Biography of Thomas A. Carter, Franklin Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Date: 16 Aug 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. Dr. Thomas A. Carter, retired physician of Ozark, was born in Amherst County, Va., March 31, 1819. He is a descendant of one of the first families of Virginia, in which State his father, Thomas S., and his grandfather, John C., who was a captain in the Revolutionary army, were born. The father grew to manhood in Virginia, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was married in his native State to Harriet H. Aldridge, also a descendant of a prominent family, and in 1824 moved to Alabama, where he engaged in farming at Tuscumbia, until his death in 1833. Our subject lived in Alabama until seventeen, and received a good education in that State and Tennessee. When a young man he lived in Cartersville, Miss., some time, and studied medicine under Dr. Brayton for two years. In the winters of 1846 and 1847 he attended lectures at the University of Louisville, Ky., and in the latter year located at Hickory Plains, Miss., and established himself in his profession. Three years later he removed to Marietta, Miss., and in 1857 finally settled in Ozark, Ark., where for over twenty years he enjoyed a lucrative and extensive practice, which was only interrupted by his withdrawing from active practice, having acquired a competency, leaving the field to a younger generation. During the war Dr. Carter practiced in Texas, but in 1868 returned to Ozark. In October, 1843, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth B. Dotson, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of Samuel Dotson, of Tennessee. This lady was left an orphan during her childhood, and was reared and educated by an aunt. After thirty-four years of wedded happiness she died, leaving two sons and four daughters: J. B., cashier of the Ozark Bank; Henry C., of Ozark; Harriet E., wife of W. F. Crabtree; Mattie A., wife of M. G. Butler, of Indian Territory; Mary U., wife of Capt. Fleeman, of Ozark, and Edna T., a young lady at home. In April, 1833, the Doctor was married in Van Buren to Miss Mary C. Hodges, who was born in Louisville, Ky., but reared and educated at Van Buren. Mrs. Carter is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the Doctor is a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry, of which he was Master a number of years, and also belongs to Carter Chapter No. 57, at Ozark, and has held the highest positions in the same.