Carterville, situated on the railroad 8 miles from Marion, was established in 1872 on land owned by George McNeal, who laid the town out. The original town was surveyed and platted by William Bundy. Mr McNeal, the proprietor, then lived in a log cabin outside of the original plat. Robert Warren and VB Harris built the first residence in the town, and Benjamin F Tranbarger was the first merchant. He put up his building and commenced merchandising in 1873. Frank Chapman and James Reid opened the second store, and John Herrin and RD Harrison the third. The railroad station was built in 1873. Laban Carter, as has been stated, had previously opened a coal mine half a mile east of the village, and it was upon his suggestion that Mr McNeal laid out the same, which he named in honor of Mr Carter. In consequence of the coal business which has developed there, the village has had a rapid growth, and at present writing has the following merchants and business houses.
| General Stores | Ellis & Bro, Spiller & Walker, FC Zimmerman & Bro |
| dry goods and millinery | James Powell |
| gents' furnishing goods | Isaac Hammer |
| millinary | Mrs James Thompson |
| boot & shoe shop | Jacob Shark |
| harness, boots & shoes | George Lofland |
| hardware | Emily White |
| furniture & coffins | Miles Bell |
| drugs | Dr J Price, Hampton & Co |
| dry goods & groceries | W Sizemore & Co |
| groceries | Charles Owen, Charles Cash |
| broom factory | Benjamin F Tranbarger |
| hotels | Matthew House, Hill House |
In addition to the above there are 3 saloons, 1 barber shop, 4 blacksmith shops and other industries. There are 2 church edifices, Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian. The Baptist, Christians and Cumberland Presbyterian also have church organization but no buildings. The physicians are HV Ferrell, JW Fain, H Perry, AD Watson, J Price and Dr Vick. The lawyers are James M Washburn and A Billings. There is also a large schoolhouse containing four rooms, in which a good school is sustained 6 months in the year with public funds, and from 10 to 12 weeks by private subscription. The village has about 1000 inhabitants. Crainville is located so close to Carterville that it might appropriately be termed a suburb thereof. It contains 2 stores, kept respectively by Benjamin Norton and Columbus Crain, and one grist and flouring-mill.
Carterville has a lodge of the IOOF and also Carterville Post No 237 GAR, which was charted in 1881, and has now a membership of 38. The charter members were: LE Ledbetter, Daniel Perine, Bennet H Stotlar, Wm H Allen, Peter Smith, James H Donohoo, Philip Sprague, RW Warren, HG Price, AB Blankenship, WS Nichols, TN Impson, CM Wagoner, JD Beasley, WJ Dowell, Thomas E Stearns, TC White, Milton Black, JM Shaw, Thomas G Matthews, George Wright, Hugh M Richards, GW Cox and JF Stearns. Of these and other comrades who koined afterward the following have since died, viz: Stotlar, Donohoo, Wosson, Talley and Walston