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Joseph’s name spelled “Jose” on the marriage record to his first wife in 1852. “Jose” is the Spanish version of Joseph. The early spellings of the Carrio name are Cari, Cary, Carri, Carillo, Carrillo, etc. The name was sometimes spelled without an “O” on the end for some unknown reason. It is clear that this family name was originally “Carrillo” or something close to that spelling. Joseph’s nickname, “Pepe” is also of Spanish origin.
Joseph “Pepe” Carrio’s middle name appears to be “Nestor”. On the baptismal record of Joseph Severin Ladner on June 25, 1848, “Jose Nestor Cari” was listed as the Godfather. The child was listed as the son of Marie Conception Cari, a sister of our Joseph “Pepe” Carrio. Also in the 1900 census of Waveland, MS, we find our Joseph Carrio listed as “Joseph N. Carrio”, living with his second wife, Mahelia Carrio. Nestor is a Spanish name that means “wise”. While Joe “Pepe” had no middle name listed on his Baptismal Record, parents often “gave” their children middle names as they grew older.
According to Joe “Pepe’s” granddaughter, Annie Carrio Bontemps, he died on June 9, 1908. She was pulling this date from her memory. Another family member, Mrs. Louanna Wood Carrio, claims he died on August 23, 1908. She claims he died three days after her oldest daughter, Stella, was born, which was August 20, 1908. Another source, Cecile Carrio Turcotte, a Granddaughter of Joe “Pepe” said he died on December 9, 1909. As of this time, we have not been able to confirm his death date. We do know that he died after November 22, 1907 because his daughter’s (Margaret Carrio Turcotte) obituary notice in The Sea Coast Echo at that time, said that “she left her aged father” behind. Thus, he died sometime after that date, also he is not listed in the 1910 census which could mean he was dead by that year. We are inclined to go with the date of August 23, 1908, until we can find a more specific one. There are at least two newspapers from that time, The Sea Coast Echo and The Gulf Coast Progress, where most local obituaries were posted. Both are on microfilm at the Mississippi State Archives, Hancock County Library, and other places. We made a quick search of these papers, but apparently missed his obituary. Aunt Annie says that he died of “heart failure”. She also told us that Joe “Pepe” Carrio and his first wife are buried in Cedar Rest Cemetery in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. They are without headstones but are under a cement slab on the left side of the graves of Seymour Carrio and Margaret K. Carrio. It would be the left side if one was standing at the foot of this slab.
Joe “Pepe” has been described as a large man, approximately 6 ft. 1 inch tall, 195 lbs, blue eyes, and light brown hair. People often spoke of him as being a “pouter”. They said that if something upset him, he would mope around for days without speaking a word. He was also a devout Catholic. Although he was considered an intelligent man, Aunt Annie Bontemps said he could not read or write. Mrs. Louanna Wood (Herbert J.) Carrio of New Orleans, Louisiana and Mrs. Ann Hamby of Mobile, Alabama have good, original photos of Joe “Pepe”.
Although some say he fought in the Civil War, Mrs. Louanna Carrio said this is not exactly correct. He was supposed to have had part of his hand accidentally shot off before the war. Because of this handicap, he did not fight for the Southern cause. He did, however, help by “making” salt for the Confederates. He did this by “evaporating salt water” on the beach which left behind the salt residue.
Joe was raised in South-western Hancock County on or near Mulatto Bayou. He later moved to the Waveland area where he raised his children and eventually died there. Joe “Pepe” was a farmer and seaman in his early years and then picked up the carpenter trade. This trade is listed in the 1880 Hancock County population census. Mrs. Louanna Carrio of New Orleans, Louisiana described his early years as a seaman. She said that the people who raised Joe “Pepe”
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