Author: The History of Florida: Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. II, page 236, 1923

CARSWELL, RAYMOND HENRY. Among the energetic and progressive citizens of Jacksonville who find time in the midst of business activities to serve their fellow citizens in public capacities is RAYMOND HENRY CARSWELL. Mr. CARSWELL
is the proprietor of a prosperous drug business, built up through industry and good management, and is also serving as a member of the Board of Commissioners of Duval County, a position in which his experience as a business man is proving valuable in governing county affairs.
Mr. CARSWELL was born March 20, 1881, at Homerville, the county seat of Clinch County, Georgia, and is a son of ANDREW J. and MATTIE (SMITH) CARSWELL, also natives of the Cracker State. His father began life as a farmer and subsequently engaged in the naval stores business, eventually locating at Homerville, where he divided his time between conducting a mercantile business
and carrying on agricultural pursuits. He was held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, and held numerous offices, being at the time of his death treasurer of Clinch County. In politics he was a democrat, and his fraternal affiliation was with the Masons. He died in 1889, in the faith of the Baptist Church, of which he had been a life long member. Mrs. CARSWELL, who was born December 12, 1843, still survives him. They had nine children, of whom three are living, RAYMOND HENRY having been the seventh in order of birth.
RAYMOND HENRY CARSWELL was but eight years of age at the time of his father’s death, but was given good educational advantages, first attending the public schools of Homerville, later pursuing courses in normal schools, the Georgia Normal College at Athens, Georgia, and the Georgia Normal Institute at Abbeville, that state. Following the completion of his studies in the last
named school he entered the Atlanta School of Pharmacy, and was graduated therefrom March 29, 1909, immediately following which he came to Jacksonville, Florida, and embarked in the drug business, in which he has been engaged to the present. He has an excellent patronage and conducts a modern establishment along progressive lines, carrying a full stock of drugs, medicines, cigars, candies, toilet articles, sundries, etc., and catering to a high class trade.
Mr. CARSWELL is numbered among Jacksonville’s reliable business men and is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. A democrat in politics, for a number of years he has taken an interest in civic affairs. In 1918 he was elected a member of the Board of Commissioners of Duval County, and is now serving his second term. As a member of this body his work has been constructive and
highly gratifying to his fellow citizens. He is likewise well known in fraternal circles. He first became a member of the Masons when he joined Cassia Lodge No. 26, F. and A. M., at Homerville, Georgia, from which he demitted and became a member of Solomon Lodge No. 20, F. and A. M., Jacksonville, also holding membership at this time in Jacksonville Chapter No. 12, R. A. M. He also belongs to Jacksonville Lodge, B. P. O. E.; the Knight of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose, in all of which he is popular with his fellow members.
In September, 1916, Mr. CARSWELL married Miss MEC (sic) A. BATTEY, and
they are the parents of two children: RAY and MILDRED.