A. C. Carter

A. C. Carter, a leading and long-established merchant of Cotton Plant, and who is known the county over, having settled himself in business in that town in 1871, is a native of Rowan County, N.C., and was born in 1840, the son of Thomas and Eliza L. (Johnson) Carter, of North and South Carolina origin, respectively. Thomas Carter was of Scotch-Irish descent, a well-to-do farmer, and was married in North Carolina, where he died when A.C. was about twelve years old. His wife is living at the age of seventy-six, a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. She was twice married, her second husband dying during the war. A.C. Carter is the third in a family of four sons and two daughters, and received all the education to be had at that period. He left the parental roof at the age of sixteen, and worked as a farm hand until 1861, when he enlisted in the war and joined Company K, Fourth North Carolina Infantry in Lee's army, participating in nearly all the battles of that army. He was wounded in June, 1863, at Cold Harbor, and was sent home on furlough for some time. In April 1864, he surrendered with Lee, and shortly after returned to his home, Rowan County, N.C., and engaged in farming till the spring of 1870, when he came to Arkansas and farmed till the fall of 1872; after which he embarked in the mercantile business with one Robert Holt, their capital consisting of only a few hundred dollars. Notwithstanding that the financial start was very modest, he stands today among the best known firms of the town. Mr. Carter has a fine farm of 212 acres in Monroe County, with 170 under cultivation, and on which farm is a good residence. A fine block in the town erected by him is another mark of his ambition and enterprise, all the work of perseverance and economy. He was married in 1872 to Miss Emma Gideon, of Mississippi nativity, who came to Arkansas with her parents when small, and left an orphan when quite young. Two children have been born to this union, one son and one daughter. Mr. Carter, believing that education is the foundation stone to future success, spares no pains or expense to give his children every advantage to be had. In his political views Mr. Carter is a stanch Democrat, voting for Greeley in 1872. He affiliates with the Knights of Honor and Knights and Ladies of Honor at Cotton Plant, and has held various offices in these lodges, quite recently holding the office of Assistant Dictator in the former lodge, and that of Treasurer in the latter. He was formerly a member of I.O.O.F., and wherever he goes is greeted with a royal welcome and a hearty hand shake, all going to show that he is far from unpopular. He and wife are both members of the Methodist Church, and in all church and educational matters, he is a ready and liberal contributor.