Francis McMillan Carmack (1832 - 1861)

Born 6 Jan 1832 in Tishomingo, Mississippi, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elvira Kate (Holding) Carmack — married 25 Oct 1853 in Lewisburg, Marshall, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Aug 1861 at age 29 in Gallatin, Sumner, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Francis was born in 1832. He was the son of Cornelius Carmack and Nancy Smith. He passed away in 1861.

A lightly edited biographical sketch of F.M. Carmack by William Lipscomb, taken from Franklin College And Its Influences, edited by James E. Scobey, Gospel Advocate Company, 1954, pages 196-200:

"Among those who shared in the labor of teaching in Franklin College during the period of its brief existence, no one deserves more kindly remembrance than F. M. Carmack. He was born in Tishomingo County, Miss. The exact date of his birth is unknown to the writer. He entered Franklin College as a student in the year 1849. . . was a member of the graduating class of 1851. A few weeks before graduation he accepted the terms of salvation offered in the gospel and put on the Lord Jesus Christ in baptism. As a student, Professor Carmack was faithful, honest, and far beyond ordinary in mental grasp. His taste was inclined to those studies which were literary and graceful rather than the exact. Still, he was no dullard in any department. Possibly the most striking trait of character was geniality of disposition. His brother was a little careless in dress and bearing - sometimes a little waggish. Professor Carmack was more careful and cultured in his habits of life. While both were pure and clean in life, their uprightness was not of that harsh, repulsive character that offended those whose lives were not of so upright a mold. Immediately after graduation, Professor Carmack was chosen as a member of the corps of instructors of Franklin College, giving special attention to the teaching of Latin and Greek. He also for a while had charge of the preparatory department. In every position which he occupied he was efficient and successful, greatly respected, and beloved by his pupils. Teaching, however, was not his peculiar forte. As a speaker and writer, he was specially gifted. His change of religious views brought about a consideration of matters of controversy; and while quite young, both in physical and religious life, he wrote several articles of much power bearing upon the matters which separated him from the faith of his fathers. He was vigorous in thought, felicitous in expression, and full of that tender, touching pathos that showed most clearly that religious sentiment with him was no barren dogmatism destitute of vital force in the emotions of his soul. His speaking was after the same order as his writing - a happy commingling of clear, well defined, logical instruction with deep and earnest feeling. He enlightened the understanding and enlisted the soul. Not a great while after be began his work as teacher he was married to Miss Elvira (Kate) Holding, of Lewisburg, Tenn., a lady far beyond the average in native powers of mind and heart as well as culture. To them were born three children - one daughter and two sons. The daughter reached womanhood, and was married, but, being frail of constitution, did not live long after her marriage. The two sons still survive. The younger is the present senior Senator of his State in Congress. He inherited the intellectual ability of both parents, and especially the oratorical power of his father, with a large addition of personal ardor and vigor. He was too young to know or be impressed with the gentle worth of his father's example, or his life might have been different Not a great while after our friend's reaching manhood there began to develop in his constitution signs of lung trouble. While he continued to labor as teacher and preacher, it soon became evident that his earthly life would be cut short. Finally, after an earnest struggle to keep at work, he was compelled to surrender. His last days were spent in Sumner County, Tenn., in the hospitable home of Brother and Sister Joseph Harlan, near Castalian Springs. He closed his eyes in death during the summer of 1861, just as the fearful storm of war was beginning its work of devastation and blood shed. A pure, upright, God-fearing man, useful to the full extent of his physical ability, a most happy combination of the sweetness and gentleness of love and firmness and devotion to the truth, he passed, in the prime of life, from the afflictions of mortality to the glorious heritage of peace and Test which awaits the faithful. I have known few, if any, characters more worthy of unreserved admiration and esteem. In all my association with men in my work as teacher I have known none more lovable in character and of greater promise of true usefulness in the work of human elevation than F. M. Carmack. – by William Lipscomb, Taken from Franklin College And Its Influences, ed. by James E. Scobey, Gospel Advocate Company, 1954, pages 196-200.

Timeline

• 1840 U. S. Census: Cornelius Carmack lived in Lauderdale County, Alabama with one male under 5 (possibly Francis, though he would have been 8), 1 male between 5-10 (Joshua), 1 male between 15-20 (Edward), one male 40-50 (Cornelius, 44), 1 female 5-10 (Martha Agnes, 9), 1 female 15-20 (Mary), and 1 female 40-50 (Nancy, 41). Cornelius held 1 male slave between age 36-55, and one female age 36-55. Total number in household was 9. ^[1]
• 1853 Tennessee Marriages: Francis M. Carmack, age 21, married Elvira K. Holding, on October 1853, in Marshall, Tennessee. ^[2]
• 1861 Professor Francis McMillan Carmack died, age 29, on August 8, 1861, of lung disease, in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee. Find A Grave: Memorial #41674675 ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHTL-D7M : 27 August 2017), C Carmack, Lauderdale, Alabama, United States; citing p. 104, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7; FHL microfilm 2,333.
2. ↑ Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDQJ-XNT : 16 March 2020), Francis M. Carmack, 1853.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41674675/francis-mcmillian-carmack : accessed 30 August 2021), memorial page for Francis McMillian Carmack (6 Jan 1832–8 Aug 1861), Find a Grave Memorial ID 41674675, citing Carmack Cemetery, Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Tom Childers (contributor 46515204) .