan county, Tennessee, on June 13, 1836. He married
near Abingdon, May 4, 1861, Mary Hagy, born in Washington county.
Their children were born in the order named: Pleasant William,
Martin Hagy, John Thomas, Mary Lauretta, Sally Eliza, Samuel Vandellen,
Ada Texanna, Virginia Tennessee, Alexander Watson. The eldest
son now lives in Texas.
Mrs. Carmack is a daughter of Martin Hagy, a farmer living near
Abingdon, whose father, Jacob Hagy, came to Washington county
from Pittsylvania county. Her mother is Sally, daughter of James
Anderson, who came to Washington county from Ireland.
Mr. Carmack was exempt from service in the late war, on account of
physical disability. His farm was subjected to raids by the contending
armies from both sides. His brother William P. was in service
about a year, and a number of their relatives were in the Southern
army, among them a cousin, James Carmack, who was captured, and
died while a prisoner of war in Kentucky.
Mr. Carmack is a farmer and stockman, and is also United States
mail sub-contractor for his district.
