The Wisconsin Cartters - Chapter Three

CARTER AND KELLOGG FAMILIES UNITE AT WESTFIELD, MASS.


The early settlements of Westfield, Springfield, and Hadley in western Mass., Farmington and Hartford in Conn., were destined to play an important role in the lives of many pioneering families who were intent on moving westward. The location of these settlements in the Connecticut River Valley placed them in the natural path of westward migration. Of these settlements, Westfield was particularly important as the starting base for a westward-looking Cartter family. Here two families, descendants from early immigrant pioneers, were united through marriage. These two pioneer immigrants were: Rev. Thomas Carter of Woburn, Mass and Lieut. Joseph Kellogg of Farmington, Conn.

The unions of these two families came about on September 8, 1768, when Mary Kellogg, oldest daughter of David Kellogg married Nehemiah Cartter who had recently arrived at Westfield from Leominster in Mass. It was the family of Nehemiah and Mary Cartter that constituted the fifth generations in America of both families and gave birth to the Cartter family whose descendant James Bruce (2) was to arrive in Wisconsin in 1843. But first a bit about these two early families.

THE CARTERS

The name Carter is a very common one in early New England history and therefore has made it difficult for genealogists to always keep relationships clear. For a background of the name let’s turn to a most recent book A History of the Carter Family published in 1972 by the American Genealogical Research Institute where we find the following quotes:

“The evidence and circumstances of a number of ancient records, plus an understanding of British history, allows us to make a number of fairly safe assumptions about the family line. Chief among these is a consideration of the family name Carter, which according to all recognized authorities is one of the great class of family names which was derived from the occupation of its first bearer. Undoubtedly, the name Carter originated in its application to the tender or driver of a cart or small wagon, and we can safely say that the use of the term “carter” as describing that person who drives a cart probably had its origin sometime during the great crusades. This period of English history 1096 to 1204, was the period of the flowering of the English feudal society, one of the most important developments of that period was the rise of the middle class, particularly the urban middle class. Where only a few generations before these people had made their living from working the land, by 1100 they were beginning to be keenly interested in trading and merchandising and in other occupations which sustained trade. One of the most important of these was transportation involving wagons and carts. Thus it was probably during this time that the first Carter founded the family name. - - - They (the Carters) along with thousands of other Englishmen left Britain during the seventeenth century in what has come to be known as the “Great Migration.” Generally, this period ran from 1607 to 1650, and it followed a period of economic and political turmoil.”

The first Carter recorded as coming to America came on the good ship Mayflower in 1620. His name, Robert, may be found on the original Mayflower list. He was a young man and unfortunately failed to survive the rigors and sickness of that first winter. There is no indication as to his point of origin in England or his family background.

Thomas, later to be known as Rev. Thomas, arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony from England late in 1635 at the age of 26 years. Genealogists point out that at least three other Thomas Carters arrived in the colonies during the same year, a fact which caused much confusion as to family records. Howard W. Carter in his book Carter Genealogy published in 1909 discusses in some detail this problem of identity and helps to clear up some details as to Rev. Thomas Carter’s early life in the Colonies. It is Rev. Thomas with whom the Cartter family in Wisconsin identifies.

A genealogy of the Rev. Thomas Carter family prepared by the author, is to be found in part II of this book. This record brings together that information which he has been able to identify as relating to the family down to the eleventh generation.

Following are listed the male descendants in the direct line through the fourth generation to the point where our Cartter story picks up with Nehemiah and Mary (Kellogg) Cartter of Westfield, Mass.:

1st Generation THOMAS was the son of James Carter, yeoman of Hinderclay, Suffolk County, England. He was born in 1610: was graduated from St. John’s College, Cambridge University with B.A. and M.A. degrees. He was a fellow student of John Harvard, founder of Harvard College in Mass. Both came to America about the same year. Thomas settled first at Dedham, Mass., then moved to Watertown and on Nov. 22, 1642 he was ordained as the first minister of Woburn, Mass., a charge which he served the remaining forty-two years of his life. His was reported to be the twenty-fifth Congregational Church established in America.

Rev. Thomas married Mary Parkhurst, eighth child of George Parkhurst, who had also arrived in New England about 1635. She had been born in England and came to the new country with her father. Rev. Thomas and Mary Carter had a family of nine children, all but the oldest having been born at Woburn.

2nd Generation Rev. SAMUEL, oldest son of Rev. Thomas, was born in Watertown August 8, 1640. He received a liberal education and was graduated from Harvard College in 1660. He held a number of positions in the settlement of Woburn; was commissioned to set up a grammar school, the village having increased in size to over one hundred persons. He later acquired property in the new settlement of Lancaster, Mass. He supplied the pulpit there for some time until a regular minister was secured. His signature appears on a petition May 18, 1653 to name the town of Lancaster. In 1692 he received a call to the ministry at Groton, Mass. He died in 1693 at the age of 53. He married Eunice brooks Oct. 10, 1655, daughter of John Brooks of Watertown. They had eight children.

3rd Generation SAMUEL, born January 7, 1678 the oldest son of Rev. Samuel, moved with his family from the Woburn - - Watertown area to the incorporated settlement of Lancaster. At least two of his brothers did likewise. He settled in a new section of Lancaster later known as Leominster. It was here that at least four of his sons settled on farms. Leominster was a hotbed for Indian troubles. At one time it had to be vacated for a period of from three to five years after 50 to 55 settlers had been killed and virtually all buildings burned. Samuel married Dorothy Wilder, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Wilder, and they had twelve children.

4th Generation NATHANIEL, second son of Samuel and Dorothy was born in Lancaster; lived there and in Leominster all of his life. He owned a farm on what was then known as Bee Hill and was active in town and church affairs. It is he to whom Nehemiah, mentioned earlier in this chapter, is related either as a son, or as a nephew whom he raised. Genealogists are not clear on this relationship.

Nathaniel married first Thankful Sawyer daughter of Elisha Sawyer, second Dorcas Spofford, and had either eleven or twelve children.

THE KELLOGGS

The first members of the Kellogg family had come to New England between 1635 and 1650. Four sons of Martin Kellogg: Nathaniel, Joseph, Daniel and Samuel came to America from Braintree, County of Hertford, England according to information found in the book The Kelloggs In The Old World And The New World, written by Timothy Hopkins in 1859 and found in three volumes. No definite record is available as to whether they came together or separately.

Martin Kellogg was a weaver or cloth worker, and consequently he and his family were seriously affected by the 1637 depression of the weaver’s trade upon which Braintree’s economy was largely based. This may have accounted for the brothers’ move to the new world. Nathaniel, the oldest son of Martin is known to have been at Hartford, Conn. in 1639. Joseph, his next younger brother is first known to have been in Farmington, Conn. in 1651. It is thought that Daniel may have come over with Joseph, but if he did their paths soon separated, he being one of the early settlers at Norwalk, Conn., which was incorporated in 1651. Samuel’s path was very similar to
that of Joseph.

1st Generation of Kelloggs (from whom Mary was descended)
LIEUT. JOSEPH, son of Martin was baptized in Great Leighs, England April 1, 1626. He married Joanna – probably in England. She died Sept. 14, 1666. He married 2nd Abigail Terry of Windsor, Conn. He was in Farmington, Conn. in 1651, where he was an early settler and served several terms as selectman. He sold his property in February 1655 and removed to Boston, Mass. With his family he moved to Hadley, located in western Mass. on the Connecticut River and became one of the proprietors. In 1661 the town made an agreement with him to keep the ferry between Hadley and Northampton. He built his house on a small “home lot” which had been reserved by the town for the “Ferry Lot.” Joseph, his son John, and grandson James Kellogg kept the ferry until 1758, almost a century. Stephen Goodman, who married a daughter of James Kellogg kept it still later and from him it received its last name “Goodman’s Ferry.” Joseph was selectman in Hadley for six years.

Early in the history of New England, military companies or “train bands” were formed to protest the settlers. Hadley voted “there should be a training.” Oct.7, 1678 Joseph was commissioned Lieutenant of this company. His military service extended for twenty-nine consecutive years.
Joseph was the father of twenty children nine by his first wife and eleven by his second. Fourteen of these children reached maturity. He died in 1707 or 1708.

2nd Generation JOHN, son of Lieut. Joseph was baptized in Farmington, Conn., December 19, 1656. He married first Sarah Moody b. 1660 daug. of Samuel and Sarah Moody. She d. Sept. 10, 1689 and he m. 2nd Ruth ­­­_____. He resided in Farmington and Hadley and succeeded to the ferry in Hadley. His name appears in a list of those owning the largest estates in Hadley in 1720, when it was valued as 114 Pds. 16 s. John was father of eleven children, five by his first wife and six by the second. He died between 1723 and 1728.

3rd Generation CAPT. SAMUEL, third son of John b. April 1, 1687 m. 1st – Mary Ashley, his cousin, July 8, 1774, she died April 8, 1728. He m. second – June 3, 1728 – his cousin Rachel Ashley. He moved to Westfield, Mass., where he is first mentioned in the records of March 10, 1712. He established quite a reputation as a builder, a mill operator, and an ardent hunter. He died May 27, 1761 and was buried at Westfield. He had twelve children, eight by his first wife and four by his second.

4th Generation DAVID, third son of Capt. Samuel was born in Westfield, May 30, 1721, married April 1747 to Elizabeth Jones of Enfield, Conn. He was resident of Westfield and served under General Amherst in the expedition for the invasion of Canada, was impressed April 6, 1759.

He had eleven children of whom Mary was the oldest. He died March 6, 1776.


Westfield, Mass. was truly frontier and the edge of civilization for over fifty years. Its first settlers arrived in 1633. A trading post was located here in 1640; and the town of Westfield authorized in 1669. It is located about 100 miles west from Boston and ten miles west of the Connecticut river which seemed to roughly mark the western boundary line for early settlement from the east. It was Indian country but fairly good relations were established as long as hunting rights were honored. This may be symbolized by the name Westfield which reportedly, in Indian language was “Warwunockoo” meaning “it is good hunting” which in truth it was in those early days.

Henry Martyn Burt in Volume I of First Century of the History of Springfield, Mass. writes:

“In the years 1634-35 movements looking toward permanent settlement in the Connecticut valley had begun, but it was not until 1636 that there was anything like a concert of action to found towns as far westward from Boston as Springfield (approximately ten miles east from Westfield and on the Connecticut river). - - - John Winthrop describes his journey from Boston to visit Mr. Pynchon some time later. “ - - - His route was from Boston to Lancaster and thence up the valley of the Nashua river - - - He traveled on horseback and was part of three days enroute.”

In Timothy Hopkins’ genealogical record of the Kellogg family entitled The Kelloggs in the Old World and the New World appears the following statement concerning the migrations that followed the Kellogg brothers’ early settlement in the Connecticut River Valley.

“From their homes in the Connecticut Valley the descendants of Joseph and Samuel (Kellogg) began their migration to that west where so many are now found. Until 1733 Westfield had been the most western town in Massachusetts. In that year Sheffield (in the S.W. corner of Mass., west of the Berkshire Hills) was incorporated and the first road to the west was from Westfield, following the Indian path over the hills to Lower Houstannick, as it was then called. Soon after this we find among the leading men of that town the name Kellogg. Here the migrants were met by their cousins from Connecticut who had followed the valley of the Houstannick and Farmington rivers after having first tried an eastern migration to Brookfield. - - - Soon after the revolution a new West was found, and the tide of emigration from New England was directed to this new territory. Some of the Kelloggs took their way over the mountains and through the valleys to the Hudson, and then by the shores of Lake Champlain to Canada; others followed the Mohawk to the fertile fields of central New York; and still others to the wilderness of Saratoga County. Here again there was a meeting with some descendants of Daniel of Norwalk, and together they have continued their westward march, until now there is not a state or territory in the west even to and beyond the pacific, which has not had a Kellogg among its early citizens.”

The Connecticut River Valley region served as a uniting spot for branches of the Kellogg family who had chosen between Mass., and Conn. for their first point of settlement. This early decision had no doubt been made at least partially, because of religious differences expressed in the two states. In the Conn. River Valley the Puritanical lines sis not seem to be so tightly drawn.

For some insight into ethics of the day here is a paragraph from Alice Morehouse Walker’s book Historic Hadley.

“Until 1675 – 50 families composed the Hadley settlement. (Northernmost on the Connecticut River at that time) They governed their unruly members with a steady hand. The law of the general court, that persons whose estates did not exceed 200 pds. should not wear gold or silver lace on garments made of silk, was rigorously enforced. The wives of John Westcan, Joseph Barnard, Thomas Wells Jr,. Edward Grannies, and Joseph Kellogg and Maiden Mary Broughton were arraigned before Northampton judges as person of small estate “wearing silk contrary to the law” and were fined, admonished or acquitted according to the gravity of the offense.

Later certain young men were convicted of wearing long hair, and were reprimanded by the court.”

We might add that Hadley, organized in 1659, was settled by Puritan members of churches in Hartford and Wethersfield.

So-Called Gas Out

I see the “gas-out” and “boycott” e-mails are making the rounds again. Let me drop this in your lap, and think about it for a while: The premise of the e-mails is that if we don’t buy gas on one particular day, or from one particular dealer, we will “send a message” to the oil companies.

I would like to point out flaws with both of the premises, and suggest an alternate “solution” to the high gas price problem.

If we don’t buy gas on one particular day, the oil companies won’t feel the burp in revenues. They measure income (at the least) by the month – not by the day. If you don’t buy gas on Tuesday, you will on Wednesday or Thursday, or whenever – you won’t not buy gas this month.

If we boycott a particular dealer, we won’t hurt the oil company – we will hurt the owner/operator of the station, who is already hurting because the cost of goods sold has been jacked through the roof, and the owner/operator is being squeezed from above (oil company), below (consumer) and both sides (media outlets). Not a fate I would wish on someone who lives and works in my neighborhood.

My suggestion, if you really want to make an impact on the oil companies, is to stop making refined oil products such a high demand consumer item. Start being more conservative on the gas pedal. In the city, drive at a speed that allows you to minimize stopping (fancy phrase for hitting all the greens). When you do have to stop, let off the gas earlier, and slowly accelerate when you restart – jack rabbit starts and stops guzzle a lot of gas, even in an econo-box. Keep your car maintained – tune ups, oil changes, tire pressures. Carpool. Walk. Ride mass transit (although, here in Phoenix, mass transit is laughable at best unless you happen to live and work in a straight line on a main feeder). Ride your bike. Write letters to your representatives pushing for alternate fuel vehicles to be legislated in sooner. Alt-fuel vehicles are gaining in range and speed, and make a viable choice for driving. Driving, not racing.

Instead of passing on the “Gas Out” e-mail, pass this one on. Changing the way people use the resource is going to be more difficult than just pressing the “Forward” button on your e-mail, but in the long run it will have more of an affect.

The Wisconsin Cartters - Chapter Two

THE DAVID KELLOGG CARTTERS IN ROCHESTER, N.Y.

James Bruce was born January 13, 1815 just ten months after his father David Kellogg Cartter (1), his mother Elizabeth, and his three older brothers had made that difficult cross-country journey from Lowville in the Black River Valley of New York state to a little unnamed settlement later known as Rochester, N.Y., a settlement located near the mouth of the Genesee river on the south shore of Lake Ontario. Little has been recorded concerning this trip which traversed wilderness country and was made largely by horseback following Indian trails.

We can imagine how James Bruce later envied his brothers as they told their tales of hardships, danger, sight of wild animals, views of natural beauty, forests, waterfalls and rapidly moving streams. They would tell of those times when trails were uncertain, when fatigue at the end of the day was to be endured and when unpredictable March weather was upon them. These were all things which must have spelled adventure in capital letters to James’ brothers 7, 3, and 2 years of age at the time of the trip. The family did arrive safely March 28, 1814.

This family move followed a quick trip to the same destination made by David alone in 1813. The first trip had probably been prompted by the suggestion of his brother James Bruce (1) that this new country held many promises for a young family and for its breadwinner David, whose trade was classified back in Lewis County as “carpenter and mill-wright” with experience in both fields.

On the date of the Cartter arrival there were only fourteen buildings in the settlement, which was later to be known as Rochester. One of these buildings was a small one and a half-story house built by Uncle James next to his blacksmith shop. This house he turned over to the new arrivals. James Bruce (1) (the first bearer of the name recorded in the Cartter family) had come to Rochester in 1812, the same year that Colonel Rochester had surveyed an area of some 655 acres for settlement. Uncle James had the distinction of being Rochester’s “first blacksmith and tool maker.” He is credited with “ironing the first wagon built in the settlement.” His shop was located on the grounds now part of Front Street on the bank of the Genessee River.

For a glimpse of what the settlement provided, here is a quotation recorded by Jenny M. Parker in her Rochester a Story Historical. She is quoting Mrs. David Kellogg Cartter.

“I remember my first Sunday in Rochester” said Mrs. Cartter. “It was in 1814. There was Enos Stone’s family, Colonel Issac Watson’s, Abelard Reynold’s, Hamlet Scrantom’s and Elisha Ely’s. There may have been others that I have forgotten. The only pleasant rooms in the place was the cellar-kitchen of Mrs. Reynold’s house, and that stood where the Arcade did afterwards - - - I went to meeting that Sunday in Barnards tailor shop. Silas O. Smith had a few prayer books and read the Episcopal service. Mrs. Barnard, Delia Scrantom, and her father and mother did the singing.”

During the summer of 1814 Rev. Chauncey Cook, brother-in-law of Mrs. Cartter, visited the settlement and preached a few times. All of the early services were union in nature. The first move to establish a church came from these meetings and resulted in the establishment of “The First Presbyterian Society of the Town of Gates” August 15, 1815. The first church, Presbyterian, was built, and services were begun May 1, 1817. Rev. Cook preached the first sermon and later was a member of the Genessee Presbytery for nineteen years.

Jenny Parker further quotes from Mrs. Cartter with respect to Rochester’s first school. “At the organization of the first school too few scholars were reported to justify the employment of a teacher. There were in this exigency eight bachelors here who generously proposed each to pay for a pupil, whether one came or not to receive their bounty. Soon after, a school was opened in the rear room of Barnard’s tailor shop, and Miss Huldah Stong, a sister of Mrs. A. Reynolds, was engaged as teacher. The first school room and the shop it was located in was on Buffalo St. a little East of the present entrance to the Arcade.”

At this time mail was carried from Canandaigua to Hanford’s Landing and Rochester once a week on horseback and part of the time by a woman. The year 1817 seems to have been a significant one for the new settlement. On March 21 the request for a village charter was granted. The New York Legislature approved the completion of the Erie Canal to be routed through Rochester, crossing the Genessee River by way of an aqueduct. This structure when completed was hailed as one of the nine wonders of the world.

The first flour mill with four runs of stones was erected in 1815 plus several smaller mills all of which helped to build Rochester into what was later to be known as “the Flour City.” Buildings flourished and trade grew. Population increased from a 331 census count in 1815 to 1,049 in 1818 and gave promise of even more rapid future expansion.

At this point let us pause a bit and turn back the Cartter pages of time another generation, to the fifth, in order better to understand the western movement of migration out of the mother state, Massachusetts. This migration climaxed in the 18th and 19th centuries. David Kellogg Cartter (1) and James Bruce Cartter (1), whom you have just met, were two of six brothers caught up in this movement. You will be introduced later to the others. The spirit of extended migration had arisen and they with others were to pass this spirit on to succeeding generations.

The Wisconsin Cartters - Chapter One

1) EARLY WISCONSIN BEFORE JAMES BRUCE ARRIVED


James Bruce Cartter, a native New Yorker, more recently from Michigan, arrived on the Wisconsin scene in 1843 at a time of rapid change. Peoples’ attention was again being turned westward and the migration was on – migration which had repeated itself in successive stages ever since the first settlers had come to New England’s shores.

Was James Bruce typical of these migrating Americans? Yes in many ways he was, for he represented the seventh generation of a family who, like so many, had pioneered its way westward from New England. Thomas Carter, of English and Scotch ancestry had arrived at Boston in 1635. Since that date his descendants had through the years settled at Dedham, Watertown, Woburn, Lancaster, Leominster and Westfield in Massachusetts; and at Lowville and Rochester in New York state. From Rochester James Bruce himself was to move on to Utica in Michigan, and to Racine County in the Wisconsin Territory. The journey for James was not to end here; it would take him deeper into Wisconsin Country to the Black River region, later to be known as Jackson County.

But what of the Wisconsin which James entered from the southeast? It had been organized as a territory in 1836 comprising in addition to its present area the lands now known as Iowa, Minnesota, and part of the Dakotas. Tenney and Atwood in their book Fathers of Wisconsin painted the following word picture of early migration to the territory.

“Except about military posts and with slight other exceptions, permanent settlement first began in Wisconsin about 1826, in the lead region, or present southwest counties, and for many years population pressed in by way of the Mississippi river before the route by the Great Lakes was opened. For a long period Galena was more of a commercial mart for supplies to the interior of Wisconsin than Milwaukee of other lake ports, while Chicago was scarcely known in that connection. Lead mining had developed into a leading industry on one side of the territory, while agriculture was commencing on the other. The two streams of settlers finally met about midway, but several years elapsed before the eastern current largely dominated. As a result, the diversity of interests, ideas, and modes of thought between the two sections were much more striking in early times than at present.”

The tremendous lumber harvest for which Wisconsin became famous was building toward its peak at this time. It would soon overtake mining as a major source of income only to be later surpassed by agricultural productivity. The output of pine lumber from Wisconsin’s saw mills in 1853 alone, was estimated at 200,000,000 board feet. The varied nature of occupations available explains in part the rapid growth of population and the wide diversity of nationality attracted to its borders. The 1840 U.S. census shows a population of 30,945 which increased seven times in the next ten years to 305,391, reaching 775,000 by 1860. H. Russell Austin in his book The Wisconsin Story says, “More than one-third of Wisconsin’s people were foreign born in both the 1850 and 1860 census. German born were more than one-third of the foreigners in 1850 and nearly one-half in 1860. - - - Wisconsin was in this period (1850-60), the most polyglot of states having also significant groups of Scandinavians, Irish, British, Canadians, Poles, Dutch, Belgians and Swiss. - - - New Yorkers and New Englanders were among the earliest Wisconsin farmers. - - - Nearly two-thirds of Wisconsin’s 305,000 people in 1850 were American born and more than one-third of these, nearly 69,000, were New Yorkers; 10,000 were Vermonters and roughly the same number were from the rest of New England.”

Another factor attracting large numbers into agriculture during the 1830’s and ‘40’s was the development of the U.S. Government Survey which made it possible to sub-divide land and establish positive ownership. It was in 1831, when Wisconsin was still a part of the Michigan territory, that Lucius Lyons, U.S. Commissioner, while surveying the northern boundary line of the State of Illinois set a post and erected a mound of earth six feet square at the base and six feet high at a point where this boundary line intersected the 4th Principle Meridian. It was from this point that the Wisconsin public land survey was begun in 1832. It was completed “up north” in 1867. Lyons surveyed sixteen townships in S.W. Wisconsin in 1832-33, which opened this Territory for settlement.

The intersection mentioned above is referred to on a Wisconsin Historical Highway marker, placed one-half mile east from a nearby highway, as “The Point of Beginning.” It was from this point that all survey lines East, West, and North were established. Government land sales were opened in 1834 at Green Bay and Mineral Point and in 1839 at Milwaukee. By 1840 all Wisconsin south of the Fox-Wisconsin waterway was divided into surveyed townships and was being settled rapidly.

This then was the situation into which James Bruce Cartter, age 28, projected his energies and experiences. Would he find his future home here or be inclined to move even further west? What of his background? His family back in New York state? His brothers widely scattered? His training and experience? How about his more distant ancestors? Who were they? What of his own descendants who were fortunate enough to have known him? And what did he add to Wisconsin’s past and future?

It is our hope that the following chapters may be of interest to our readers as they attempt to fit time place and person together into a proper perspective; we do this not that we may pass judgment on past generations but in order that we may more fully understand the contributions made by those generations. In the process it is hoped that we may become better informed concerning those relatives of ours who through the years have been separated due to the constant migration occurring in the history of all American families.

This narrative does not pretend to be all-complete concerning the life of James Bruce and his family. There are many gaps in information that the author would like to have filled and many personal experiences that it would be desirable to relate. Perhaps someone else may bring these added facts and bits of information together.

The Wisconsin Cartters - Chapter Headings

CHAPTER HEADINGS

1) EARLY WISCONSIN BEFORE JAMES BRUCE ARRIVED
2) THE DAVID KELLOGG CARTTERS IN ROCHESTER, N.Y.
3) CARTER AND KELLOGG FAMILIES UNITE AT WESTFIELD, MASS.
4) CARTTER SONS MIGRATE TO LOWVILLE, N.Y.
5) WHY THE 2 “TS”? THE HOLLISTERS INTRODUCED
6) ROCHESTER, N.Y. HAS GROWING PAINS
7) FIVE CARTTER BROTHERS THEIR SISTER AND MOTHER
8) JAMES BRUCE IN MICHIGAN
9) WISCONSIN TERRITORY BECKONS IN 1843
10) A NEW STATE, WISCONSIN, IS ORGANIZED
11) PROSPECTING FOR LAND IN IOWA
12) THE BLACK RIVER COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN
13) JAMES AND ISADORA MARRY – MEET THE SWIFT FAMILY
14) THE CARTTER FARM AND DISCO COMMUNITY 1860 – 1880
15) FAMILY SORROWS AND A NATION AT WAR
16) JULIA AND THE ADAMS FAMILY. SWIFTS MOVE WEST
17) DAVID MARRIED AND JAMES BRUCE EULOGIZED
18) EMMA LANPHER’S FAMILY. ISADORA TRAVELS
19) THE 1900’S BRING CHANGES. ISADORA’S PASSING
20) DAVID CARTTER’S FAMILY CHILDREN AND GRANCHILDREN
21) MIGRATION CONTINUES AS THE CARTTERS SCATTER

Princess Update (again!)

Sunday morning we dropped Princess off at a home with a mom, an animal-loving daughter, and a son who is sort of indifferent but "cool" with a dog. The mom impressed both of us right away as the sort who will take care of things properly - before either one of us could mention the tags and registration, she had asked us about them; we siad we would bring them over when they showed up in the mail. Mom checked out the ID tag, the county tag, and the Avid tag, asked about each one. Princess, for her part, quickly made friends with Daughter and proved her willingness to play by plopping herself in Daughter's lap when Daughter sat on the lawn.

After a brief tour of their house, TMBWitW and I took our leave while Princess was exploring the back yard. With prayer and support, this home should be the one for Princess. Mom, Daughter, and Son are moving to a house with a bigger yard in the near future, so Princess will have even more room to roam.

The remaining dogs were overjoyed to wake up this morning and not be intimidated by Princess. The cats partied all night.

Change in Plans

Along with re-typing The Wisconsin Cartters as I had originally planned, I will be posting scans of the pages. While trying to duplicate Grandfather's efforts, I realized that I would have to scan quite a bit in anyway, with the pictures that he included of family members.

Now for the fun part:

If you are a member of the Cartter family tree, and you see your name on one of the pages (or, if you can provide names and information to fill out a branch here or there) please e-mail me at the address in the sidebar with whatever information you may have to update. Pictures are encouraged. I will include what you submit in the on-line update of this genealogical record.

Keep an eye out for the first postings - in the next few days.

Rural Life Press

I sent a letter to Rural Life Press asking about the copyright on Grandpa's book, "The Wisconsin Cartters" that they printed in 1973.

Yesterday, it came back to me, wearing a forlorn yellow sticker with the words "Return To Sender," "No Such Number," and "Unable To Forward."

Anyone out there with information on Rural Life Press, formally located at 208 Campus Street, Lake Mills, Wisconsin?

Until I hear from them, I think I will continue with the project. Watch for Chapter One soon.

Princess, Revisited

The nice people who adopted Princess, A and J, were told by their apartment owner to either get rid of the dog or find someplace else to live.

Granted, Princess was lunging (playful manner, since she wouldn't hurt anyone) at the kids who would come running up to her when they went out for a walk, but still. Forcing them to choose between a dog and a place to live is just plain mean spirited.

They plan on moving to Prescott soon; if it's soon enough we will hold on to Princess until they move and they can get her back.

Did I mention they really, really like Princess? A was very secure that she was there at the house when he recently had some overnight tests done. J didn't want to let her go, but she would rather have a place to live.

The nice lady at Help Pet Adoptions is standing by, just in case. What a sweet person she is. TMBWitW says it's good to have an ally in this situation. She is, as usual, correct.

We'll see how this turns out. I will keep you posted.

The Real Thing - No More

If you refer to my post here, you will see that I have to stop drinking my favorite beverage sooner than I had thought. Like yesterday. Last night was my last sip, this morning I have had nothing but water. Doc said I could have coffee (black) to replace the caffeine, but I haven't had coffee in so long I don't think I can get back into that habit.

Well, looks like I am caffeine free now. No, I won't drink any diet beverages - too many chemicals. Doc wanted to control my issues with more drugs, but I told him no more chemicals - I've got enough going on as it is. No, I don't have to line them up or use one of those pill dispensers, but that's what I mean - I already take some, don't want to take more, and I am actively searching for non-chemical methods to replace the pills I do take.

The Real Thing

I have to go easy on this attempt.

The last time I quit drinking it for any length of time, there was a nosedive of their stock value, and I just can't be responsible for that much money being lost again.

Yes, my loving wife, I have one in front of me, and I think one day at a time is a pretty good idea.

Next week I will try again.

As Promised!

After much trial and many errors, over in the left column you will see a listing for the Preface of "The Wisconsin Cartters" written by my paternal Grandfather, which has an update from me. I am waiting for permission from Rural Life Press (provided they are still in business), but I don't foresee any problems, since it is my Grandfather's work, and he has since passed away.

Anyway - check it out.

The Wisconsin Cartters Preface

PREFACE


Like many others I have said with a sense of guilt, “Why didn’t I ask more questions about my family, or listen more carefully to Father as he spoke of them?” No, it was not his fault. I had turned a deaf ear in the direction of family history.

Little did I appreciate then that James Bruce and Isadora (Swift) Cartter, my paternal grandparents, had played such pioneering roles; and that both had descended from immigrant ancestors who came to America in the 1630’s. By varied routes they had reached Wisconsin shortly before it was made a state.

As with most of us when we approach retirement age, I began to realize my neglect, - but not until after many sources of information were no longer available. Other sources did remain, however; and the search has been most interesting and rewarding.

Louise (Adams) Curran 93 years young, my cousin and the only living relative who knew both grandparents, has been a helpful source on family background. Old letters were found which added insight into the joys and sorrows of earlier days. Many of these letters are being preserved and catalogued by my niece, Mrs. John Forssen, of Missoula, Montana. They will later be deposited with the Wisconsin Historical Society. Old pictures and newsclippings also brought to light personalities I had never known. The archives of the Wisconsin Historical Library produced a wealth of information which added much detail and many historic facts about the times.

Perhaps the most interesting experiences have been those trips which my wife Rachel and I made to areas where the Cartter families have lived. Court houses, old farms, and churches were visited. An occasional distant relative was also found.

I have attempted to set forth the results of this search in two parts, the one in story form (non-fictional) and the other in genealogical record. James Bruce Cartter, my grandfather, was chosen as the central figure for the former primarily because he seemed to represent those qualities which characterized so many of our pioneer forefathers.

The genealogical record covers eleven generations of Carters and Cartters in America, the first four being quite abbreviated. Each individual is identified by a number which may be found in the index. Unfortunately the records are incomplete in several places due to lack of information. Any reader who may be able to add facts, or correct errors is urged to contact the author.

/s/ Bruce L. Cartter
Madison, Wisconsin



Update:

Bruce Lanpher is my paternal grandfather. When this book was first published, in 1973, I was a young boy and, much like him, not really interested in the family history. History has a funny habit of repeating itself, for those not paying attention the first time around, and I find myself wanting to know more but finding that many of the “contacts” are no longer around.

The request for correction or additions stands for this very reason. I know that there are many more relations out there than are listed in this update. Please use the comments section, or e-mail me directly, to fill me in on information I may not have.

Traveling is a luxury in this day and age that I am not able to indulge in, due to scheduling restraints and the historically high prices of fuel. There are many times I have kicked myself for not asking to go along with Grandfather while he was working on the original manuscript, during those summers that I was allowed to stay with him and Rachel.

I will attempt to do his memory proud by bringing this into the information age.

Cary Bruce Cartter
Glendale, Arizona
August 6, 2005

The Wisconsin Cartters - Flyplate

The Wisconsin Cartters
Bruce Lanpher Cartter

A story of
The Wisconsin Cartters
and
Direct lines from allied families:
Kellogg – Hollister – Swift
Adams – Willard – Lanpher
Davis – Curran – Knapp
Fitch – Olson

Originally printed by
Rural Life Press
208 Campus Street
Lake Mills, Wisconsin 53551

Library of Congress catalog card number: 73-91725

TriVillage High School Class of 1980

This weekend is my high school class' 25 year reunion. It is such a difficult thing to grasp - I've been out of high school for 25 years. Twenty Five Years. There are bloggers out here who haven't been alive that long.

It's been quite a while since I was back in New Madison, Ohio. The last time I was there, I was driving a big rig cross country for a living, and was passing by the area, so I stopped in. I saw a few friends, shot a few games of pool at Jack's Place (is it still standing?), and then moved on down the road. Of course, since I was going to drive truck for the rest of my life, I knew that I would be able to stop in there anytime I was in the area.

I stopped driving for that company about two months later, and started driving for a local cabinet shop in Paso Robles, California. Funny how life takes you down different paths.

Speaking of different paths - after graduation, four of us enlisted in the Marine Corps. Bob Fugate, Kenny Earles, Gene McNew and I signed up during the school year, after we had turned eighteen, and planned to serve together. The USMC doesn't always take your thoughts and feelings into consideration when you enlist, so naturally, that's not the way it happened. Kenny and I were at USMCRD San Diego at the same time, but we were in different platoons. Bob went to Parris Island, and Gene decided not to go.

Bob just retired last year from the Corps, after serving as a helicopter maintenance crew member and leader for 22 years. He's getting married soon, and that's another big event I'll be missing.

Yes, missing. As the class gathers tonight and tomorrow, to catch up, to refresh memories, to mingle, I will be here in Arizona. Life threw TMBWitW and me a bit of a curve, in the form of a savings-draining series of auto repairs that pretty much chewed up the travel funds. So, while they are gathered in the Moose Lodge (here's to you, my fellow classmates! may we all be blessed with at least another 25 years!) I will be here puttering about the house, and thinking of all of them.

I am curious, though - how many of you will check out this entry? Can we have a roll call of comments? Members of the class of TVHS 1980, please sign in below.

And, if you are former faculty, I would like to hear from you, too. Who knows - this may turn into a short series here on the blog.

The Wisconsin Cartters

My paternal grandfather, Bruce Lanpher Cartter, published a genealogy in 1973 of the Cartter family. I'll be posting chapters from that book, along with the family tree, over to the side. Look for it in the upcoming days.

Meanwhile, I am still tired and cranky from my road trip. I think I will do as TMBWitW says and just sit down and watch a movie.

I'll post more later, I promise.

My U-Haul Adventure

Let's start by saying, thank you, U-Haul, for making sure no one can sue you for renting inadequate equipment.

I couldn't get a hitch put on my QX4. For all it's "SUV"-ness, it doesn't have the frame to haul a transporter with a car on it. So, can U-Haul rent me a truck big enough for that job, and an auto transporter? Nope. Not on the last day of the month, unless I had a reservation.

Thank you, P and T (more friends! more initials! I'll never keep them all straight...) for loaning your Durango to the cause. That is an SUV in all it's glory. I love V-8 power. Not the gas mileage, but the power - my goodness. Didn't manage a high rate of speed, but it was a steady speed - up hills and down dales.

Rented a transporter, after getting the Durango from P and T. Finally got J.P.'s car loaded, and ready to go, by 1:00 Sunday afternoon. Hit the road, and the weather. Hot and sticky in the Valley, then as boring as ever through Wickenburg and Wikieup, with the exception of the suicidal drivers who insist on passing whether there's enough room for them or not. About 10 miles south of I-40, the temperature went from 103 to 71 in a mile and a half, and the rain came pouring down. Fought the rain until DW Ranch road, and then it cleared up and warmed up again.

Once I got to J.P.'s house, it was easy enough getting his car off; after all, his transmission works just fine. Then we had to sit and think. The J30's tranny was thrashed. There was a forward drive, after a fashion. There was no reverse. Neutral sounded like ball bearings in the dryer, but it was kind of there. OK, I knew that I wouldn't have any help unloading by the time I got back to Phoenix, so we figured we would back it onto the trailer. Remember no reverse? That's right, neutral and five grown men pushing got that sucker onto the trailer. Tied down, gassed up, and gone - at a blazing 55 miles per hour. With the weight of the engine over the back axle of the trailer, any faster than that would induce a fishtail action that I was not fond of. Time of departure: 6:00 p.m. Long day so far, longer day yet to come.

I caught back up with the rain before I hit Wickenburg. By that time, it was a full blown storm, with wind gusts and sideways rain. What fun! About the time I hit the cut/rise at the Highway 89 turn off, to Bagdad and Hillside, I was down to about 40 miles per hour, due to lack of visibility. Good thing, too, as it turns out - when I hit that cut, the wind coming down 89 pushed the whole show to the right by a good two feet - onto the shoulder. This is called pucker factor - and this is when God's hand is seen - I didn't lose control of it. The trailer stayed behind the Durango, and I eased back onto the roadway proper, never left pavement, and continued on my way. Cleared the rain in Wickenburg, and it chased me the rest of the way home.

Long story short (too late!) my head hit my pillow about 11:45, after dropping off the car, returning the trailer, and gassing up the Durango - again. I am tired. I got into work about an hour late, but that hour was worth it for the sleep.

"An Adventure In Moving" - no kidding!