From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

pages 776-777

Samuel Carter, of Steuben Township, is one of the few remaining settlers of 1836. He is a son of Jonas Carter, who came here with his family from Delaware County, Ohio, in July, 1837. Jonas Carter was a native of Worcester County, Mass., where he was born in June, 1767. When a young man he started out from home, going to Luzerne County, Pa., where he bought considerable land, on which he located and resided for a number of years, and married there. Eight of his nine children were also born there. His wife was Catherine Wheeler, a native of New Jersey, born in 1774. She removed with her parents to Pennsylvania soon after the massacre of Wyoming. Jonas Carter removed with his family to Delaware County, Ohio, in November, 1815, for the second time entering upon a pioneer life. He was one of the earliest settlers of that county. Here he improved a farm, and here the children grew to manhood and womanhood. The first members of the family to enter land in Steuben County were two sons, Lewis and John, who, in October, 1835, entered several hundred acres of land, comprising parts of sections 13, 24 and 25. They returned to Ohio that fall. John came back with his family in the fall of 1836, having erected a log house in July of that year for the accommodation of his family, on section 24. Lewis, who also had a family, accompanied his father and family to the township for a permanent settlement in July, 1837. The father, Jonas, settled where his son Samuel now lives, moving into a log cabin which Samuel had built during the preceding winter. Jonas Carter resided in this log cabin till his death, which occurred in November, 1842. His wife died from the effects of a fall into the cellar while at the house of her son-in-law, Mr. Jackson, in 1853. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Carter were-- Sarah, wife of John Curtis, of Delaware County, Ohio, where she died in September 1869; Rufus died in Delaware County, Ohio; Lewis died in Steuben Township in 1850; Abigail died in Ohio; John N. died suddenly on the cars, while away from his home at Angola; Jonas died in Wood County, Ohio; James died in Steuben Township, in April, 1881; Samuel, and Mary Ann, wife of T. Jackson. Samuel Carter was born in Luzerne County, Pa., June 27, 1814. He first came to Steuben County in June, 1835, came permanently in 1836, and in that year entered about 620 acres of land in this township. He worked his father's farm till the death of the latter when he located on a part of the land which he had entered, and where he lived four years and then returned to the homestead. He married Sarah A. Frink, daughter of Selah Frink, also one of the pioneers of Steuben County. Mrs. Carter died in April, 1873. Mr. Samuel Carter has three children-- Mary L., Sarah and Charles. He has lost three chidren-- Lucy J., Ellen, and Celestia, wife of J. B. Lemmon.

Submitted by: Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com