My Genealogy Hound

WM. J. CARTER, M. D., physician and surgeon, Joplin, was born in Frankfort, Clinton county, Ind., August 9, 1839. His father Harlen Carter was a native of the Buckeye State, and his mother, Esther Carter of Pennsylvania. When our subject was about four years of age his parents moved to Indiana, locating on a farm in Hendricks county. There he engaged in agricultural pursuits. At seventeen he entered the Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Ind., and attended about two years. He then returned home and commenced teaching, at the same time continuing his studies. Previous to entering college, however, he had commenced the study of medicine. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company F, Seventy-ninth Indiana Infantry Volunteers and served two and a half years, participating in the battles of Chattanooga, Chickamagua, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and many others of importance. Four months after enlistment he was promoted to hospital steward, and during the march to Atlanta, was commissioned first lieutenant of Company F; he was discharged at Chattanooga, because of physical disabilities produced by exposure, and returning home resumed his studies. In the fall of 1805 he entered the Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating in the spring following, He then returned to Hendricks county, Ind., and commenced the practice of his profession at Pittsborough, where he continued three years. He then came to the Southwest because of ill health, locating at Fair, Neosho county, Kan., and resumed practice. He returned to Indiana in the spring of 1873, and engaged in professional duties for about six years at Indianapolis. He then went to Montana Territory, and in July, 1881, came to Joplin. Dr. Carter was married in Hendricks county, Indiana, to Miss Josephine, daughter of Samuel and Nancy King, of that county. Mrs. Carter was born in Indianapolis, March 6, 1842. From this union there have been six children, Hollis S., born April 18, 1867; Addie, born March 24, 1869; Debora, born June 16, 1871; Gertrude, born Dec. 20, 1872, died April 5, 1874; Nettie Belle, born May 5, 1877, died June 8, 1877; and Mary Esther, born May 3,1878. Dr. and Mrs. Carter are members of the Presbyterian Church; he is a Mason, Knight of Pythias, and a member of the G. A. R.; he now fills the chair of Ophthalmology and Otologia in Joplin College of Physicians and Surgeons. Has a large, increasing, and remunerative practice.