Born in Carterville, Florida, "Charlie" was the third child (first son) of nine children of John Cooper and Christina Ellen Masters Carter. On his WWI Draft Registration, his name is listed as "Charlie Larnes Carter." He married Karlie Mae Murray on 10/1/1900. They had ten children: Ralph Edward, Marjorie Christina, John Robert, Luetta, Elizabeth Murray (Betty), Carol Leone (Leone), Karlie Mae, Lillie Belle, Charles Lawrence, and Margaret Catherine.

Charlie worked as a pumper (pumpman/ waterman) for Henry Flagler's East Coast Railroad. He operated/ managed tanks that supplied water for steam engines in Islamorada, Fort Pierce, then Miami, Florida. The railroad provided a "Pumper's Cottage" for the family to live in at each location.

Note that his death certificate has several inaccuracies about him and his family because the informant was a son-in-law (O.D. King, Betty's husband) who probably wasn't aware of certain details.

Newspaper item, 06 Jun 1930, The Miami News, Miami, Florida, Page 17: Hialeah Man Dies Driving -- H. L. Carter [sic] Found Lifeless at Wheel After Car Hits House – Apparently stricken by an attack of heart disease, H. L. Carter, 53, for 14 years an employe [sic] of the F. E. C. railway and for four years a resident of Hialeah, slumped forward over the steering wheel of his car, while driving early today and died. The machine, out of control, bounded over a curb and struck a residence at 3613 N. W. 20th ave. || Carter was an employe [sic] of the water department of the railway property in Hialeah. He is survived by eight children. Ralph, 26, of Wauchula; John of the U. S. Army, stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Mrs. Murray King, 21, of Miami, and Leone, Karlie May [sic], Lilly Bell [sic], Charles and Margaret, ranging from 19 to 9, all living at home. || The father, John Carter, and three sisters, all of St. Augustine, also survive. || Funeral arrangements are being made by King funeral home.

Newspaper item 07 Jun 1930, the Tampa Tribune, Tampa, Florida, Page 20: Dies at Wheel of Auto – Miami, June 6.—(A.P.) Charles L. Carter, 53, died at the wheel of his automobile as he was driving from his home to work today. His car crashed into a tree a moment later. He was an employe [sic] of the Florida East Coast railway and came here several years ago from St. Augustine.