WILLIAM J. CARROLL, known as a first-class banjoist and negro impersonator, came to this country at a very early age, and began his professional career while yet in his teens; in 1873 he joined William Harris, and as Harris and Carroll remained with him until 1879; they played various variety engagements. December 20, 1880, he joined Thatcher and Ryman’s Minstrels at the Arch Street Opera House, Philadelphia, doing his specialty, and sitting on the end, opposite George Thatcher; he remained all season. Subsequently he was with Primrose and West, and other organizations. William Carroll was born in Ireland about 1853; he died in Chelsea, Mass., January 25, 1896. JOHN F. FIELDS made his first appearance with the San Francisco Minstrels in New York City, December, 1865, as a boy vocalist. It was in August, 1874, that his professional career began when he formed a partnership with Fred Sharpley, who died in 1879. His next partner was William F. Hoey, later known as “Old Hoss,” the team name being Fields and Hoey, doing a black-face musical act. Mr. Fields played an engagement with Cal. Wagner’s Minstrels while a member of this alliance. In 1878 he formed a partnership with Frank Hanson. As the straight man in these acts, Mr. Fields excels, and after thirty-six years we find him as good as ever. At the termination of his partnership with Mr. Hanson in 1885, Mr. Fields’ took another partner, the team name of Fields & Hanson was retained and is still a valuable trade-mark. Since 1885 “Fields and Hanson” have been with Haverley’s Minstrels; Cleveland’s Minstrels, Gus. Hill, Hyde’s Comedians and Reilly & Woods Company; and for five years he had on tour Fields & Hanson’s Drawing Cards. Mr. Fields and his present partner are now in vaudeville. Jno. F. Fields was born in Newark, N. J., October 17, 1853. FRANK HANSON worked a year with a performer named Billy Phillips, but only as amateurs. He left Phillips in 1877, and joined a party by the name of Smith, with whom he worked several months, making their first appearance at the Boylston Museum. Then came Hanson and Rich, and a short time after, the famous team of Fields and Hanson was formed in 1878. In 1885 after the team broke up, Mr. Hanson went in the hotel business in Boston, in which he has been ever since. Frank Hanson was born at Ossipee, N. H., March 13, 1860. FIELDS AND HANSON joined hands in 1878, playing variety engagements for that season. Seasons of 1879-1880, 1880-81, were spent with Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West, followed by seasons with Leavitt’s All Star Specialty Company, and Barry and Fay’s organization. In 1883 they began an engagement with the Howard Athenaeum Company, at the conclusion of which they played a season of sixteen weeks in the larger cities of Europe; returning to the United States, they began their last season as a team, with the Howard Athenaeum Company, at the conclusion of which in 1885, they separated.