BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.     679
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He was the principal promoter of the erection of the Shields
High School building, and the colored school, and also the large
addition to the former. He has been a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church since 1847. The following children have
blessed his married life: Eva, Jane and Maurice (twins), Sandford
E., George D. They are all dead except George and Sandford.
The Carter family is one of the most prominent among the early
pioneers.
 
TRAVIS CARTER, who has watched the growth of Sey-
mour from a mere hamlet to its present prosperous proportions,
and has been closely identified with its material growth, is a na-
tive of Jackson County, born September 26, 1819. His parents,
Benjamin and Nancy (Reynolds) Carter, were natives of Virginia.
His early educational advantages were only those offered to pio-
neers generally -- the old log schoolhouse and the three months' 
term. He remained upon a farm in Grassy Fork Township until
1852, when he came to Seymour, where he located before there
were any lots sold. In 1854 he built the first carding-machine,
and in 1856 added a planing-mill. On the 24th of December,
1840, he was married to Esther Killey, a native of Tennessee.
Seven children have been born to them, five of whom are living:
Benjamin, Julia, William A., Mary and John A.  He formerly
held the office of trustee of Grassy Fork Township, and has been
a justice of the peace of Seymour. He was one of three who
established the Seymour Woolen Mills, John Love and Charles
Butler being associated with him in this enterprise. He was one
of the directors of the hub and spoke factory, selling out after
it began operations. He was also first postmaster of Seymour.
 
W. A. CARTER was the fourth born to Travis and Esther
(Killey) Carter. Travis Carter was one of the pioneer citizens
of Seymour as well as Jackson County. W. A. Carter is a native
of Jackson County. He was born October 16, 1849, near Tam-
pico, in Jackson County. They, after their removal to Seymour,
occupied the second existing house in the place. He attended
the common schools of his day, where only the common branches
were taught in a rude and imperfect manner. He here acquired
the rudiments of an education. He afterward served an appren-
ticeship to a carpenter, and followed this vocation until, his eyes