BIOGRAPHY: John Wesley CARTER, Cambria County, PA 

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann 
Olsen. 

Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty 
Mirovich and Sharon Ringler.

USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives 
remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in 
accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of 
providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by 
anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities 
so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic 
pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including 
copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to 
uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb 
Archives to store the file permanently for free access. 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ 
____________________________________________________________

From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 49-51
____________________________________________________________

JOHN WESLEY CARTER, superintendent of the supply department of the Cambria Iron 
company, is a son of John B. and Mary Ann (Goodman) Carter, and was born in 
Marietta, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1839. His great-grandfather, 
William Carter, was a native of England, whence he emigrated to America and 
located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and became a factor in the early history 
and development of that city. From Philadelphia he removed to Wyoming county, 
where his wife was a victim in that memorable Wyoming massacre. He endured all 
the hardships and perils incident to a settlement in a wilderness infested with 
Indians and wild beasts, and while crossing the Susquehanna river in a small 
boat in the company with another man and his wife the boat capsized and he lost 
his life in a brave effort to safe the woman.
     The grandfather of our subject, John Henry Carter, was born in Wyoming 
county, but removed to Marietta, Pennsylvania, where he died. He was a pump-
maker by trade, but it was his privilege to have a much better education than 
was permitted to many in those early days, so during the winter months he taught 
school.
     He married Sallie Brabson, and to their union were born several children. 
One of their sons, John B. Carter, became the father of our subject. He was born 
in the eastern part of Lancaster county, in 1812. He was reared in his native 
county and educated in the old subscription schools of that period, and learned 
the trade of cabinet-maker. He removed to Mount Minon, Pennsylvania, where he 
became a partner in the Mount Minon furnace.
     In 1872 he removed to Johnstown, this county, where he followed his trade 
as cabinet-maker. In religious belief he was a member of the Methodist church; 
politically he adhered to the principles of the Republican party and represented 
his ward in council.
     He married Miss Mary Ann Goodman, and their marriage was blessed in the 
birth of six children, two boys and four girls.
     John Wesley Carter, the subject of this memoir, attended the common schools 
of Marietta, and at the age of eleven years entered a store at that place. He 
was employed here for seven years, and then became superintendent of the ore 
banks of E. Haldeman & F. S. Eagle & Son, of York county, Pennsylvania. He 
occupied this position about seven years, and in December, 1863, he enlisted in 
the service of his country in the Civil War, and was placed in Military R. R. 
department, First Pioneer corps, and was transferred later to the post of 
commissary of the Military R. R. department, at City Point, being there at the 
time that Grant was before Petersburg. At the close of the war he returned to 
York county and resumed his position as superintendent of the ore banks. He was 
engaged there until the close of the year 1871.
     February, 1872, he removed to Johnstown and entered the mills of the 
Cambria Iron company, where for eleven years he was employed as stamper and 
inspector of steel rails. He was then transferred to the Gautier department as 
weigh-master, and after a year in this position was made assistant 
superintendent of the spring shops. He was employed in this capacity for two 
years, when he was again transferred, this time to the warehouse of the Gautier 
department as superintendent, which position he occupied at the time of the 
disastrous flood of 1889. Mr. Buchanan, who was superintendent of the Cambria 
Iron company warehouse, lost his life in the flood, and the two warehouses were 
put under one manager and called the supply department of the Cambria Iron 
company. Mr. Carter's long period of efficient and faithful service received 
recognition, and he was made superintendent of this new department, and is still 
retained in that capacity.
     He endorses the principles of the Republican party, and has been elected to 
the council of Westmont for two terms and has served his second term on the 
school board and has acted as secretary of the Board of Health ever since that 
body was established. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
     February 9, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Kate Blessing, a 
daughter of John Blessing, of Hellam, York county, Pennsylvania, and their 
marriage has resulted in the birth of six children: James B., who married Miss 
Emma Stahl, of Lorain, Ohio, and is now in the employ of the Johnson company; 
Lucretia, at home; John, who is a dealer in agricultural implements, at 
Massillon, Ohio; Charles, who married Miss Gertrude Cunningham, is now living at 
Morrellville, and is employed as steel inspector for the Cambria Iron company; 
Frank G., in the Gautier office of the Cambria Iron company, and Olive, at home.