University of Virginia Library

THOMAS JACKSON CARTER

Thomas Jackson Carter, who is now serving his
third term as a member of the City Council of Roanoke,
was born in Nelson County, Virginia, April 2d, 1863.
He was the son of J. H.
and Marcellus B. Carter.
His father died when he
was twelve years old,
leaving him to direct
affairs on the little farm,
which was the only
means of support for his
mother and nine children,
all but one being
younger than the subject
of this sketch. His
education was of necessity
very limited, for being
determined to do
his part by his mother,
brothers, and sisters, he
worked on the farm
during the day and cut
cordwood, made railroad
ties and hauled them at night. At the age of sixteen
he began contracting for railroad ties, working a
number of men. At eighteen he became the owner of
a sawmill. Two years later he lay down one night
happy in the possession of a splendid outfit, consisting
of sawmill, teams, commissary and about three
hundred thousand feet of lumber. The next morning
he awoke to find himself without a dollar, all his savings
having been washed away during the night. Thoroughly
discouraged he left his old county with only thirty-five
cents in his pocket. His face was turned towards
the west and he soon found himself in Marion County,
Ohio. In six months he was again the owner of a
sawmill. About eighteen months later he was very
successful and took in a partner, who through forgery,
caused him again to almost give up the fight. Following
this he began railroad construction work on several
roads in Kentucky.

He came to Roanoke in 1889 and was employed as a
fireman and opened the first railroad cut on the Roanoke
& Southern. After the completion of the grading
of the road, he took charge of the track and laid the
first rail on the north end, beginning in Roanoke. He
laid the last two rails connecting the last two joints at
the Danville & Western Cross-Over and afterwards
had charge of a work train, resigning this to accept a
position with the Roanoke Street Railway Company,
May 9th, 1892. October following, he accepted a position
with the Radford Street Railway Company and
built their line. When this road was completed he returned
to his old position with the Roanoke Street
Railway Company. For nineteen years and six
months he has had charge of all tracks, bridges, and
trolley wire with this Company.

On May 26th, 1898, he married Miss Margaret
Lemon, of Lexington, Kentucky. He has one son,
John Thomas Carter, an interesting and idolized boy
of six years.