History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 424, Astoria Township
W. B. Carter - Among the pioneers of this county, and among
those hardy spirits who have grown with the development of the State,
is our subject. He was born in Monroe Co., Ky., June 13, 1822;
his father, William Carter, dissatisfied with his condition in life in
Kentucky, and no doubt hearing many glowing accounts of Illinois,
determined to make this his home. During the autumn of 1829 he
moved into Schuyler Co., where he remained but a short time. Then
he came to this township, where he purchased farm property ans settled
down in the routine of farm life. He is still living and a
resident of Woodland tp. William learned the trade of
blacksmithing and for a number of years followed this calling. He
well remembers the old town of Washington, containing a store, perhaps
two, and a school-house. Mr. C. remembers the site of Astoria as
heavily timbered. A forest covered the site of the future city;
and where the public square now is, Daniel Heffner and Charles Gearing
cut the street through for what is now Broadway. Years have flown
by since then, and W. Carter has long since passed the morning and noon
of life; but the early scenes of Western life are still pictures
on his memory. In 1846 he was united in marriage with Lovina
Curran, daughter of Wm. Curran, who settled in Fulton Co. in
1835. They were blessed with 10 children, 5 of whom are living -
Lucy A., Helen P., W. J., John L., and George C.
