Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Ed Carey

Edward James Carey was born in Illinois in October 1871, according to the 1900 U.S. Federal Census.

In the 1880 census, Carey was the oldest of two sons born to Edward and Laura, both Canadian emigrants. His father was a blacksmith. The family resided in Chicago, Illinois at 9 North Hoyne Street. Information regarding Carey’s education and art training has not been found.

Carey had an interest in boxing as told in The Jewish Boxers Hall of Fame (1988) and Sports and the American Jew (1998).

Daily Inter Ocean 12/22/1894

The 1900 census recorded the family of four in Chicago at 1137 West Taylor Street. Carey’s occupation was artist. The New York Times, October 12, 1928, said “Carey drew sports cartoons for the old Chicago Inter-Ocean for many years and also for The Chicago Daily News.”

According to American Newspaper Comics (2012), Carey created at least 17 strips; continued two strips by other cartoonists; and may have contributed art to a few others. Carey’s earliest strips were for the Chicago Daily News from July 1900 to November 1901. The majority of Carey’s work was for the McClure Syndicate from February 1903 to April 1915. He also produced material for the New York World (1911–1912) and New York Evening Telegram (1909–1911).

Carey was a Brooklyn, New York resident according to the 1910 census. The newspaper artist lived with the Rosenfeld family at 1214 73rd Street.

The 1915 New York state census listed Carey the cartoonist with the Rosenfeld family who had moved to Greenburgh, Westchester County at 36 Chatterton Avenue. A 1918 White Plains, New York city directory said Carey’s home was 81 Main Street.

Carey was a lodger in a three-person Chagen family who lived in White Plains at 46 Lexington Avenue. The 1920 census said he was a cartoonist with the McClure company.

Carey relocated again in White Plains, this time at 3 Hunt Place according to the 1925 New York state census. There were seven members in the Isaacs household.

Carey passed away on October 10 or 12, 1928, at the White Plains Hospital. The Times and New York Evening Post both published news of his death on October 12. The Times story had an October 11 dateline and said he died October 10. The Post said he died October 12. The cause of death was believed to have been cerebral hemorrhage. At the time, Carey lived at 15 Oakwood Avenue in White Plains.

—Alex Jay