John Crosthwaite Carson (February 20, 1825 – May 31, 1911) was an American wood products manufacturer, building contractor, and politician from Portland, Oregon.

After three years of general study, Carson was accepted into the academy's medical training program, under the supervision of J. W. Kinneman.

Shortly after arriving on the west coast, Kinneman also fell ill and decided to return home.

After managing the hostel for six months, he fell ill again and sold his interest in the business.

However, Carson quit the position when local residents refused to purchase books for the students.

[1][2][4] In 1854, Carson married Elizabeth Talbot, who had arrived in Oregon three years earlier.

[4][5] In addition, he was a regular delegate to town, county, and state Republican conventions.

In 1868, Carson, Jesse Applegate, and Jacob Rynearson were appointed by the United States Treasury Department to a special commission to inspect and evaluate property previously occupied by Hudson's Bay Company for which the company claimed compensation from the United States Government.

[1][2] In 1879, Carson and four partners formed a real estate and building association to help finance home construction in the Portland area.

Carson and fellow Republican Joseph Simon won Multnomah County's two open senate seats.

[15] While the legislature was out of session, he remained active in politics, representing Multnomah County at the state's 1886 Republican convention.

[2][18][19][20] In 1888, the Multnomah County Republican convention nominated Carson for re-election to the state senate along with Joseph Simon, Donald McKay, and J. K.

[5][22][23][24] In the interim after the session ended, Carson was appointed to the Multnomah County Republican Central Committee.

[25] Once again in 1890, Carson was a holdover senator in the middle of his four-year term, so he did not have to run for re-election prior to the 1891 legislative session.

By that time, his company was one of the largest producers of doors and window frames on the west coast.

His company also sold finished lumber, paint, glass, and other building materials.

In 1894, Carson turned the day-to-day management of his business over to the Holiday Company, which had been successfully marketing his lumber, doors, window frames, and wood products for some time.

[1][29] However, Carson's accumulated wealth allowed him to remain an active investor in development projects in Portland and the surrounding region.

Later, he become a member of several other related organizations including the local Royal Arch Masonry chapter and the Scottish Rite.

Honorary pallbearers included former governor Zenas F. Moody, former United States Senator Joseph Simon, newspaper publisher Henry Pittock, and Portland attorney and businessman Cyrus A.