from History of Octorara Farmers Club
John I. Carter was born at Eastland, Lancaster County, on December 24, 1826. His parents were Henry and Mary Ann (Jackson) Carter. He was twice married, his first wife being Rachel Patterson and the second Carrie Rakestraw. At the time of his membership in the Club, which he joined in the year 1856 just a short time after its organization, he lived on a farm near Homeville, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Carter served in the Union Army, during the Civil War, for a period of three months, with the rank of Captain. In 1871 he was appointed Superintendent of the Eastern Experimental Farm near West Grove, Pennsylvania, and continued in this capacity until 1879. While there he organized the Experimental Farm Club which met every month. For many years he was connected with the West Grove Farmers Club and very active member until his death in April, 1909. Burial was made in Longwood Cemetery.
John Carter lived a busy and useful life, giving much time to the service of his fellow farmers in various ways. We read that he installed the first centrifugal cream separator in Chester County, in 1879; also that he was the first State Lecturer sent out by the Grange and that he spent several years organizing granges throughout Pennsylvania.
He was for many years a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture and was appointed by Governor Pattison as one of the State Commissioners at the World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893.