from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)--pages 778-780
Fealty to facts in the analyzation of the character of a citizen of the type of Eleazar B. Carter is all that is required to make a biographical sketch interesting to those who have at heart the good name of the community, because it is the honorable reputation of the man of standing and affairs, more than any other consideration, that gives character and stability to the body politic and makes the true glory of a city or state revered at home and respected abroad. In the broad light which things of good repute ever invite, the name and character of Mr. Carter stand revealed and secure and, though of modest demeanor, with no ambition to distinguish himself in public position or as a leader of men, his career has been signally honorable and it may be studied with profit by the youth entering upon his life work.
Eleazar B. Carter, one amongst the oldest farmers of the county, was born fifth month 30, 1844, in the county where he has spent his entire life. His parents were Samuel and Susanna (Bales) Carter, his father being a native of North Carolina, his birth having occurred ninth month 26, 1817, while his mother was a native of this county, born second month 18, 1822. Samuel Carter came to this state from Carolina when he was a lad of six years, his parents locating on a farm south of Plainfield. On his farm, which his father entered from the government, Samuel Carter was reared and received his meager education in the subscription schools of that period. Upon his marriage, tenth month 22, 1840, he moved to Liberty Township on a farm of eighty acres which his father gave him and remained there until his death, which occurred twelfth month 15, 1876, his wife surviving him several years, her death occurring on fourth month 4, 1885. Samuel Carter married Susanna Bales, the daughter of Eleazar and Ann (Millikan) Bales on teneth month 22, 1840, and to this union there were born nine children: Ira, born second month 7, 1842, died seventh month 15, 1864; Eleazar B., born fifth month 30, 1844; Asenath, born eleventh month 7, 1845, who married Cuthbert Osborn; Jonathan, born seventh month 8, 1848, who first married Sylbil Osborne, and after her death, Levina Coffin, and for his third wife, he married Sidney Sacre; Evan, born first month 29, 1851, who married Sarah J. Weasner; Alvin, born seventh month 13, 1854, died eleventh month 5, 1862; Nathan S., born ninth month 22, 1857, married Martha Hodson; Dayton H., born eighth month 19, 1861, died fifth month 31, 1906; Elva, born first month 14, 1866, married Louis Stokes.
Eleazar B. Carter received the best education which was accorded by the old-fashioned subscription schools of his day, and at an early age began to help his father on the home farm. He remained on the home farm until his marriage, which occurred ninth month 18, 1869, and then rented a farm for the first five years of his married life. At the end of that time he had saved enough money to buy the farm on which he is now living. As a farmer he is wide-awake and thoroughly up-to-date in all the latest improved methods of agriculture. He keeps himself well informed on the best ideas pertaining to scientific farming and is recognized as a farmer of more than ordinary ability. He divides his attention judiciously between grain and stock raising and has been uniformly successful as a stock breeder and raiser.
Mr. Carter was married ninth month 18, 1869, to Mary Ellen Nichols, the daughter of Erasmus and Elizabeth (Stanley) Nichols, and to this union there has been born one child, Luella, who married William B. Newlin. Mrs. Carter's parents were old settlers in Hendricks County, her father, Erasmus Nichols, being born in Pennsylvania, but came to Nelson County, Kentucky, when he was about three years of age with his parents, where he remained until 1821, when his parents removed to Indiana and located in Hendricks County. As a young man Erasmus helped to clear the ground which is now occupied by the county court house at Danville. He was married ninth month 8, 1825, to Elizabeth Stanley, whose birth occurred in Virginia, but who emigrated to this state with her parents when a small child. To Mr. and Mrs. Erasmus Nichols were born fourteen children: Thomas born fifth month 26, 1826, who married Jane Brown, deceased first month 7, 1863; Eliza, born first month 17, 1828, married Israel Brown and her death occurred first month 10, 1877; Rachel, born eleventh month 14, 1829, died eighth month 16, 1831; Matilda, born tenth month 16, 1831, married Samuel Hastings, and her death occurred on seventh month 18, 1906; William, born seventh month 3, 1834, married, first, Luzenia Newman, and after her death, Emily Johnson; Jane, born first month 22, 1836, married John Stewart, and her death occurred eighth month 6, 1907; Martha, born tenth month 24, 1837, married Jared Stewart, and she died in 1909; Sarah, born tenth month 22, 1839, died fifth month 10, 1842; Nathan, born twelfth month 4, 1841, died ninth month 11, 1843; Lucinda, born second month 6, 1844, died eleventh month 1, 1846; James, born third month 9, 1846, married Rachel Nichols; Matthew, born fourth month 4, 1848, died sixth month 5, 1872; Susannah, born second month 19, 1850, died seventh month 26, 1851, and Mary E., born second month 6, 1852, married Eleazar B. Carter. Samuel Carter was born ninth month 26, 1817, and died on twelfth month 15, 1876. His wife was born second month 19, 1822, and died fourth month 4, 1885. Eleazar B. Carter has been a Republican since reaching his majority and has never seen any valid reason why he should leave his party for that of any other. He remained true to the old party in 1912, when thousands saw fit to change their allegiance to the new Progressive Party. In his church relations he has been a life-long member of the Friends Church. He is financially interested in the First National Bank, of Amo, and is now a director in that institution. Mr. Carter has lived a simple, honest and unostentatious life, doing good wherever he could, speaking kindly of his neighbors, charitable to the faults of others, and his whole career has been of such a nature as to gain for him friends throughout the community in which he has spent his entire life.