My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

THOMAS C. CARTER, one of the enterprising and wide-awake business men of Holden, was born in Bradley County, Tenn., January 11, 1859, and is a son of George W. and Rebecca (Wise) Carter. His mother died when our subject was but three years old, and a year later his father, who was serving as a soldier in the Union army, was killed at the battle of Chickamauga. Thus at the tender age of four years he was left an orphan and was bound out to W. C. Johnson, a farmer of east Tennessee, with whom he lived until he was about sixteen years old. He then left his employer and took the train for Kansas City, but running out of funds was obliged to stop at Holden, Mo. He arrived at this place in 1875 and in order to earn his living began sawing wood, but after being thus employed for a week, was hired by S. J. Sullivan, of Holden, to drive a wagon used in putting up lightning-rods. For the first month he received only $12, then his wages were raised to $15, the following month to $20, and at the end of the third month he was offered $25, for which salary he worked for six months. For a year and a-half he then received $50 per month, at the end of which time he was offered $100, but instead of accepting formed a partnership with his employer. This connection continued for about a year, when our subject sold out.

Mr. Carter then joined Jacob Bosky in business, buying and selling horses and mules. They bought a lot of horses which they took to Emporia, Kan., but lost everything they had and our subject found himself penniless. On meeting his former employer, S. J. Sullivan, that gentleman paid his way back to Holden, being glad to receive him again in his service. He then began work for $75 a month, continuing thus employed from January until April. He then concluded to start in business for himself, but not having sufficient funds he applied to William Steele, President of the Farmers’ and Commercial Bank of Holden, who furnished the money to buy a team and wagon, taking only Mr. Carter’s personal obligation for the same. There was an attempt made to prevent his getting rods shipped him by sending word to the wholesale men that he had no money. On the firm writing him, he took the letter to Mr. Steele, who wrote the wholesale house to ship the rods to any points that our subject desired, and draw on the bank of which he was President for the money. He then started out and ever since has conducted a successful and lucrative business. When his benefactor later needed his assistance, Mr. Carter came to his rescue, furnishing him with $400 to start again in life, and he later became worth $75,000. Our subject had also gone his security and was obliged to pay $3,000.

On the 25th of December, 1880, Mr. Carter was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie C. Rudolph, of Holden. She was born in Milton County, Mo., and is a daughter of Charles William and Minnie (Fricke) Rudolph. To our worthy subject and his wife have been born three children, Minnie Belle, John Doran and Clarence Rudolph. The parents hold membership with the Baptist Church, and take an active part in the work of the same.

Besides his well established business in Holden, Mr. Carter owns a pleasant residence at the corner of Pine and Third Streets, and two hundred and forty acres of land in Bates County, Mo., which is well improved and highly cultivated. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers’ and Commercial Bank of Holden. Though starting out in business life on debt, he accumulated enough for the purchase of his land, and has become a well-to-do citizen. All his business is transacted in a straightforward and honorable manner, and his patrons are numbered among his warmest friends. He is well liked by all with whom he comes in contact, and is held in the highest regard throughout Johnson County. In political sentiment he is a Democrat, and cast his first Presidential ballot for Grover Cleveland in 1884. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled the various offices in the same. He also belongs to the Encampment. He has never been an office-seeker, but served for two years as Deputy-Sheriff under H. H. Russell.

* * * *

This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Johnson County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Johnson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Johnson County, Missouri family biographies here: Johnson County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Johnson County, Missouri here: Johnson County, Missouri Map

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.