J. J. Carter

John Jefferson Carter, known as J. J. Carter (May 6, 1832 – February 24, 1907),[1] was a businessman and Democratic politician from Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana.

John Jefferson "J. J." Carter
Mayor of Minden, Louisiana, USA
In office 1891–1893
Preceded by	J. J. Holmes
Succeeded by	J. F. Hill
Louisiana State Representative for Webster Parish
In office 1878–1880
Preceded by	W. W. Carloss
Succeeded by	Irvin Talton
Member and President of the Webster Parish Police Jury
In office 1877–1879
Preceded by	Christopher Chaffe
Succeeded by	Thomas W. Randle
Clerk of the Webster Parish Police Jury
In office 1888–1896
Preceded by	S. F. Goode
Succeeded by	L. W. Stephens
Personal details
Born	(1832-05-06)May 6, 1832 Pike County, Mississippi, USA
Died	February 24, 1907(1907-02-24) (aged 74) Minden, Webster Parish Louisiana, USA
Resting place	Minden Cemetery
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Amanda Murrell Carter (married 1860-1907, his death)
Children	Henry Murrell Carter (1865-1916) Drury E. Carter M. Carter Married names of daughters not available: Jessie L. Carter Lizzie D. Carter Mamie Carter
Parents	Mr. and Mrs. Henry Carter
Occupation	Bookkeeper

Biographical sketch

Born in Pike County in southwestern Mississippi, he was the eldest son and the second of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Carter. His father and grandfather were natives of South Carolina. Young Carter relocated to Louisiana in 1857 and settled in Minden, the seat of government of Webster Parish east of Shreveport. During the American Civil War, he fought with the Confederacy through a cavalry group known as the Minden Rangers, which in early April 1861 reported for service at Corinth in northeastern Mississippi, with F. D. Wimberly as the captain.[2] Upon returning from war, he was a bookkeeper for the T. B. Neal Company. In addition to his service as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1878 to 1880,[3] he served on the Minden City Council from 1875 to 1877 with Mayors T. M. Fort and C. S. Smith.[4] Carter was mayor himself from 1891 to 1893.[5] He was also elected to the Webster Parish School Board and served as member and president on the Webster Parish Police Jury from 1877 to 1879, the parish governing board, akin to the county commission in other states. His juror colleagues included later state representatives Nicholas J. Sandlin and Irvin Talton. Carter was subsequently the police jury clerk from 1888 to 1896 and served as mayor of Minden as well during part of that time.[6][7] Carter was the collector of revenue at the port of New Orleans in the first administration from 1885 to c. 1888 of U.S. President Grover Cleveland.[8]

Prior to his military service, he married in 1860 the former Amanda J. Murrell (1842-1912),[9] a native of Illinois, whose father, Drury Murrell had been a pioneer settler in Louisiana dating back to 1834. The couple had six children; the oldest of whom,[7] Henry Murrell Carter, was twice married and died in 1916 at the age of fifty.[10]

Carter was a Baptist and a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic lodge. His last position was as a bookkeeper for the Farmers Union.[7] He is interred at historic Minden Cemetery along with his wife and oldest son.[1]

References

1. "John Jefferson Carter". findagrave.com. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
2. "The Minden Rangers (scroll halfway down the page) in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana". Chicago and Nashville, Tennessee: The Southern Publishing Company. 1890. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
3. "Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812 - Current: Webster Parish" (PDF). house.louisiana.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
4. "Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana". Chicago and Nashville, Tennessee: The Southern Publishing Company. 1890. p. 668. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
5. City of Minden, List of mayors since 1868
6. Respect for the Past; Confidence in the Future: Webster Parish Centennial, Webster Parish Police Jury, 1971, pp, 12-13
7. C. W. Barnum. "Webster Parish, Louisiana, History and Genealogy". laahgp.genealogyvillage.com. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
8. "Hugh H. Barnes (nephew by marriage of J. J. Carter) Rites Conducted Sunday Afternoon: Was Lifelong Resident Of City; Succumbed After Long Illness". The Webster Review. April 20, 1943. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
9. "Amanda Murrell Carter". findagrave.com. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
10. "Henry Murrell Carter". findagrave.com. Retrieved March 11, 2015.

Preceded by J. H. Holmes	Mayor of Minden, Louisiana John Jefferson "J. J." Carter 1891—1893	Succeeded by J. F. Hill
Preceded by W. W. Carloss	Louisiana State Representative for Webster Parish John Jefferson "J. J." Carter 1878—1880	Succeeded by Irvin Talton
Preceded by Christopher C. Chaffe	Member of the Webster Parish Police Jury John Jefferson "J. J." Carter 1877—1879	Succeeded by Thomas W. Randle
Preceded by S. F. Goode	Clerk of the Webster Parish Police Jury John Jefferson "J. J." Carter 1888—1896	Succeeded by L. W. Stephens