A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--page 1082
Joel D. Carter, a farmer of Plainfield, is a native of Hendricks County, Ind. Samuel Carter, his grandfather, was a native of North Carolina and belonged to one of the first families of that state. After a life of usefulness, Samuel Carter and wife died in North Carolina, having attained a ripe old age. Samuel Carter, son of above, and father of our subject, was born in North Carolina; was apprenticed to and learned the trades of blacksmith and wagon-maker. He married Rachael Kemp, and two children were born to this union: Susannah and John. After Mrs. Carter's decease, the father married Edith Newlin, and to them the following children were born: Mary, Eunice, Eli, Ira, Samuel, Mordecai, Newlin, Joel, Edith, Asenath, Naomi, Sarah and Ruth. Shortly after their marriage, the family moved in a wagon to Morgan County, Ind., and entered eighty acres of land, which he later gave to his son and moved to Hendricks County, Ind., in 1824 and entered land in several parts of this county, intending it for his children, and has since generously divided it between them. They were prominent members of the Friends' Church, being charter members of White Lick and later of Sugar Plains Church. They died at ripe old ages, much respected by all.
Joel D. Carter, son above, and our subject, was born in Hendricks County, Ind., January 29, 1827; he married Zernah, daughter of Shields and Edith (Hiatt) Moore, July 21, 1847. They were married in Guilford County, N.C., and afterward moved to Randolph County, where the mother died, in July, 1826. In 1825 they had moved to Hendricks County. They were both members of the Friends' Church and in politics he was formerly a Whig. His second marriage was to Asenath Kellum and the children born to them were: Smith C., Samuel R., Annie, Ester. This wife died and he married Louisa Butler. Mrs. Louisa Carter died and his fourth marriage was to Emily Hiatt. The husband owns a farm of eighty acres and the wife owns one of thirty acres. He has been overseer in the Friends' Church and in politics is a Republican. The children born to this last union were Edith M., Samuel M. and Louisa.