McCARTER, Charles A.

In the town Galata, that is now about five years old and is one of the flourishing trading centers of northwestern Montana, Charles A. McCarter was the first inhabitant to erect a building, and at different times he has owned the most important business enterprises of the town. In the future history of this region he will be written of as one of the prominent pioneers, and his work and influence have been very important factors in the development of this locality.

Mr. McCarter was born at Diamond Dale, Michigan, January 29, 1877, and during his boyhood attended the public schools. His school days ending when he was fifteen, he came out to Montana in 1892, and became connected with the cattle business which was then the principal industry of the northern part of the state. His headquarters were at Augusta, and three years later he moved to Choteau, where he acquired large interests in cattle and lands. It was in 1907 that he moved to the townsite of Galata and erected the building in which was opened the C. A. McCarter store. There were only three houses in Galata at the time, and his store was a small affair and its trade was drawn mostly from the surrounding stock and farming country. He has since built up his business into the largest concern of the kind in this vicinity, and his other interests here include a livery barn and extensive land holdings in this section. Mrs. C. A. McCarter has the post-office, having been appointed postmistress in 1907, and has just been reappointed.

Mr. McCarter's parents were James and Margaret (Kirkendall) McCarter. The father, who died in Michigan in 1910 at the age of seventy-three, was a native of Scotland, coming to America when a young man, and was a continuous resident of Diamond Dale, Michigan, for forty-five years. He was a successful contractor and builder, and a prominent and respected citizen of his home locality. The mother, who was born in Charlesworth, Michigan, is still living in Diamond Dale, at the age of sixty-seven. Charles A. was the third, in their family of six children, the others being: John, who is a resident of Montana; William, who is still in Diamond Dale; Mary, resides in Diamond Dale; and Cora and Cynthia, live in California.

At Havre, Montana, on February 15, 1906, Mr. McCarter was married to Miss Minnie Olsen. Four children have been born into their home. James was the first child born in the town of Galata. He was born in December, 1907, and died the following year. Jennie was born in Galata, May 27, 1909; Charles was born on April 25, 1911; and William J., was born October 15, 1912.

In politics Mr. McCarter is Republican. He affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife, is a member of the Lutheran church. He is one of the representative men and vigorous, public-spirited citizens of this new country of northwest Montana, in whose modern development he has had an important share.

[History of Montana, Volume 3, 1913, transcribed by C. Danielson]