Welcome to Carterville USA!
Remembering those who came before us...
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The Official Website for:
The Cater/Decatur Family Organization and
The John & Hannah Knight Libby Carter Family Organization
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  Welcome!

This website was originally designed to provide information about the ancestors and descendants of my father, Wayne Henry Carter (1923 - 1979), and my mother, Mary Mirah Jones (1924 - 2010).

It has since been expanded to include the ancestors and descendants of our Carter progenitor, Richard Cater 1st (1598-1611 - 1677-1679).

These descendants and ancestors include the families of John Carter and Hannah Knight Libby who settled in the Great Salt Lake Valley in the 1850s.

All descendants directly related to anyone in these families or through marriage are encouraged and welcome to join this website. It's free for all family members!


Cater-Decatur Family Organization:

Richard Cater 1st was born in Devon, England in the early 17th century and immigrated to the New Hampshire region of the New World. His history shows that he was an early settler of Bloody Point along with his daughter, Elizabeth and his son, Richard 2nd.

Ephraim Cater (1800-1887) was the son of John Cater III (1775-1863).

The Cater-Decatur Family Organization was created by the children of John CATER 3rd.

Ephraim Cater was the son of John Cater 3rd (1775-1863), John Cater 2nd (1737-1801), John Cater 1st (1712-1777), Edward Cater (c1675-bef1732) and Richard Cater 2nd.

The first official Cater-Decatur Family Reunion was held on September 26, 1876 and was voted to be a permanent organization by those attending. Today, it is the longest continuing family organization in existence.

  Notable Family Members:

Last Updated: December 26, 2022
Photo:
Name:
Descended From:
  BEARNSON, Catherine Vigdis
aka Kate B Carter
  Via marriage to Austin Carter (1890 - 1962)
William Furlsbury Carter (1811 - 1888)
Sally Ann Mecham (1842 - 1910)

During her lifetime of research, travel and interviews, Kate produced many books and pamphlets about the history of Utah pioneers. She was a leader in community affairs and served as national president of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers for thirty-six years and was the driving force behind a twenty-five-year effort to build the D.U.P. Museum, which was dedicated in 1950.
Kate was recognized for her work with a number of awards, including the Order of the Falcon, an honor from the government of Iceland (Stórriddarakross) on May 18, 1955.

  CARTER, Ronald Gary   Dominicus Carter (1806 - 1884)
Polly Miner (1832 - 1896)

Ronald Gary Carter was the author of the nine volume historical fiction series Prelude to Glory about the American Revolution. He is also the author of several other books including Me and The Geezer, The Beecher Incident, The Youngest Drover, Death of a Stranger, The Trial of Mary Lou, The Royal Macabees, The Blackfoot Moonshine Rebellion of 1892, The Case of the Deadly Counterfeiters, The Case of the Golden Spike Kidnappers, The Clearwater Union War, and Unlikely Heroes.

  CODY, William Frederick
aka Buffalo Bill Cody
  William was a first cousin to Joseph Putney Deuel (1800 - 1873) via marriage to Melinda Cody (1803 - 1888)
Mary Cater (c1710 - 1773)
William Manley (1703 - 1788)

In 1872, Cody was awarded the Medal of Honor for service as a civilian scout to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, for "gallantry in action" at Loupe Forke, Platte River, Nebraska. It was later revoked, but restored again on June 12, 1989.
Cody was honored by two U.S. postage stamps. One was the 15¢ Great Americans series stamp.

  EATON, Allen Hendershott   John Burnham Eaton Jr. (1848 - 1926)
Minerva Ann Hendershott (1850 - 1924)

Allen was an author, lecturer and teacher of arts and handicrafts.

  KING, Stephen Edwin   Richard Carter, Jr. (1780 - 1860)
Sarah Holmes (1792 - 1873)

Stephen Edwin King is the author of numerous horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy novels. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, many of which have been adapted into feature films, miniseries, television series, and comic books.

  MANLEY, William Lewis   Mary Cater (1710 - 1773)
William Manley (1703 - 1788)

William led a very interesting, heroic and diverse life. He was first a fur hunter, a guide of Westward bound caravans, a seeker of gold, then a farmer and writer in his later years.

  MERRILL, William Henry Jr.   Mary Cater (1710 - 1773)
William Manley (1703 - 1788)

William Henry Merrill Jr. was the founder and first president of Underwriters Laboratories.

  THOMPSON, Roy   Via marriage to Chilla Carter (1886 - 1912)
John Carter (1782 - 1852)
Hannah Knight Libby (1786 - 1867)

Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor World War II
  Featured Photo:


Memberships
March 07, 2025


John & Hannah Knight Libby Carter Family Organization:

John Carter (1768-1852) and his wife, Hannah Knight Libby (1786-1867) left their homes in Maine and New Hampshire during the early 1800s and began traveling westward that eventually spread over much of the Southwest. Their story of migration is rooted in the great migration of the Latter-Day Saints to their final settlement in the Great Salt Lake Valley, Utah Territory.

During their travels westward they arrived in Kirtland Ohio, then the headquarters of the LDS Church. For the next three years, the Saints dedicated much of their time and talents to construct the Kirtland Temple. In the early to mid-1830s, after developing a thriving community in Kirtland, Ohio, violence against the Church escalated to the point that it was no longer safe for members to remain. When the Prophet Joseph Smith moved to Missouri, members followed, leaving behind their comfortable homes, their cherished possessions, and their beloved temple.

They fled to Far West, Missouri in hopes of a brief respite, but unfortunately it was not meant to be. In February 1839, Church members had begun gathering in Illinois after persecution forced them from their homes in Missouri and Ohio finally settling in Nauvoo. In August 1840, plans were formally announced to build another temple in Nauvoo. Regardless, the Saints were undaunted by the fact that they had been forced to leave the Kirtland Temple behind and abandon two temple-building projects in Missouri. Three months later, on April 6, 1841, the temple cornerstones were laid. In June 1844, work on the temple temporarily stopped when the Saints learned of the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Pressure from enemies of the Church made it clear that the Saints would soon have to leave Nauvoo. Leaders had hoped to complete the temple before departing, but as persecution intensified it was decided to abandon their beloved city and temple the next spring. In early 1846, Hannah, with some of her children, left Nauvoo for Kanesville, Iowa. It was in Nauvoo that this family would be forever divided as John and three children remained in Illinois.

When in Kanesville Richard Harrison Carter (1820-1848) answered the call for the Mormon Battalion. The other family member remained in Kanesville until 1851, having been delayed in departing earlier, by helping the Church leaders prepare the emigrant trains for the long journey ahead, finally arriving in Great Salt Lake City, UT Territory on June 20, 1851.

In the early 1870s, John “H” Carter traded his property in Provo which consisted of an adobe house, two log houses, a blacksmith shop, a barn, and several cords of wood, for eighty-five acres of land north and west of Provo, later to be known as Carterville. Through hard work and determination his efforts to make Carterville a thriving community were successful. Over the years, Carterville has been incorporated into the city of Orem and no longer exists today.

Our website is named after and in honor of his noble efforts.

Family Centenarians:    

Last Updated: December 07, 2022
Photo:Name:  Born / Died: Age:

FAWBUSH, William  1816 - 1923 107
DECATUR, Annie Maude  1883 - 1989 106
BOYSON, Mary  1891 - 1997 105
LARSEN, Liona Louise  1900 - 2006 105
ARMSTRONG, Mabel Louise  1912 - 2017 104
FOSTER, Bessie Ellen  1917 - 2017 104
REED, Susan Ellen  1903 - 2007 104
CATER, Charles Martin  1906 - 2010 103
WALL, Don Harvey  1891 - 1994 103
WENTWORTH, Stillman L.  1857 - 1961 103
DEEL, Donald Edward  1913 - 2016 102
HETT, John Jr.  1893 - 1995 102
BAGLEY, Donna Pauline  1913 - 2014 101
HOUGHTON, Vera Edna  1898 - 1999 101
PERELLI-MINETTI, Mario  1909 - 2010 101
PERRY, Nellie Elizabeth  1905 - 2007 101
TRIPP, Herschel Earnest  1891 - 1993 101
BOYLE, Elsie Beryl  1905 - 2005 100
BURBANK, Sarah Estelle  1858 - 1958 100
CLEVELAND, Anita Elsie  1901 - 2001 100
CROSBY, Maude Etta  1888 - 1988 100
JAMESON, Mary Ann  1875 - 1976 100
MERRILL, Clarissa  1803 - 1904 100
MESERVE, James F  1867 - 1967 100
OSTBERG, Elsie Anna Laura  1908 - 2008 100
PARK, Estella Maud  1885 - 1986 100
PROTHERO, Gladys Ygerne  1903 - 2003 100
ROWLEY, William Stephen  1912 - 2012 100
SCHERFENBERG, Lester Woodbury  1910 - 2011 100
SCHNACK, Rachel Cornelia  1783 - 1884 100
Van AUSDAL, Myrtle  1895 - 1996 100
  Latest Updates:

April 29, 2025 The following are the latest family members on this site to have have been added, reviewed and/or recently updated.

BARNEY, Floyd William
BARKER, Robert Dean 'Bob' Sr.
MONTRONE, JoAnn
SNOW, Nadine
BANDLEY, Paul David
AXELGARD, Aage Thuesen 'Bill'
MILLER, Remola Colleen 'Pat'
ARMSTRONG, Ernest Deloy
HOLLADAY, Marjorie Pilar
PARK, Ruth
ANDERSON, Von Rigby
ANDERSON, Archibald Edmond
ANDERSON, LCDR Rees Hansel USN
BATCHELOR, Edna
ANDERSON, Laurence Charles
CARTER, John Jr.
BURGESS, Virginia
CURRIER, Mary Alice
CARTER, Stanley Morton
CARTER, Marion Elizabeth
CARTER, Robert Warren Jr.
CAULDER, Willie Blanche 'Billie'
CARTER, Robert Warren Sr.
WARREN, Catherine Stevenson
CARTER, James Willis
PARKER, Lura Doone
HOLLADAY, Charles Donald
HOLLADAY, John Lyman
OLSEN, Esther Pauline
HOLLADAY, John Augustus
CHATWIN, Arletta Serena
CARTER, Mary Abiah
HOLLADAY, Joseph Augustus
JOHNSON, Russell D
HOLLADAY, Ruby May
ELLSWORTH, Martha Loretta
HOLLADAY, David Earl
HOLLADAY, Robert John
SVEDIN, Esther Margaret
SKINNER, Carl Lyle
CHRISTENSEN, Mable Ruth
SKINNER, Carl McKay
LIBBY, Allison Sr.
SKILLINGS, Sarah
LIBBY, Mercy
LIBBY, Aaron
HOLLADAY, John D
ROBBINS, Robert Clarence
COKINIS, Neta
COKINIS, Christopher
COKINIS, Nicholas
COKINIS, Adonis 'Tony'
JOHNSON, Esther Mae
ARDOLINO, Antonio F
BALLARD, Patricia Ann
LATHAM, Lorenzo D
HANSON, Lester Clifford
CHALLE, Annie Nelsena
HANSON, Olaf Jokem
SNOW, Gardner
HANSON, Anna Maria
PENROD, William Eugene
BOWN, Marjorie
HENRIE, Nola Jean
WHATCOTT, Calvin Devello
SMITH, George
FISH, Grace
WILKINS, Clara Jane
BUTLER, Eugene Haynes
FISH, Harold Arthur
STOKES, Randal Glenn
CARTER, Christine Marie
PARKE, Pamela Anne
YORK, Dale Bradley
HAWS, Joyce Vivian
LITCHFIELD, Joseph Dean
WRIGHT, Darcy Lynn
LITCHFIELD, Joseph Arthur 'Joe'
CARTER, Eunice Ferl
WALKER, Marie Bertilla
LITCHFIELD, William Elden
CARTER, LaMonde Lial
HANN, John E
CARTER, Wenona
KEAST, Peggy Irene (Peg)
CARTER, James Evan
ARTHUR, Lloyd C
ANDERSON, Ida Beatrice
ARTHUR, Roscoe
NEATEROUR, Ardeth Kathryn
MILLER, Alice Anna
ANDERSON, Fern Rosalie
NEATEROUR, Scott Ansen
NEATEROUR, John Curtis 'Curt'
NEATEROUR, Scott
CARTER, Catherine
BRUNO, Clara Maud
GARRETT, Emery Edward
GARRETT, Baby
GARRETT, Baby