STANLY COUNTY, NC - OBITUARIES - Captain Robert Allen Carter, 28 Mar 1892
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The Stanly News
March 31, 1892
Written by James Daniel Bivens
 
A Sad Death
Captain Robert Allen Carter Found Dead Near His Home
 
Little did we imagine on last week the name Captain Robert Carter would give 
us subject for a death sketch in this. In his death we are vividly reminded of 
the uncertainty of life: the certainty of death.
His death had been a most heart rending one to his grief stricken family, and 
one of the most apalling the town has ever witnessed. Monday evening, soon 
after noon, apparently in the full bloom of health, Mr. Carter set out on a 
three mile walk down the railraod to see certain parties. Ephraim urged his 
father to let him take the trip instead; but his father departed saying, "No, 
I'll go myself. I need the excercise anyway".  They were the last words 
uttered to any of his family.
Mr. Rummage says that Mr. Carter left his house at 4 o'clock in the evening on 
his return home. When next seen, his body was lying in cold death face 
downwards upon the earthy within twenty feet of the railroad track midway 
between the depot and the bridge crossing above and almost in sight of his 
home. If a night could unfold its mysteries or the silent tongue could speak, 
a tale of the most bitter anguish would be told. As we're left alone to 
conjecture, the most plausible seems that the walk had proved too much for a 
man of his weight and that he became unconscious before he received death, 
stroke of apoplexy. Whether or not he was stricken before he reached the 
depot, or whether, as some suppose, he passed beyond to examine cross ties, or 
whether or not he lost his mind and missed the way, no one can tell. Miss 
Patty Shankle was the first to discover the corpse about 9 o'clock Tuesday 
morning. Dr. O.D. King was among the first to reach the spot after the news 
was made known. He says that the body was still warm and gave evidence that 
Mr. carter had not been dead more than an hour and a half. Twas indeed a 
sorrowing scene to see the loved family gather around the body of the devoted 
husband and loving father whom death had so crudely claimed: one upon which we 
can not dwell.
A colored woman passed within a few feet of where the corpse lay, several 
times late Monday eve and failed to see it: so it is not known at what time he 
reached the point where he fell. it is evident that he had at least, found his 
bearing and had started towards home when he fell, unable to summon help.
A corner's inquest was held and a verdict rendered that the death resulted in 
natural cause.
Mr. Carter was born 15 Dec, 1836 two miles south of this place. He was happily 
married Aug 30,1871 to Elizabeth Coble. This couple were blessed with nine 
children toward whom Mr. Carter ever acted the part of a kind and affectionate 
father. the last two children . The last two children by death in Monroe.
A greater part of his life was spent in the mercantile business in Wadesboro, 
Polkton, Monroe, and Concord. He was one who met with difficulties with an 
iron determination to over come them. As a poor boy, he served and a clerk in 
a mercantile establishment in Monroe and under his management, he was ever 
honest, a straight forward man, always attentive to business.
His stay of nine months in our village has been pleasant one and his many 
friends in and around here will sadly mourn his death. He did much to upbuild 
the market here and the remark of one farmer that "He will be missed in this 
place." tells us truly of a fact and shows what a high respect the laboring 
class had for him.
He was a member of the Methodist Church South in Concord and the Standard 
says" A cleverer man never lived in Concord. his sudden death will be a great 
shock to a large circle of warm friends in Concord and Cabarrus and Stanly." 
His remains were interred in the cemetery yesterday.
May God's protecting hand ever rest upon the little children who cannot 
realize  that "papa" is dead. We sincerely sympathize with the bereaved family 
and may they receive that consolation which a higher than earthly power only 
can give."
 
Submitted by Jodie Gee