Ernest Ray Carter, Sr. was born on July 2, 1887 on his parent’s farm on section 31, Cedar township, Mitchell county, Iowa located 3 miles west and

Ray and Ina Carter taken on their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1957

two miles south of Osage. His parents were George Anthony and Nellie (Clark) Carter. He was the eldest of six children. His siblings were Jesse George Carter (married Blanche Jeffries-Wallace), Lulu May Carter, Millie Sarah Carter (married Cecil A. Carter), Leslie Baldwin Carter (married Marie Gordon), and Charles Vernoy Carter (married Thelma Price). In 1895, he moved with his parents and brother, Jesse, to grandpa Lewis B. Clark’s farm located 2 miles west of Osage.

Nellie, Ray and George A. Carter Taken in Osage in 1887

Ray Carter, as he was commonly known, attended rural school, Cedar #11 from which he graduated the eighth grade. Ray did not attend high school because he was needed to help with the farm work at home. He was baptized as an adult at the First Baptist church in Osage, Iowa.

On March 27, 1907, Ray Carter was united in marriage to Miss Ina Vietta Jeffries at the Universalist church in Osage, Iowa. Wedding attendants were Jesse and Lillian Jeffries (Ina’s brother and sister-in-law).

Ray and Ina Carter (1907)

Ina Vietta Jeffries was born July 1, 1889 on her parents farm on section 28, Rock township, Mitchell county, Iowa located 7 ½ miles west of Osage. Her parents were Frederick Wesley and Luella Eliza (Lovejoy) Jeffries. She had an older brother, Jesse William Jeffries (married Lillian Ingrahm), and two younger brothers, Charles Delzo Jeffries (married Mayme Madison) and Earl Harry Jeffries (married Gustava Johnson).

Ina attended rural school, Rock #1 (known as the Lovejoy School) from which she graduated the eighth grade.

Ray and Ina began their married life together on a small 40 acre farm on section 28, Cedar township, Mitchell county, Iowa. This farm was located two miles west of Osage and was located on the east side of the Cedar River, across the road from the parental George and Nellie Carter farm. They lived

Ray Carter and his mules (1910) on the Jeffries farm located seven miles west of Osage

on this farm until 1910, when they moved to the parental Fred W. Jeffries farm, located 7 miles west of Osage. Ray and Ina lived together on this farm for 50 years. Ray and Ina crop shared with Ina’s father, Fred W. Jeffries until his death in 1929, at which time the farm was given to Ina in accordance with her father’s last will and testament.

Freddie Carter holding Ernest, Gladys, Lulu holding Earl taken in 1925

Ray and Ina were the parents of five children, namely – Frederick George Carter (married Lorna Butler), Lulu May Carter (married Clifford N. Shoger), Gladys Luella Carter (married Lee R. Hobkirk), Ernest Ray Carter, Jr. (married Matilda Tesch) and Earl Eugene Carter (married Shirley Kiel).

Ray was a good farmer and raised corn, oats, wheat, barley, soy beans, hay and during World War II he raised hemp as a cash crop. He also raised dairy

Freddie holding Gladys and Lulu Carter taken in 1919

cows, horses, pigs, sheep, geese, and chickens and in his later years he raised goats. He farmed with horses most of his life, but also owned an Allis Chalmers 40WD tractor. In 1944, Ray met with a farming accident in which he cut the fingers off his right hand while trying to unclog the corn picker during the morning of Thanksgiving day. Because of this farm accident, Clifford Shoger, Ray and Ina’s son-in-law, was able to make a verbal request at Mason City, Iowa to the World War II draft board for the early discharge of Ernest Ray Carter, Jr. from the U.S. Marine Corps. The board honored the request and Ernest was given an honorable discharge and was sent home from Camp Pendleton, California.

Freddie and Lulu Carter taken at Carter Studio in Osage in 1913

Ray and Ina were members of the First Baptist church and Ray served as church deacon for many years. He also served as Santa Claus for all Christmas services at the church. Ray was also a charter member of the Mitchell County Farm Bureau. He was also a wood craftsman and antique collector. Ray also played guitar.

Ina passed away from a heart condition on March 29, 1960 at the Mitchell County Memorial hospital in Osage, Iowa. Her funeral services were held at Champion Funeral Home in Osage, Iowa.

Ray continued to live on the home farm until November 1973 when he moved to Faith Lutheran Home in Osage. He passed away on February 6, 1974 at Faith Lutheran Home from heart failure. His funeral services were held at Champion Funeral Home in Osage, Iowa.

Both Ray and Ina are buried at Osage cemetery in Osage, Iowa.

 

Additional Photographs

Lulu and Gladys Carter and the family dog (1919)

Freddie and Lulu Carter hitching the dog to a cart

 

Ray, Ernest, Earl and Ina Carter Taken in Osage in 1934

Freddie Carter hauling manure in 1924

 

Lulu Carter fixing the binder in 1929

Ernest Carter, Jr. sitting on the new Chevrolet

 

Earl Carter (1928)

Ernest and Earl Carter (1928)

 

Ray Carter home located seven miles west of Osage on Hwy 9

Ray Carter farm home

 

Ray Carter dairy barn

Ray Carter barn, silo and goats & chickens

 

Ray Carter family (1957) (l to r) Ernest Carter, Jr., Gladys (Carter) Hobkirk, Ina (Jeffries) Carter, Earl Carter, Lulu (Carter) Shoger, Frederick Carter, Ernest Ray Carter, Sr.

Ray Carter family (1970) Ernest Carter, Jr., Gladys (Carter) Hobkirk, Lulu (Carter) Shoger, Earl Carter Ray Carter (seated)

 

Copyright 2009 Larry Shoger
Webization by K. Kittleson 1/1/9