Born: 27 August 1804 at Benson, Rutland County, Vermont

Father: Jabez (Jabish) Carter

Mother: Rebecca Dowd (Doud)

Married:

1. Clarissa Amelia Foster (born 26 Sep 1829, died 12 Feb 1840)

2. Sally Sylvia Perry on 23 Dec 1845

3. Cordelia Hotchkiss

Children:

1. Harriet Amelia Carter, born 25 Nov 1831 at Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont (died 21 Jan 1894)

2. Ruth Clarissa Carter, born 2 Nov 1836 at Kirtland, Ohio (died 20 May 1920)

3. Jabez Carter, born 22 Dec 1838 at Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri (died July 1843)

[other children born, but not listed here]

- written by Ruth Clarissa Carter Cornia

Note: there are several lines and words missing, which makes this history a little confusing.

Persecution and mobs came to our house when father was very sick with cholera. My mother, being alarmed, shouted to my father, calling him by name, "Daniel!" This seemed to alarm them, and they withdrew. My Aunt Sophia Burgess was also very ill with cholera. They had prepared an old wagon to take them to the woods in case of an emergency. Mother died 12 Feb 1840.

Moved to Kirtland, Ohio.

I recall we lived for sometime in part of Hyrum Smith's house, also of being in the Kirtland Temple. When I was seven years of age we moved to Nauvoo. Here I was baptized by my father when I was eight years old in the Mississippi River. Also a great misfortune overtook us on the death of little brother, Jabez. While we were on our way to Nauvoo, an incident happened that remains vivid [missing lines] boat were two Irishmen fighting. Father took Harriet, Jabez and I and placed us upon three chests he had made in Vermont several years before, until the quarrel was finished. I have yet one of the chests in my possession.

The persecutions and trials the Saints were called upon to endure while in Nauvoo left an indelible imprint never to be forgotten. The Prophet Joseph Smith visited our house many times, [unreadable] his hand on my head in a fatherly way. The patriarch, Hyrum Smith, I was privileged to meet and see many times. I remember well the death of the Prophet and his brother. My father married again while in Nauvoo, Sally Sylvia Perry.

Left Nauvoo in the exodus and traveled with the Smiths to Winter Quarters. Here I remember my tenth birthday particularly. I was sleeping [missing] had a great fear of the Indians, Winter Quarters being on the frontier.

Father was taken very ill. The journey with its various hardships had told on him. His feet swelled until the flesh broke open and he was unable to wear his shoes.

Shortly after, Miss Sally Sylvia died, leaving a little girl even weeks old named Mary.

From this point we moved over the River to Centerville, Illinois. Here we lived for two years. Built log cabins and did some farming. Wild fruit was very plentiful, also nuts. This helped the Saints. The Saints were here afflicted with chills and fever. At this place my sister, Amelia married William H. Lee.

We started for the valley in 1850 with two teams - mixed oxen and cows. We passed thru the hardships all the Saints endured. In the company, seventeen died with cholera. I remember the great herds of buffalo on the plains.

[missing lines] Salt Lake 10 September 1850. [missing lines] we went to Bountiful - then only a few log houses.

At Bountiful, father married Cordelia Hotchkiss.

My father built a home, I being his housekeeper. He planted trees of all kinds. Father was also active in helping to build up the Bountiful place. He was called to the Bishopric as a councilor. We lived in Bountiful nine years.

We moved to Kamas, Rhoades Valley, in the Spring of 1865. The Indians were somewhat troublesome and the settlers were obliged to build a fort made from adobe. Crickets were very plentiful and in order to protect our crops, we drove them in bunches and burned them. We also had three horses stolen by the Indians. One came back, dragging a buckskin lariat with him. Later, another returned. The third horse had made his way back to Bountiful At this place, Orson and Osro - twins - were born. Osso died [missing lines] cheese.

In 1868 we received a call to go to West Point, Nevada, as called in early days on the Muddy Creek. We traveled with mule teams, also oxen. Arrived there December 23, 1868. Harriet was born July 8, 1869. Left to go to Pine Valley in December 1869. Arrived there just before Christmas.

Here we had the pleasure of meeting Aunt Sophia M Burgess. We were treated very kindly. On the 20^th of March we started for Bountiful. Here we heard of the new country on the Bear River called Woodruff. Arrived there July 26, 171. Enoch was born August 18, 1871, the first child born in this settlement. My husband and I passed thru all the early days of helping build the town of Woodruff in that wild and cold country. We tried to help our neighbors and do our part in the Lord's work.

Sister Ruth Clarissa Carter Cornia was truly one of the Lord's chosen spirits. A large [missing] others and to make their lives pleasant is possible. She was specially endowed to help the needy. They were never turned from her door.

She was active in Ward work in different organizations aided by a strong testimony of the Divine message of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and those who followed him. After the death of her husband, she moved to Bountiful, Utah in 1891 and commenced her wonderful work in the temple.

After the death of her daughter, Zoe Rampton, she took charge of the family, was truly a mother to them many years.

She did wonderful needlework. She made beautiful quilts and other fancy work and sold for cash to pay for temple work. Her needle work won state recognition for many years.