Optional page text here. Private William Thomas Carter

Private William Thomas Carter

William Thomas (Uncle Tom) Carter lived to be 91 years old and never used a razor. He was a lover of nature who always took a walk after lunch, often with his grandchildren, to whom he explained the beauty of flowers and animals.
Born July 7, 1842 Tom's mother died when he was quite small. He was raised by his grandmother and a negro "mammy".
Uncle Tom Carter is listed in the 1850 Murray County census with his father, Charles N. B. Carter, age 30, farmer, born in Georgia with land valued at $3000. His Mother was Eugina M Carter, age 29, born in Georgia. Siblings are Georgia G. (F) age 10, Eugenia A. (F) age 8, William T. (M) age 7 and Cate L. (F) age 2. Whitfield County was formed from Murray County in December of 1851.
William Thomas is listed in the 1860 Whitfield County, Georgia Census as being 18 years old, living in the household of a Junius J. Jones and is listed as a farm laborer. As a teenager he ran off to join the Confederate Army, serving in the Phillip's Georgia Legion Infantry Battalion, Company B, Dalton Guards from Whitfield County. He was detached for service with the Signal Corp. of McLaw's Division October 13, 1862. William received a Southern Cross of Honor, which he proudly wears in the picture above. He served throughout the war without receiving a scratch. Upon his return home, he was welcomed by all, they serving him what they had in the house; cornbread, cabbage and pot likker .He said " This is the best food I have eaten in a long time".
Tom was well educated and had excellent penmanship. He became a school teacher. In 1869 he left Georgia to come to Texas and at Wylie he met Elizabeth Cunningham (born 1852). He was twenty seven years of age and she was only seventeen. Elizabeth was an orphan whose father, M.D.L. Cunningham, 32nd Mississippi Infantry, Company C, never returned from the Civil War. Her young mother, Mary Ann (Hughes) Cunningham, died from overwork and exposure.
Tom and Elizabeth were wed August 23, 1876 in Wylie, Texas. They had nine children with two sons dying in infancy. The others were Mary Eugenia (Granny Wells), Georgia, May, Lula, Gussie, Jim and John. Tom and Elizabeth are buried in Kendrick Cemetery, Denton Valley near Clyde, Texas.

William Thomas Carter is the great-great-grandfather of Randy Howald, SCV, W.L. Cabel Camp #1313, Dallas, Texas and Allen Connel (csacavalry@sbcglobal.net ), SCV, Commander, Walter P Lane Camp #1745, Orange Texas.


Stonewall Jackson Camp - Brownwood, Texas


Elizabeth Cunningham Carter, Cate Thomas McCamy and William Thomas Carter.
Children's names unknown.


Texans in the Civil War
The General Store