"James Carter wed Elizabeth (Betsy) Kelly, daughter of Thos. Kelly of County Carlow (later of 12th line [aka Concession 12] Huntley Twp) when they arrived in Almonte [Ontario] in 1854. They had become betrothed in Cork, Ireland while the Kelly family were awaiting a boat to [emigrate to] Canada. Jas Carter was a sailor [no evidence yet for this]. At once, Jas & Betsy took up residence in a small log house on a Wylie farm on 9th line [aka Concession 9] of Ramsay Twp (later owned by Messrs Jim & Leonard Grace). After several years employed by Wylie as a pork packer, James saw the advantages of being his own boss. The many mills in Almonte depended on wood furnaces for power, so James bought a woodlot in Goulburn Twp, then later a wooded farm in Huntley Twp, and with some hired help, he began supplying the mills in Almonte with all the wood they needed." An 1879 map of Huntley Twp showed that James owned at least 3 adjoining properties on Concession 10, providing plentiful sources of wood for his business; East 1/2 of Lot 10 (where the home was), East 1/2 of Lot 11, and East 1/2 + SW 1/4 of Lot 12.
In the 1881 Census of Canada, Betsy's niece Mary Kelly (age 2, daughter of her recently widowed brother Michael Kelly) was living with her & James; they likely raised her during her early years, but she returned to her father's household by the 1891 Census. [by Mary (Burns) Colton, granddaughter & H. Presley, 2g-grandson]
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The Almonte Gazette
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
Friday, January 5, 1900, p. 8

Obit. - Mrs. James Carter.
One of Huntley township's oldest and most respected residents, Mrs. Jas. Carter, was called from earth to the eternal beyond on Wednesday of this week. For the past two years she had been in delicate health, not with any particular disease, but from the wearing out of the vitality which had sustained her through the trials and vicissitudes incident to pioneer life in the days when this province was in its infancy. Born in Ireland, she came to Canada over half-a-century ago, and spent her life since then in the township of Huntley, the last few years with her son Patrick, where she enjoyed a well-earned respite from the activities of life. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Kelly, and three brothers - Thomas, Michael and Jeremiah - survive her. She was married about forty-three years ago to Mr. James Carter, who predeceased her nearly six years ago, and to them ten children were born, six girls and four boys, all of whom are still living. They are: Mary Ann, Kate, Sarah and Maggie, at home; Ellen (Mrs. Jas. Liston), Grand Forks, Dak.; Elizabeth (Mrs. E. J. Greene), Central Mexico; John, James and Patrick, the latter on the homestead, in Huntley; and Thomas, C.P.R. conductor, Carleton Place. The funeral will take place on Friday at 9:30 a.m. to St. Michael's church, Huntley, thence to the cemetery.