Uinta County WY Archives Biographies.....Carter, William A. 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 9, 2009, 7:15 am

Author: Bowen & Co. (1903)

JUDGE WILLIAM A. CARTER.

   Judge William A. Carter was born on April 15, 1818, at Pittsylvania, Prince
William county, Virginia, a son of Wormley and Lucinda (Washington) Carter, and
the plantation of his birth had been for generations an ancestral heritage. The
Carter family is one of the oldest and proudest on the roll of Virginia's
earliest settlers, the first American ancestor, John Carter, the emigrant,
coming to the colony in 1649 and acquiring landed possessions and making his
residence at Corotoman in Lancaster county. He soon became a man of importance
and wealth, and in that troublous period of the Old Dominion's history his
record is that of loyalty, good judgment and conservative influence. His son,
Col. Robert Carter, attained a higher position than his father and his wealth
was far in excess of his father's fortune. In 1730 Lord Fairfax conveyed to him
63,000 acres of the great "northern neck" of Virginia, and a historian writes
that "on this tract, around the present village of Millwood, settled numerous
friends and relatives of the proprietor, bringing with them the traits of the
lowlands." In this attractive country (one American writer called it "the New
Arcady,") the Lowlanders located their families and servants: erected the "Old
Chapel" church which still nestles under the lofty sycamores and here their
descendants remain to this day. Before 1727 Col. Robert Carter, who had filled
various important offices with dignity and capability, was advanced from the
high position of "president of the council" to the highest office in the colony,
that of governor, in which office he was succeeded by William Gooch. His name is
perpetuated by numerous descendants, identified in a marked manner with various
places of the state, as it has been conferred on mountains, rivers and other
localities. At the time of his death he was considered the wealthiest man of the
state. Judge Carter was a direct descendant in the fifth generation from Col.
Robert Carter, but was early left an orphan, his father dying when his son was
but seven years of age and leaving a widow and five children. William remained
near his birthplace until he was seventeen, waxing strong and vigorous amid the
pleasant rural surroundings and in the beautiful country air, receiving the
educational advantages of the country schools. While yet a lad his heart was
filled with thoughts of the future and the ambition to be a leader among men,
and it was no wonder that his adventurous spirit caused him to enlist in the U.
S. army for services against the Seminole Indians at the above mentioned age.
Mis manly bearing and strong personality impressed themselves upon his superiors
and he was soon appointed sergeant in Co. A of the Second U. S. Dragoons. His
term of service was faithfully served, and after his muster-out he had no
difficulty in obtaining the appointment of sutler or posttrader at a number of
the U. S. military posts in Florida. The official roster of the commissioned
officers serving in the Seminole War continued some later prominent names, and
during Mr. Carter's residence in that locality he formed strong friendships with
the young officers who, later, in the Civil War, acquired distinction as
Generals Harney, Ord and Sherman. The privations and sufferings they endured
together in the Everglades tended to bind more closely the bonds of unity, it
being particularly so in the case of Harney, and it is pleasing to note that
that celebrated Indian fighter passed one of the last summers of his life at
Judge Carter's home at Fort Bridger. In 1842, after recovering from a severe
attack of yellow fever, he returned to Virginia and. in 1845, with his brothers,
John and Richard, William A. Carter emigrated to Missouri, where he purchased a
farm seven miles from Columbia in Boone county, and engaged in agriculture. Here
he married on November 2, 1848, Miss Mary E. Hamilton, who had just come to
Boone county from Virginia with her mother's family. Their acquaintance had
existed since childhood and had ripened into love. The young couple resided on
the homestead near Columbia for over two years. Mrs. Carter was a daughter of
Robert and Ann F. (Carter) Hamilton, natives of Virginia and descendants of
early English and Scotch emigrants of the Colonial days, while members of both
branches of the ancestral line participated in the Revolution as ardent
patriots. Her father was a son of John and Susannah (Beale) Hamilton. Judge and
Mrs. Carter were parents of six children, of whom we here enter brief record.
Ada, wife of Joseph K. Corson, a surgeon in the U. S. A.; Anne F., married J.
Van A. Carter (now deceased); Lulie L. married Maurice Groshon; William A.,
married Miss Kate Chase of Omaha, Neb., and lives in Denver, Colo.: Roberta H.,
wife of W. H. Camp of Alameda, Cal.; Edgar N., superintendent of the U. S. fish
commission, who married Miss Boydie Faulkner, daughter of Senator Faulkner of
West Virginia, and maintains his home in St. Johnsbury, Vt. The glittering
reports brought from California contrasted too strongly with the quiet pastoral
life of Missouri and again the adventurous spirit was awakened in Mr. Carter. In
April, 1850, leaving his wife to the care of relatives he started on the long
and dangerous overland journey across the plains and mountains for the
bewitching land of gold, and with him went his brother Richard and
brother-in-law Richard Hamilton. A severe illness resulted in partial loss of
sight caused his early return to Missouri. Wild and dangerous as was the trip to
California, the return was far more difficult. The constant exposure to
pestilential miasmas and the sleepless vigilance required to circumvent the
savage men and dangerous animals to be contended with in the intricate swamps of
Nicaragua soon sapped the constitution of the returning miners, hundreds of whom
there found their last resting place. His strong mind dominating all physical
discomfort, Mr. Carter reached Cuba in August, 1851, immediately after the
capture of the filibuster Lopez by the Spanish government. All arrivals in the
island, especially of Americans, were considered those of filibuster tendencies,
and Mr. Carter narrowly escaped confinement and death, but finally reached his
home in Missouri, where for some years he conducted agricultural operations.
When the military expedition against the Mormons in Utah was decided upon,
General Harney offered Mr. Carter the post-tradership of one of the posts he, as
commander of the department, was about to establish. Harney was soon succeeded
by Gen. Albert S. Johnston, and under his administration Mr. Carter became
post-trader at Fort Bridger, Wyoming, his operations commencing in the winter of
1857-8 in the camp established two miles above the place where the fort was to
be erected. In 1858 the site of the fort was located and work begun on the
buildings. The poststore and trader's residence occupied a square adjoining the
officers, and here was Judge Carter's home, which in time became known
throughout a wide area as the center of a bounteous hospitality. This title of
"judge" came to him from his appointment as U. S. commissioner, in which
judicial capacity he had frequently to examine and often commit for trial by the
Federal court at Salt Lake City, the lawless and dangerous men then frequenting
this wild section. He was a firm and fearless official, never swerved from duty
by threats or attempted intimidation. In August, 1861, the exigencies of the
Civil War took away the garrison at Fort Bridger. Captain Clark of the
quartermaster's department with one private was left in charge of the government
property until the spring of 1862, when he too was ordered east. At his urgent
request Judge Carter assumed the transportation of the government property to
Denver. This undertaking required forty wagons and besides arming each driver a
guard of twenty selected men accompanied the train. From Denver Judge Carter
hastily returned to Fort Bridger where the departure of the troops had left no
security for the safety of life or property. Bands of Indians were committing
outrages and there was nothing to check their ravages. Millersville, the station
east of Fort Bridger. was burned, herds of horses were stolen and fears were
entertained for the safety of the fort. To meet this emergency Judge Carter
organized a company of sixty men from the settlers and employes of the Overland
Stage Co. and himself, and purchasing arms for the outfit at his own expense he
converted a portion of his store building into an armory and drill room and
daily drills were initiated. Although having no governmental authority, the
installation of this company maintained order and peace, and safely protected
both private and public property until the arrival of a company of California
volunteers in December, 1862, ended the necessity of its existence. General
Conner, commander of this military department, under an erroneous impression
reported to the War Department that Judge Carter was actuated by selfish and
mercenary ends in this matter, but on visiting the field was convinced that the
action was a patriotic and praiseworthy one, became one of the warmest friends
of the judge, and becoming convinced that the stories of Indian depreciations
sent him by Judge Carter did not magnify the danger, in the spring of 1863
organized an expedition to punish and conquer the savages. At this time, and
through the whole of the Civil War period, Judge Carter was in constant and
dangerous activity. He was then a special agent of the U S. P. O. department for
the inspection of the handling of the mails, his duties calling him frequently
over the wild route of the Overland Stage Co., and sometimes to the Pacific
coast. As the stages were not infrequently attacked by Indians, he had his share
of excitement and often numerous escapes from death. But his cool and undaunted
courage never faltered and not a duty was neglected and his entire course was
heartily approved by his supporters. Foreseeing the departure of the troops
Judge Carter had disposed of nearly all of his goods prior to that event,
realizing that in such an emergency as then confronted him an intelligent
business man should so arrange his property as to make it come under adequate
protection, and had invested in other fields and enterprises. As early as March,
1867, he had begun to locate mining claims and was successful in obtaining
valuable properties in the rich mineral region of South Pass, still keeping Fort
Bridger as his home and base of operations. When peace was declared, immigration
again commenced into the west, the various branches of industrial activity took
on new life and in this progress and development, especially in the region
around about Fort Bridger, Judge Carter was a forceful agent. On the discovery
of gold at South Pass, he fitted out and equipped a number of prospecting
parties; when oil was discovered in a spring in Uinta county not far from Fort
Bridger he utilized this product, with a small still producing and refining
enough oil for illuminating purposes at the fort before the advent of the Union
Pacific Railroad. He was the first person to engage in the manufacture of lumber
in Western Wyoming. He engaged extensively as a pioneer in cattleraising and was
one of the earliest to note and take advantage of its wondrous possibilities. In
many other and widely varying fields of commercial activity he demonstrated his
faith in the capabilities and productiveness of his part of the western
territory and success crowned his efforts in a high degree. His plans were far
reaching, wise and sagacious. Although cool, careful and conservative, whenever
his judgment approved a business venture he gave to it the whole force of his
energetic nature and persistently carried it to a successful completion. He took
a prominent part in the efforts made to organize the territory of Wyoming, and,
from his opportunities and the character of his extensive acquaintance, was
largely responsible for its establishment. At that time his winters were passed
in New York and Washington and his personal connection with prominent public men
and statesmen stood in good stead in the carrying out of this wise design, which
meant so much in advancing the progress of civilization in this land of his
adoption. During the winter of 1867-8 he devoted his time and means freely to
acquainting members of Congress with the true conditions of the land, and the
rights of the people of Wyoming to a representation in the councils of the
nation. His labor was successful and when the boundaries of the territory were
established his efforts located its western line. He was so prominently
connected with the formation of the territory that President Grant offered to
commission him as its first governor, an exalted honor, which he declined, as
the duties would deprive him too much of that domestic life that was to him the
highest charm of existence. Although his successful business operations were
extensive and multitudinous, they were so systematically arranged that during 
his later years he devoted himself largely to the enjoyment of the wealth his
ability had produced. His greatest pleasure lay in lavishly entertaining the
numerous friends with whom he was united as with bands of steel, and in his
hospitable residence at Fort Bridger many of America's most prominent people
have enjoyed the pleasant society of the Judge and of his excellent wife, who
ably seconded and aided her husband in his undertakings, dispensing a
hospitality as bountiful as that of royalty. Among their friends and visitors
were the distinguished scientists, Professors Leidy, Marsh and Cope, Generals
Harney, Sherman, Ord and Cook, and the great railroad magnates and financiers,
John W. and Robert Garrett of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Jay Gould and
Sidney Dillon. With such friends and companions life passed pleasantly and
usefully until November 7, 1881, when, in his sixty-third year, Judge Carter was
called from earth to those activities that have no weariness and mourning rested
upon all the people. Of southern birth Judge Carter deeply sympathized with the
South in the troubles antedating and accompanying the War of Secession, but his
hatred of negro slavery and love of country united him with the most ardent
supporters of the Union. Always in politics a strong supporter of the Republican
party and deeply interested in public matters, yet his ardent love of domestic
life caused him to decline all nominations to office or elective public trusts.
His moral courage, tried in many occasions, was never found wanting. Neutrality
was impossible to him, for he never shirked a duty or an issue. His latent
resources under the stimuli of difficulty and opposition were always equal to
the demands made upon him in meeting weighty responsibilities and bearing the
heavy burdens involved. He possessed the fine feelings so characteristic of
Virginia birth and breeding and was intensely loyal to his friends. As there is
an inspiration to others in the achievements of ' such men, we gather this
review of the salient points of the life of Judge Carter and lay it as an
honorable record where its influence may descend with helpful strength to other
generations. His memory will long be cherished and his life is a part of the
history of the state.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

ILLUSTRATED

A people who take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, will
never achieve anything worthy to he remembered with pride by remote
generations.—.MACAULAY.

CHICAGO, ILL.
A. W. BOWEN & CO.
PUBLISHERS AND ENGRAVERS
1903


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