Cart, Samuel M.

CART

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/28/2021 at 23:25:38

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.383

SAMUEL M. CART
Professor S. M. Cart, who is now engaged in agricultural pursuits, owns and operates a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, constituting a neat and well improved property on section 21, Lincoln Twnship. He is numbered among the old settlers of Iowa, dating his residence here from 1854, so, that for more than a half century he has witnessed the changes which have occurred and the transformation that has been wrought. Professor Cart is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Elkhart County, February 25, 1849. His father, William Cart, was born in Greenbrier County, West Vir­ginia, September 12, 1808, and was of German ancestry. His father, George Cart, was a son of William Cart, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, while George Cart served his country as a soldier in the War of 1812. The Cart family was numbered among the early settlers of Virginia and took an active part in the development of that section of the country.
William Cart, Jr., was reared to manhood in the Old Dominion and was married in 1837 to Nancy Cart, who was born in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and was a distant relative. In 1835 he had removed to Indiana, settling in Elkhart County, where he opened up a tract of land and carried on farming for a number of years. In 1854 he came to Iowa, establishing his home in Marion County, where he opened up a farm of three hundred and forty acres. There he reared his family and while living upon that place he lost his wife who passed away in 1890 at the age of nearly seventy-six years. Mr. Cart still survives her and is now a centenarian, having reached the one hundreth milestone on life's journey.
Professor S. M. Cart was reared upon the home farm in Marion County and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He acquired his primary education in the country schools and in 1871 entered the Simpson College at Indianola, Iowa, his attendance at college being alternated with teaching in the district school. However, he completed his college course and was graduated with the class of 1875. The following year he taught school at Carlisle, Iowa, and for three years was a teacher in the public schools at Goshen, Indiana.
Professor Cart was married at that place on the 24th of June, 1879, to Miss Belle Mercer, who was born, reared and educated at Goshen and was also a teacher prior to her marriage. After leaving Goshen, Professor Cart had charge of the schools at Knoxville, Iowa, for two years. He lost his wife there, her death occurring May 4, 1881. Subsequently Professor Cart had charge of the schools at Tama, Iowa, for two years, and during that period he was again married on the 6th of September, 1882, his second union being with Miss Minnie Poyner, a native of Iowa, who was born in Tama County, and was a niece of Ex-Lieutenant Governor Poyner. Professor Cart in 1890 received a government appointment through the influence of General Morgan and Major Conger, and went to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he established the Indian Industrial School. He opened up the school there and was its superintendent for three and one-half years, doing excellent work at that point in the civilization of the red race through the forces of industrial train­ing. In 1893 Professor Cart returned to Iowa and took charge of one of the public schools of Des Moines. While there he made application for the posi­tion of principal of the Chariton schools, being one of the sixty-eight who sought the position. He received the appointment, however, and took charge, remaining as principal there for five years. He was recognized during his active connection with the profession as one of the leading educators of Iowa, proving an excellent disciplinarian as well as instructor, while all of the schools under his guidance made substantial progress along commendable lines. During his residence in Chariton, Professor Cart made a trade whereby he became owner of his present farm, and in 1899 took tip his abode upon this place, since which time he has given his attention to agricultural pursuits. He has made many changes in the appearance of the farm, has erected a good residence and has otherwise greatly improved the property, displaying in its management the same progressive spirit and successful accomplishment which marked him in his school work. The home has been blessed with five children: Ralph, who is well educated and is now doing for himself; Wilma, at home: Herbert P., who has completed a commercial course at Simpson College; Kate, who completed the course in the Indianola high school, and Edward, a student in the home school.
Politically, Mr. Cart is identified with the Republican Party. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Indianola and are active workers for its upbuilding and advancement. Professor Cart was a delegate to the general assembly held at Winona Lake, Indiana, in 1898. He has served as an elder in the church at Indianola and also at Chariton and does everything in his power to further the upbuilding of the church in this com­munity. He is well known is Masonic circles, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter at Indianola and Des Moines commandery, K. T. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Professor Cart is well known in Warren and adjoining counties. He has been particularly active and helpful in the advancement of educational interests and is now a worthy representa­tive of farm life, bringing to bear keen discrimination and unfaltering energy in the control of his agricultural interests.