John CARTER

                   SHORT HISTORY OF DOMINICUS CARTER:
       Someone wisecracked when asked about Dominicus Carter, "Oh You mean the fellow with the nine wives and forty-nine kids." This is not quite true since he had one less wife and may have had one or two more children. From this you know that he was quite a man to be able to support and live somewhat amiably with that many women.
       Dominicus was born and lived in Maine until he was 28 years old. He was born in Scarborough in 1806, but in 1810 his family moved to Newry (or Nebrors). Being in a family of 11 children made it necessary for all to work, with little time for formal education. Besides helping with the farming at home he learned the blacksmithing trade, never realizing how useful this would make him. He married Lydia Smith in 1828. Four children were born to them there and 2 were added in Ohio before Lydia's death in Missouri. When John Boynton and Daniel Bean, the "Mormon" missionaries, came in 1834, Dominicus and Lydia embraced the LDS gospel and never looked back. Dominicus's mother, Hannah Libby, also joined as did 5 more of her sons and 2 of her daughters. John, the father, 1 son and 2 daughters never joined. However, John did move west to Ohio and Illinois with the majority of his family, but that was enough and he was left behind in Illinois when the saints left Nauvoo for Winter Quarters and Salt Lake City (SLC).
       Dominicus was at the forefront of the Mormon movement. He was taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith, ordained an Elder by David W. Patton, a Seventy by Joseph Young, Sr. and a High Priest by Joseph Smith, Jr. His patriarchal blessing was under the hands of Joseph Smith, Sr. He was part of the Kirtland Camp that traveled from Ohio to Far West Missouri, only to be driven out of that state in 1838-9. He was one of the 244 elders who volunteered to take the views of Joseph Smith on the powers of government to the states. He served a proselyting mission along the rivers of Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wisconson. He helped build the Nauvoo Temple. He was one in whom the Prophet confided the principle of plural marriage. Dominicus was a true believer and was not swayed even when the missionary that baptized him raged against Joseph Smith and the Church.
       After Lydia died in 1838 near Far West, Dominicus married a 16 year old named Sophronia Babcock the same year. About a year later he married Sylvia Meacham, an older woman of 19 years; and in 1844, at Nauvoo, he married Mary Durfee, a teen of 14. These three accompanied Dominicus when he left Nauvoo for Winter Quarters, Nebraska. Sophronia died there of child birth complications. Dominicus was of great help in the treck west. His skills as a wagon maker and horse shoer came in very useful. This production was needed so very badly that Dominicus was asked to remain in Winter Quarters another 4 years before moving west in 1851.
       When they arrived in Salt Lake City Sylvia had enough of pologamy and refused to follow Dominicus to Provo where he would build his home and make his living the rest of his life. Sylvia later married John Snyder, a widower. Dominicus married again, Polly Minor, a niece of Mary's, in 1852. She was 19. Two years later he married Caroline Hubbard, a 23 year old, but this marriage lasted only 7 years. Dominicus married his last wife, Frances Nash, at the age of 51 - she was 21, 30 years his junior.  His wives and number of children follow:
            Lydia Smith               21 May 1828     6 children
            Sophronia Babcock            Nov 1838     1 child that died early
            Sylvia Ameret Meacham     28 Mar 1839     2 children  separated
            Mary Durfee                2 Jan 1844    13 children
            Polly Minor                9 Oct 1851     9 children
            Elizabeth Brown           30 Jun 1852     8 children
            Caroline Hubbard          27 Oct 1854     2 children  separated
            Frances Nash               6 Jan 1857     8 children
       Dominicus was an active community member and developer in the Provo community. He was a councelor to George A. Smith in the new Utah Stake in 1852. He was a probate judge for 4 years and filled a vacancy on the Provo City Council. He organized and played in the Provo Martial Band. He continued his blacksmith work in addition to farming. There are many funny stories about Dominicus and his wives but for these the reader is referred to, "Carter Pioneers of Provo Utah," by Arthur D. Coleman. Dominicus died at age 78. His posterity accounted for much of the afore mentioned book.
       Poly Minor wrote of her husband, Dominicus: "I was his fifth wife and lived peaceable in one house at Provo with three of his other wives for eleven years and enjoyed myself first rate. My husband farmed and raised lots of grain; worked at his trade of blacksmithing; paid his tithing; and helped build up the kingdom of our God on this earth."  Elizabeth Brown wrote: "My husband is a staunch L.D.S. and myself as well... We have attempted to teach our children the principles of the Gospel and rear them up in the ways that their parents have marked out for them." The wives lived to enjoy separate houses.
       For those who worry about the sealed to John Snyder, vrs. the biological line, should know that Sylvia has been sealed to Dominicus at least 19 times. But, she chose in life to be sealed to John Snyder.      SCJ