Biographies:  Stephen Bradford "Brad" Carter

Submitted by: Leatha A. Betts
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Stephen Bradford "Brad" Carter born 3 Aug 1832 died 27 Dec. 1899, son of

Redmond Carter and Nancy Kemp Carter.  His father Redmond Carter was beaten

nearly to death by the Herrrington  family for their stealing and cutting

the best Maple trees which were tapped for syrup by the Carter family.



As a young man, Brad Carter was educated in various ways, by working in a

meat market in Nacogdoches, Texas, by learning accounting in Nashville Tenn.

or Louisville Co.  He learned to speak Spanish fluently in Texas, and this

helped him immensely with business affairs.  He built up his funds and

purchased the Crow/Gaines Ferry which was about a mile above the Pendleton

Ferry.  He operated a store and warehouse and built a wharf/pier on the

Sabine River so all the boats could land and transact business.  His

products included maple and cane sugar, cotton and bricks from Carter

brickyard, hay, corn and peas grown on his 10,000 acres as well as timber

cut.  He also opened a post office in his store 



He married Sarah Ann Loving dau. of Manuel Walton Loving and Elizabeth Jane

Chiles Loving of Sabine Co. Texas.  Sarah had three children, Benjamin

Bradford Carter, Sarah Elizabeth Carter and William "Kimp" Kemp Carter, she

died in childbirth 9 Oct 1865.  



Brad then married her sister Angeline Loving (who divorced him when he went

to witness the hanging of her brother William Loving for horse stealing, by

law someone in the family had to witness) no children, Mary Dailey, no

children, she received a horse and buggy as a wedding gift, but when she

arrived, decided she did not want to stay, and took the buggy and left..



He then married Elizabeth Ann Mason dau. of Samuel Houston Mason of Sabine

Co. Texas...and had five children by her.  She died and is buried next to

him on Merritt Mountain in Carter Cemetery on Rt. 6, by Toledo Bend Lake.



He then married his fifth wife Ann Elizabeth/Elizar Russell who after Brad's

death remarried Samuel Stroud son of William Henry Stroud and Elizabeth

Blanchard, half-brother of Asa/Acey Jefferson Stroud.



Oral histories state the Brad Carter helped many slaves escape to Puerto

Rico and Jamaca riding on the barges, he had an unfloored horse shed near

the River and kept them hidden,  A woman who was a former slave is said to

have lived in this shed, and was kept by Brad Carter, apparently he had 5

children by her as well,  and helped her set up Strawberry Creamery in

Shreveport.  



Brad Carter was an active members of the Deciples of Christ/Campbellites and

was very popular as he could play "fiddle" and sing, keeping many folks

entertained, going to all the parties.  He was also a 3rd degree Mason, Many

Lodge #88 and #180.  If he had to leave his family alone to travel on

business, he would tell his wife to lay out his Masonic Apron as protection,

and if a rowdy bunch came by, any Mason brother would see that and give

assistance.  Another signal for gaining help, was the blast from a hunting

horn to sound the alarm.  



It was also said Brad Carter helped Maximillian's illigitimate son from

Mexico escape to Europe...but this is unverified.



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