John B. & Rose Ellen Carter 1902

James Carter began his long life Sept. 8, 1866, in Ohio, the son of John B & Rose Ellen. While very young they moved to Bedford where his father operated a grist mill. They then moved to Barnes, Kansas. At the age of 14 Jim went to work as a printer's devil. In 1899 when Oklahoma Territory was opened he staked out and proved a claim on ground now included in the State Capitol grounds. He later came back to Iowa and followed his printing trade at Griswold and Atlantic. While here he was married, but his wife died leaving Jim and 2 small sons. The grandparents took over the care of the boys. Jim came to Murray and worked as a farm hand. It was while working here that he met Grace Camp, the girl he was to marry. Grace Camp was born April 23, 1878, in Illinois to Lemuel & Jane Camp. She passed through Murray when 9 months old going to Nebraska. Many are the stories she tells of life on the prairies, being frightened by a band of roving Indians. She moved with her family to the vast prairie lands of Kansas. Her time was divided between

L to R, BACK ROW: Harold Carter, Opal Browns, Harvey Carter, Laurell Carter, Annis Jones, Ira Carter, FRONT ROW: Jim & Grace Carter, Marie Cooper

James & Grace Carter 1900

watching cows, keeping out of cactus and away from rattlesnakes. The next move was to Southern Missouri and in 1897 she moved to the old Pennel place about a mile and half west of Murray. This was the old stage coach stop and mail was brought from Winterset and Garden Grove.

On December 5, 1900, Grace and Jim were married in the home of her parents, who by this time lived near Hopeville. Jim farmed near Murray, and here they raised their family of 7 children. In 1932 he took up his printers trade in the office of the Murray News. He was also commissioned as a Pentecostal minister. Both he and his wife were members of the Murray Church of Christ.

Jim finished his life's work Jan. 29, 1961; Grace is still in her home in Murray. Besides their seven children they have 28 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren.

James & Grace Carter & Corvis Cooper 1952