Surnames: CARTER WINSHIP WITTER

----Source: HUMBIRD ENTERPRISE (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) 08/11/1906

Carter, Edwin D. (12 May 1839 - 3 Augl 1906)

Edwin D. Carter was born in Framingham, Mass., May 12, 1839, and died Aug. 3, 1906 at 2 p.m., at the family home in Eau Claire.

When a boy of seventeen he came to Wisconsin, landing at Portage in 1857. Without money or friends, a stranger in a strange land, he pluckily south employment and secured it of the man who gave him his first breakfast in Wisconsin. He remained in the state about two years, when he returned to New York State. Here he was married to Esther Winship of Little Falls, N.Y., in 1859. After his marriage he journeyed to New Hampshire with his family. Here he was employed in a shoe factory, as foreman of the pegging department, and remained in this employment until 1861, when he again came to Wisconsin.

This time he settled at Tunnel City, Monroe Co., Wis., where he established a store and traded extensively with the Indians, taking their furs and other commodities in exchange for merchandise. He also operated a store and small sawmill at Tomah near Tunnel City.

He came to Humbird, Clark County, Wis. in 1869 and opened a store at this place. He was one of the few men who saw the immense possibilities in the lumber industry, and to his mercantile business he added a small mill, gradually enlarging the plant until he controlled one of the largest mills in this section of the state at that time.

In April 1877 he took a trip to the Black Hills, taking with him his eldest son, Edwin. While at Gayville, the son was taken with typhoid fever and died. Mr. Carter returned to Humbird, bringing with him the lifeless body of his boy. He continued his business at Humbird until he had exhausted all the pine tributary to his mill and in 1884 he closed out his many interest here and again went west.

This time he went to northern Idaho, in the Bitter Root mountains, in the Coeur D'Alene district. Locating where the city of Wallace now stands, with his customary energy he cleared the town site, furnished capital to start the town and erected a fine hotel, known as the Carter House, put up buildings to rent and through his thrift, energy and means, transformed the wilderness into a prosperous mining and lumbering district. The Carter House became prominent in that region, numbering among its guests prominent statement, businessmen and prospectors.

He was in the Coeur D'Alene district during the great mining strikes and riots which resulted, and was one of the few men who dared to stand for the law and order. This stand, which was taken with his usual courage and energy, against the lawless elements, gained him the enmity of that element at a time when human life was held cheap and property rights utterly disregarded.

As could have been expected, his property and himself were marked for destruction. A friend informed him that he had but one chance to leave the place. Mr. Carter's reply was characteristic of the man. He would take that chance and stay. Fortunately, the U. S. troops reached Wallace in time to prevent the mob from carrying out their threats.

A disastrous fire swept Wallace and destroyed Mr. Carter's property, but he rebuilt. He owned various real estate interest in Wallace, which he sold and in 1897 shipped a cargo of merchandise to Alaska. They landed the 7th of July and opened a store. But while he seemed to be in vigorous physical health, he was stricken down with paralysis and took the last ship before the closing of navigation for Seattle.

At Seattle he responded to treatment, but the next spring was taken with uremia, while at Wallace. He returned to Humbird in April 1904, where he resided until taken to Eau Claire a couple of months ago.

Mr. Carter leaves a wife, one daughter, Mrs. Witter, of Oakland, Cal.; and two sons, Harry N. of Eau Claire, and Archie B., of Yreka, Cal., to mourn his death. While of a strong character and a rigid disciplinarian, yet no one can say that he ever wronged them in any way. Even while his great interest in the west were in their prime, his own personal interest were centered in his home, which was always maintained in this village. Short services were conducted by Rev. Geo. B. Haskell at the late residence of the deceased in Eau Claire Monday morning, and the remains were brought here on the 12:30 train. The funeral services were held at the Methodist Episcopal Church at 2:30 p.m., Rev. Haskell officiating. Mr. Carter was an ardent Mason and the funeral was conducted by that order, many prominent members of the fraternity taking part in the last sad rites. The interment was in the family lot in the Houghtonburg Cemetery.

Biographical Information

1905 Wisconsin State Census, Mentor, Clark, Wisconsin

Name: Edwin D Carter, age: 66y
birth year: Abt 1839
birthplace: Massachusetts
relationship to head of household: Head
race: White
gender: Male
marital status: Married
place of birth: parent 1: Massachusetts
place of birth: parent 2: Massachusetts
family number: 176
page number: 316
line number: 35
Household Members
Head: Edwin D Carter M 66y
Spouse: Ester Carter F 65y
Josie Kelch F 24y

1900 Federal  Census Record, Mentor & Hewett towns, Clark, Wisconsin

Name: Edwin Carter, birth date: May 1839
birthplace: Massachusetts
relationship to head of household: Self
spouse: Ester Carter
spouse's birthplace: New York
race or color (expanded): White
head-of-household name: Edwin Carter
gender: Male
marital status: Married
years married: 40
estimated marriage year: 1860
page: 7
sheet letter: B
family number: 143
Household Members
Edwin Carter- M
Spouse Ester Carter - F, July 1839
Child Harrie N Carter - M, Oct. 1875
Child Archie Carter - M, July, 1879 

Wisconsin Marriage Record

Groom's name: George F. Witter
Groom's birth date:
Groom's birthplace: Grand Rapids, Wis
Groom's age:
Bride's name: May A. Carter
Bride's birth date:
Bride's birthplace: Tunnel City, Wis
Bride's age:
Marriage date: 23 Jan 1891
Marriage place: Humbird, Clark, Wisconsin
Groom's father's name: George F. Witter
Groom's mother's name: Francis L. Phelps
Bride's father's name: Edwin D. Carter
Bride's mother's name: Esther Winship
Groom's race: White
Groom's marital status:
Groom's previous wife's name:
Bride's race: White