Carhart family pays visit to Clarendon

Three members of Clarendon’s founding family were among the visitors attending last week’s Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff.

Isaac Whitfield “Whit” Carhart IV and his wife, Mary, of Vashon, Washington, along with their son, Mark, of New York City were in town for several days, visiting important landmarks and learning more about the history of the community so connected with the Carhart family.

Mr. Carhart’s great grandfather, I.W. Carhart was the brother of the town’s founder, Rev. L.H. Carhart, and he himself was an early pioneer of Clarendon and became the city’s first mayor in 1901. He and his family were also involved in banking, the establishment of the local abstract business, and ranching.

Mr. Carhart’s grandfather, I.W. Carhart, Jr., lived and worked on the JA Ranch for a time as an accountant/secretary for Mrs. Adair before her death in 1921.

During last week’s visit, the family donated a wedding dress belonging to Mr. Carhart’s grandmother, Bessie Chamberlain Carhart, to the Saints’ Roost Museum and allowed local historians to view a family scrapbook with many interesting photos and clippings.