EDWIN CARTER. - Edwin Carter, a contracting builder of Springfield, was born near Mechanicsburg, in Sangamon County, April 9, 1853, and is of Scotch and Welsh ancestry. His father, Andrew Carter, was born in Ohio in 1817 and acquired a common school education. He afterward learned the plasterer's trade and subsequently removed to Springfield, Illinois, but his last days were spent in Riverton, this state, where he died in the year 1896. He was married in Indiana to Miss Mary Young, who was born in 1821 and departed this life in 1893. They became residents of Sangamon county in 1836 and for a short time Mr. Carter engaged in farming, but soon resumed work at his trade, which he continued to follow throughout the remainder of his active business career. His success was made by hard work, through earnest application and unfaltering perseverance. He built a home on Eighteenth street in this city and resided there for a number of years. His political support was given to the Democracy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carter were born six children, five sons and one daughter, all natives of Sangamon County. These are William, who is now living in Delavan, Illinois; Andrew, who removed to Cincinnati, Ohio; Albert, of Springfield; Edwin; George, a resident of Middletown, Illinois; and Isabelle, the wife of John Debord, of Springfield.

Edwin Carter is indebted to the common school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed in his early youth. He continued his studies until thirteen years of age and then began working for his father at the plasterer's trade, which business he soon mastered. For some time he was employed as a journeyman and later he began contracting. For fifteen years he followed his business outside of Sangamon county, residing at different times at St. Louis and Hannibal, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois, and other cities. Since 1883 he has been engaged in contracting as a builder and his patronage has been a large and profitable one. He made his home in St. Louis for about eleven years and then returned to Springfield in 1897. Here he has since lived and a good business comes to him as the reward of his earnest application and honorable methods. He employs from two to seven men, according to the season.

In Springfield, in 1877, Mr. Carter was united in marriage to Miss Anne Hoffman and unto them was born a daughter, Lenora, now the wife of William Bach of Springfield. In 1881 Mrs. Carter was called to her final rest and he has since married again, his second union being with Mary Requet. They have three children: Jessie, now the wife of Ora Bixler, of Springfield; Pearl; and Emma.

Mr. Carter votes with the Democracy, but has never been an active worker in political ranks. Fraternally he is connected with the Loyal Americans. A self-educated as well as a self-made man, he has never allowed the difficulties and obstacles in his path to swerve him from the course he marked out, but has used them rather as an impetus for renewed effort. He gives his personal attention to his business and has the reputation of living fully up to the terms of his contracts.