James Gillford Carter (1931)

BLAIR, BREEDING, CARTER, HAYNES, KINNAIRD, WITTER

Posted By: Linda Brittain
Date: 5/9/2006 at 13:32:11

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, February 12, 1931

JAMES GILFORD CARTER

The community was saddened to learn of the passing of J. G. Carter last Wednesday. His death was due to pneumonia. The funeral was held Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the Church of Christ and the sermon was given by the pastor, Rev. I. G. Randels, and interment was made in the Blair Chapel cemetery.

The writer has known Mr. Carter for over forty years and in all that time he always found him to be honest, conscientious, pleasant and agreeable; a man whom it was an honor to call a friend. “Jim” will no more cheer us by his sunny disposition and congenial comradeship, and it is with sadness we bow to the inevitable. May he rest in peace.

Obituary

The sun had set in the golden west,
The shades of night were falling
As he laid his head on Jesus’ breast,
And heard Him softly calling.

“Come unto Me,” your work is done
You have gained the great reward
Given to those whom crowns have won
In service to their Christ and Lord

J. G. Carter, is to us no more, save a sacred memory, he having closed his eyes in that sleep that knows no waking, on last Wednesday evening, after an illness of but few days’ duration. All that loving hands or medical skill could do was to no avail, and he peacefully lay aside the armor of life and accepted the approval of his true guide and master.

He was born in or near Edmonson, Adair county, Kentucky, February 28, 1855, and died at St. Charles, February 4, 1931, aged 75 years, 11 months and 7 days. At the age of about five years, his parents came to Iowa, remaining here a short time, returning to Scott county, Illinois, where they spent about five years, returning to Iowa, and taking a claim on Clanton creek, about two miles north-west of St. Charles, where they spent the remainder of their lives. In this neighborhood, he grew to manhood, and when a young man, he accepted Christ as his Savior, and was baptized in the faith of the Brethren church of which he was a faithful and efficient member; he was converted at a meeting held in the Ebenezer school-house, Blair Chapel having been built later, and farther north.

He was the son of Peter and Parthena Blair Carter, and of a family of ten children, which are according to age – Mary, John, Benjamin, William A., Sarah, George, James Gilford, Peter, Robert E., and Eliza, all of which have preceded him to the better land, except Sarah, (Mrs. James Breeding, of Hanley,) and Eliza, (Mrs. B. F. Haynes, of Lathrop, Mo.)

He wooed and won Miss Millicent C. Kinnaird, of the community as his life’s helpmate, and on September 21, 1876, they were united in marriage and went to housekeeping a small farm near the old homestead, where they spent a greater portion of their lives in God’s great open and enjoyed His never stinted sunshine and flowers. Though often trials and difficulties seemed to almost block the way, they never lost faith or courage, and with God’s held conquered every seemingly great problem.

To this union two children were born, Anna, now Mrs. Ira R. Witter, of Des Moines, and Parthena, who died at the age of eight months. He leaves a loving wife, and affectionate daughter, two sisters, two grand-sons, three great-grand-children, and several nephews and nieces, and a host of other relatives and friends, who will sadly miss his happy smile and warm handshake.

He was a man of amiable qualities and unselfish ways, ever alert to the duties devolving upon him, not only as husband and father, but as neighbor and friend. His one desire was to try and make the world a better and more fit place in which to live, and to set no example before any one which would mislead anyone; he was especially fond of little children and always won their respect and love.

He and his good wife left the farm in 1903, coming to St. Charles, where he provided a nice home and resided until his death. They became affiliated with the Church of Christ, after coming here, and were faithful attendants as long as health permitted them to attend.

He was an Old Fellow and adhered strictly to its teaching, especially the Golden Rule. He also belonged to the Rebekah order as did his good wife also, and they were ever ready, and at all times willing to administer where ever the cry of distress was heard or the pangs of hunger felt.

In his passing, the city has lost a great champion for right, the community a staunch friend, the church a good man, and the family a jewel of rare beauty and price. In life, he was the writer’s intimate friend, in death he is our friend still in the great gallery of our memory.

Goodbye friend till we meet in Heaven above.

Your memory we will ever cherish.
________________________

Coordinator's note: Full name taken from his Iowa Death Certificate.

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