MIGRATION CONTINUES AS THE CARTTERS SCATTER

By early 1940 David Kellogg Cartter was in failing health which required him to give up active farm operation and he shortly was confined to the house. He had lived all of his life on this, the original Cartter homestead, and had early assumed responsibility for farm operation due to his father’s advanced years and poor health.

James Marion, his second son, came home from school to aid his mother in carrying on farm operations with the help of hired labor.

David died October 11, 1941, a man highly respected in his local community and in Jackson County where he had held many positions of responsibility. The following are extracts from an obituary found in the Banner Journal, Black River Falls weekly paper.

” – – – David Kellogg Cartter was born January 1, 1858 at Black River Falls, a son of James Bruce and Isadora Swift Cartter, residents of Disco where they had settles in 1855. – – – Mr. Cartter early became interested in the affairs of his community, in which his interest continued throughout the years. – – – The various offices he has held show the standing he held among his fellow men, who placed faith in him and always found him worthy. – – – In politics he was a staunch Democrat throughout his long life. His advice and counsel was sought by his party leaders. – – –

– – – Mr. Cartter was a student and reader throughout his life, and one of the best-read men in the country, posted on every subject and with a philosophy and judgement which made his opinions well worth while. – – –

Mrs. John Levis remembers an incident that was symbolic of the man. She came here as a bride in 1888 and shortly after that Mr. Levis’ mother passed away. As the funeral procession passed through town enroute to Riverside she asked Mr. Levis who the mas was who stood on a corner with his head bared as the procession passed. “That is Dave Cartter'” was the reply. Throughout his life he possessed that inate courtesy and sense of values and his hat was off to what he respected and esteemed. – – – Mr. Cartter will be remembered by his fast thinning group of friends. He was an estimable man, honest, sincere, straight-forward, and worthy of the trust that was put in him by his family, his friends and his community.”

Only once during his public career was David prevailed upon to run as a candidate for the State Assembly — This occured in 1914. Being a member of the minority party in Jackson County he was not elected, much to his own relief, as he was a home and community centered man. The author remembers how, as a boy, having accompanied his father to Black River Falls on various occasions he had sat by as his father became involved in the discussion of public affairs with men of prominence in the city. He had a faculty for drawing upon his reading for reference to subjects under discussion. He held his own in discussions of principle or policy but neer did the author see him lose his temper, for he always respected every man’s right to his own opinion as well as the right to express that opinion.

The funeral services were held at the home where David had been born 84 years earlier. He was buried in the Riverside Cemetery at Black River Falls.

After David’s death in 1941 Edith (Davis) Cartter and her son James Marion continued to live on the Cartter farm, operating it with hired help. James was married on November 8, 1941 making his home on the farm until he was inducted into the service Dec. 8, 1942. Under the stress of the war the farm labor condition was acute. Not being able to find a competent renter the decision was made, very reluctantly, to sell the farm.

This was a decision hard to make, realizing the years of dreams, love, joy, sorrow, and inspiration that had been lived here. All of these emotions had contributed to make this a home full of memories for three generations of Cartters and a welcome spot for all who chose to stop by.

Following the sale and final settlement of the estate Mrs. David K. Cartter (Edith) chose to make her home with Mark Davis, her brother, who was at time operating the original Davis farm at Irving. She made her home with him until her death on April 1, 1945, at age 72.

In the thirty-one years she had lived at Disco, Edith had been very active in church, W.C.T.U., and Sunday school work. Her many years spent in elementary school teaching kept her always interested in young people and in teacher’s activities. She was always a student of public affairs and kept abreast of a number of special interest fields such as astronomy. She was sensitive of character and held a deep interest and concern for the problems of the individual. As the author’s step-mother, she helped to make his life happy and gave him much to thank her for; things which a boy of ten and older might not be conscious of but which have grown in importance to him with the passing years. Unfortunately her son, James Marion Cartter, was still on active military duty in Europe at the time of her death.

Edith was buried in the Sechlerville cemetery with her two infant children in a lot adjacent to where James Bruce and Isadora are buried.

This concludes our story of The Wisconsin Cartters and a review of their direct past in the United States. It is for others to relate further chapters and perhaps to add what is here recorded. Other lines of the family may well be discovered and relationships established. Hopefully so.

Frontiers such as James Bruce and his family encountered may not be so readily found today but their place is being taken by new frontiers in knowledge and accomplishment. The pioneers in these new areas will be challenged as were the westward-looking pioneers who opened up Wisconsin, helped to lay the foundation for this new state, and shouldered hardships and privations in order to fulfill individual dreams. The pioneering, migrating spirit of our ancestors is “in our blood.” How else could we explain why a family’s members today may be found in all parts of the United States and often in foreign lands?

True, the Cartter farm is no more, children and grandchildren are scattered throughout the nation. Some have never seen the Cartter farm of heard of James Bruce and Isadora. But, this is not to say that the pioneering spirit of the Cartters, Kelloggs, Hollisters, Swifts, Adams, Willards, Lanphers, Davises, Knapps, Fitches and Olsons is any less alive and providing a driving force to action and accomplishment regardless of where individuals may reside.

It is the hope of the writer that this story of the Cartters will help all readers tie the past to the present and help them also envision how the future may be better shaped by drawing on the experiences of their forefathers. May all living descendants express their grateful thanks to those ancestors.

You are invited to travel through the following, somewhat limited, genealogical record of the Cartter family dating from 1635 to 1973 in as complete a form as the author is able at this time to present. He welcomes corrections, questions and additions.