He married Anstis E. Hubbard 1 Jan 1872 in the Circuit Court at Spencer, Clay, Iowa. Anstis and John Carter had eleven children: Mary E., Charles Marvin, John H., Alice C., Marcus W., Richard Elmer, Will Reginald, Leonard Ackley, Jeanie, Russell, Harvey Carter.

"The Spencer News" printed on 25 Jan 1916, page 2.
"Card of Thanks"
"We wish to thank our friends for their help and sympathy in our great sorrow in the loss of our beloved husband and father" signed by "Mrs. A. E. Carter and family"
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John Henry Carter was born in Cughoga county, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1850. Died at his home in Dickens, Clay county, Iowa, January 9, 1916, aged 65 years, 10 months and 25 days.
He came to Iowa in the spring of 1870 and has been a resident of Clay county most of the time since. Mr. Carter was one of the pioneers of this part of Iowa settling on a homestead northeast of what is now known as Spencer.
On January 1, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Anstes (sic) Elizabeth Hubbard of Spencer. There were born to this union eleven children, three girls and eight boys. Mr. Carter leaves to mourn his departure a wife, five sons and two daughters, all of Dickens except Richard E. Carter of Alexander, N. Dakota, Willie R. Carter of Mason City, Mrs. Mary E. Bird of Leonard, N. Dakota and Mrs. Olivia A. Smith of North Dakota. Three sons and one daughter preceeded their father to the home above. Mr. Carter united with the Free Baptist church in 1899. On account of a change of residence about 1902 he united with the Congrgational church of Rithven, later transfered to N. Dakota.
On account of broken health he returned to Clay county about four years ago, settling in Dickens and became a member of the Congrgational church of Dickens of which he has been an honored and welcome member until the master said "come up higher your sufferings are ended, you have finished your labors." He had been in broken health for about four years. He suffered long, knowing that the reaper death was near at times, the end was not unlooked for. He is not here now for God called him home. The funeral services were conducted last Wednesday at the Congragational church by the pastor. The body was taken to Spencer and buried in the Spencer cemetery.
Relatives have the sympathy of a large circle of friends.
(Obit from the Spencer Reporter, Jan. 19, 1916, page 11)