Carter, Benjamin Franklin

  “Mr. Benjamin F. Carter was born in Delaware, Delaware county, Ohio, March 18, 1837.  He is the son and third child of Thomas Carter, who came to Missouri in 1840.  Mr. Carter was enrolled in March, 1862, and served three years during the late war.  He was in Colonel McFerran’s regiment, First Cavalry Missouri State Militia, and first sergeant in the company.  Though he was seriously ill during the time for about two months, he stuck to his post and did not quit the service.  His company was principally engaged in several counties south of the Missouri River; was in a skirmish with General Jo Shelby in Saline county, and had quite a number of skirmishes with the noted Quantrell, in fact almost daily.  In the fall of 1864 they had a good deal of skirmishing with General Price at near Fort Scott, General Price having from twenty-five to thirty thousand men, and they, under the command of General Pleasanton, of the Potomac army, consisting of about twenty thousand.  Mr. Carter was discharged at Warrensburg, Johnson county, Missouri.

  Since his release from the war he has been, with the exception of a short period, in the milling business.  He first went to Scottsville, Sullivan county, where, in partnership with Captain Hutchinson, he operated a saw and grist-mill for about five years.  Afterward he ran a portable saw-mill in Linn and Sullivan counties up to 1878, when he removed to Browning and engaged in the furniture trade.  In 1879 he and Mr. Madison Fourman built the mill at Browning which he is now running.  Shortly afterward Mr. Fourman sold his interest to Mr. Carter, who has ever since operated and controlled it alone.  The mill is a four-run mill, new process, and is driven by an Atlas engine made at Indianapolis.  The mill is running constantly, doing a good, paying business, and does custom work on Friday and Saturday of each week.  It is well built, three stories and a half high, nicely painted and in good trim.  In justice to Mr. Carter we must say it is the best mill in the county.

  Mr. Carter was first married on the ___ day of ___ _____ to Miss Rebecca Myers.

  He was married the second time on the ninth day of May to Miss Martha J. Jacobs, daughter of Wesley Jacobs of Sullivan county.  They have had five children, three boys and two girls, all living.  In October, 1881m he and his wife, both together, joined the Christian Church at Browning.  Mr. Carter is also a member of the city council and of the school board, and of the A.O.U.W. lodge at Browning.

Transcribed, in total, by kkfitch