His family emigrated to America in 1844, and settled in Albany, New York, where he received a public school education.
Carey was a member of the Manitowoc County board of supervisors in 1862-1865; and was a candidate for sheriff in 1864.
In 1870 he ran for state senator from Manitowoc County as a Republican, losing with 1411 votes to 2141 for Democratic State Representative Carl Schmidt and 1011 for William Bach, running on the "People's Party" ticket.
[4] and was elected state senator for the Fifteenth District (Manitowoc County) in 1882.
[5] In 1888, the 15th District had been modified to include Kewaunee County; Carey was not a candidate for re-election and was succeeded by fellow Democrat William F.