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Thomas James Carter was born February 3, 1870 to Shadrack Levi Carter and Eugenia Landon Shields on Hat Creek near the foot of Brent's Mountain. He was one of nine children, six boys and three girls. His grandparents were James Thomas Carter, who came to Nelson from Buckingham County around 1800. His wife was Eliza Ann Moore and his maternal grandparents were Egbert Oswald Shields and Sarah Ellen Brent.

Thomas James, called TJ, farmed for his father until he was 21. He bought land at Bryant on Hat Creek and moved there. He built a store and started a mercantile business. The store had an upstairs in which he lived. Before the turn of the century he built a larger store which is still standing. In 1903 he built a house on the hill back of the store. In June 1903 he married Lucy Maria Ballard of "Willowbrook", near Jonesboro. Her parents were Sarah Ann Whitehead and James Horace Ballard of Albemarle County. Sarah was the daughter of Floyd Lee Whitehead and Mary Eliza beth Armstrong. Maria was the youngest of eight children. By this time TJ was hiring someone to run the store for him. He had sawmills and was farming. He and Maria raised ten children, nine girls and one boy. The girls were Sallie Ann, who married Robert Whitehead, Eugenia (Jean) a twin married Dan Debnam, Maria (Riga) a twin, married Norbert Caillouet. Both were schoolteachers. Frances married Robert Auton. Anna Catherine married James Carter Langram. Roberta, a nurse, married Elster Shortt. Virginia married Norman Stratton. Hardenia married Ashby Lincoln, Jr., Burnley married Herbert Harvey. Tom, Jr. helped on the farm. Tom married Helen Gordon (divorced) then married Jeanette Powell. Most of the girls, as they were growing up, helped in the store. Five ended up running the store for a period of time. As the older one got married the next in line took over. In the late 40's, TJ ran out of available daughters to run the store and ended up in the late 50's closing it.

TJ was on the Electoral Board for many years which appointed School Board members. He served on various committees in the agriculture programs. He was a charter member and on the Board of Directors of Arrington Cold Storage. He was a member of Jonesboro Baptist Church and a Deacon for many years.

TJ lived to be 93. Maria died at 63. Today they have 145 descendants. Happily the home place is still in the family. A granddaughter, Catherine Earl Langran Gantt and husband Donald Gantt own it. Only the four youngest children of TJ and Maria are living, 3 girls in Nelson County and Tom, Jr. in Lynchburg.

We children have always felt richly blessed that we were raised by religious, strong of character and hard working, loving parents.

Submitted by: Virginia Carter Stratton and Hardenia Carter Lincoln and published in Nelson County Heritage 1807-2000.

Contributor: Andy Keller (46846979) •