Biography of Thomas A. Carter, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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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.