ANOTHER OLD SETTLER PASSES

Thomas Marion Carter was born in Scioto county, Ohio August 16, 1835, and died at his late home in Blair, Nebraska March 16, 1922, aged 88 years and 7 months. Mr. Carter grew to young manhood near the place of his birth from which place he went to Covington, Ky. and to Newport, Va. where he attended Newport University studying law for a time. In 1854 he drove an ox team from Covington, Ky. to St. Joseph, Missouri, and from there he came by boat to old Rock Port Landing near what is now DeSoto. In the spring of 1855 the deceased filed upon land, a part of which is now a part of the townsite of Blair. His first little cabin was erected near where the city hall now stands, and a good part of the town of Blair was Mr. Carter’s corn field.

Mr. Carter and Miss Amanda M. Sullivan were married September 21, 1856, and to this union were born eleven children, seven girls and four boys, four of whom preceded the father to the great beyond. The names of these four are Catherine Elvira and Daniel Webster who died in infancy. Mrs. Clara Fulton died at the age of 34 years and William Alexander died at the age of 43 years. The wife and mother died October 26, 1900.

On the second day of September, 1902 Mr. Carter contracted a second marriage, Mrs. Isabelle Hines being his bride. Mr. and Mrs. Carter moved to Plattsmouth in 1905 where they made their home for about ten years, coming back to Blair in 1914, since which time they have made their home in this city.

Mr. Carter was an old soldier, having enlisted in Co. B. 2nd Nebraska Cavalry in 1862. He was a member in good standing of John A. Dix Post, G.A.R. No. 52. Wm. A. Ketcham, National commander appointed the deceased on his staff as his Aid decamp in 1921.

During his first years in Nebraska Mr. Carter taught school several terms. He was a charter member of the Blair Methodist Episcopal church, having organized the first Sunday School in Washington county. He also organized the first Sons of Temperance in the county. He has filled several different offices in the county. He was a man of honor, beloved and respected by his neighbors. He was loyal to his country, to his church, to his friends and to his God.

He leaves his wife, seven children: Mrs. Agnes Garner of Virginia; Mrs. Nellie C. Wright of Chadron, Neb.; Mrs. Mable Dasher of Pacific Junction; Mrs. Marion Brunton and Mrs. Pauline Sutherland of Blair, Nebr.; Baxter Carter of Los Angeles, Cal.; and Jay R. Carter of Lander, Wyo. A half brother, Danieal of the National Home at Leavenworth, Kansas, fifteen grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and was said to be related to more than one hundred families in this part of the state.

#2- 6 Mar., 1922 issue of The Tribune

BLAIR'S OLDEST SETTLER HAS BEEN CALLED TO FUTURE LIFE.

Thomas Marion Carter, of whose death a brief mention was made last week, was born in Scotia County, Ohio, August 16, 1835, and lived in the vicinity of his birthplace until he reached young manhood and then lived at Covington, Kentucky, where he made his home for some time. Later, he went to Newport, Virginia, and attended the university at that place, studying law for some time.

He came to St. Joseph, Missouri, driving an ox team through from Covington, Kentucky. From there he came to Rockport, Nebraska, ten miles south of Desoto, and early in 1855 filed upon a piece of land upon which a part of Blair now stands. His first home occupied the land near the city hall, while a corn field grew and flourished on the now town site of Blair.

The following year, on September 21, 1856, he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda M. Sullivan, and to this couple were born seven daughters and four sons. Catherine Elvira and Daniel Webster died in infancy, and a daughter, Mrs. Clara Fulton, passed away in her 34th year, and a son, William Alexander, lived to be 43 years of age.

During the early years of his life in Nebraska, Mr. Carter taught a pioneer school for several years. He was a charter member of the first Methodist Church started in Blair, and lent his services and influence in the cause of Christianity all his life. He organized the first Sunday school in Washington County and the first temperance organization, known as the "Sons of Temperance."

Mr. Carter served in the war of the sixties, enlisting in the Co. B., Second Nebraska Cavalry, in 1862 and was an honored member of John A. Dir Post No. 52. He was also appointed by National Commander William A. Ketcham as his aid-de-camp in 1921.

The wife of his young manhood passed away October 26, 1900, and on September 2, 1902, he was married to Mrs., Isabella Hines. They moved to Plattsmouth in 1905 and lived there ten years and then returned to Blair in 1914, where they have since resided.

Besides the widow he is survived by seven children: Mrs. Agnes Garner of Virginia, Mrs. Nellie C. Wright of Chadron, Nebraska, Mrs. Mabel Dashner of Pacific Junction, Iowa, Mrs. Marian Brunton and Mrs. Pauline Sutherland of Blair, Baxter Carter of Los Angeles, California, and Jay Carter of Lander, Wyoming, and a half-brother, Daniel, who resides at the National Soldiers Home at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. There are also fifteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren living. Mr. Carter was related to more than one hundred families in this part of Nebraska.

The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the Methodist Church. Reverend J. A. Johnson, the local Pastor, preaching the discourse, and burial was made in the family lot in the Blair Cemetery.

Deceased was a man of many virtues and was well and widely known and highly respected. He was loyal to his family, his country, his church and his God and a man much given to charity.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~