I was born in Crawford county Mo., January 5, 1834. My parents were Cumberland Presbyterians. I owe much to the training of a precious, Christian mother.

I professed religion in 1850; joined the Crooked Creek congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church immediately. My religion has always been of the Holy Ghost, shouting kind. I have always stressed the "new birth."

I was deeply impressed to preach the gospel at my conversion. So, I placed myself under the care of St. Louis Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church as a probationer for the ministry. I felt that I must preach or die, so I made an appointment and a curious crowd greeted me. With much embarrassment I announced my text and began. The result was an altar full of mourners and seven bright conversions. I went right into revival work. In due course of time I was licensed and finally ordained in the City of St. Louis in 1859.

Rev. Milton Bird, D.D., preached the ordination sermon. In March, 1860, I came to Texas, where I preached for many years. I traveled and preached under order of presbytery, first in Missouri and then in Texas. I have always preached on the frontier among the destitute.

While I have witnessed many happy conversions, I regret that I have done so little.

When the merger came I was the only preacher that stood firm in the Amarillo Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. I am proud of my stand to this day. I have seen much service and have a rich experience in the work of the ministry. I have made mistakes in life--many of them--but have always been sincerely honest in my work. If I have done any good in the world it is all of the Lord. I am working with His help.

I am still strong and able to preach the dear old whosoever-will gospel as opportunity offers. I am so glad that the dear church in which I was raised still lives to bless the world. I am sure that many shall rise up and call her blessed.

I am with my aged and faithful wife--watching and waiting for the call to go home to glory.

[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers. Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages 225-226]

The Rev. and Mrs. O. W. Carter, 97 and 91 years old respectively, of Portales, New Mexico, have faced a lot of life together and are still finding pleasure in living on the plains of New Mexico. Bro. Carter is a Cumberland Presbyterian minister and is believed to be New Mexico's oldest minister.

Rev. O. W. Carter was born January 5, 1834, in Crawford County, Missouri. He was converted at the age of fifteen, under the ministry of Rev. J. B. Brawley, a member of the St. Louis Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was called to preach at conversion and began to preach immediately as field man in Crawford County, St. Louis Presbytery.

He was ordained in the City of St. Louis, March, 1859, and Rev. Milton Bird D.D., preached the ordination sermon. He was continued as field man in St. Louis Presbytery, and he held many revivals at different points and saw many happy conversions.

He went to Texas in 1860, and traveled and preached as before. He has been a member of many of the Texas presbyteries and has served as moderator a number of times.

He was directed by the presbytery to take charge at Siverton, Texas, and promote the work there; and, during his first month's work he found sixteen prospective members and in three years' work he had three congregations with 150 members.

Rev. O. W. Carter is now a member of Amarillo Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Texas Synod.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, August 20, 1931, cover]

With the passing of Rev. O. W. Carter at his home in Portales Christmas Eve at 8:45 o'clock. One of the pioneer preachers of the Southwest was called to his reward.
Rev. Carter was born in Crawford county, Missouri on Jan 5, 1834. After graduation from the Stephensville academy in Missouri, Mr. Carter was ordained a minister of the gospel and was sent to St. Louis to do missionary work for the Cumberland Presbyterian organization and for more than eighty following years he has been a missionary preacher.
After serving his native state of Missouri for several years, he felt the call to go to a more remote field and after the close of the war of the sixties he went to Texas, and was the missionary preacher in the southern part of that state. It was here that he met and married his wife who was an earnest Christian and has worked side by side with her husband in their labor of saving souls. Mrs. Carter, now at the advanced age of almost 92 years, is bearing bravely the passing of her husband, a companion of almost sixty years.
In 1902 Rev. and Mrs. Carter came to New Mexico and were known to all the people of this eastern section for their faithful Christian work and kindly assistance. They made their trips to the scattered churches and settlements on horseback to give to the people the message of God's love for the world.
On the nineteenth of last October Rev. Carter fell and broke his limb at the hip joint and from this he never recovered and grew gradually weaker until he slipped peacefully to sleep just at that season when the world was remembering the birth of the Christ, of which he has preached for four score years.
The pastor of the Methodist church, Rev. R. F. Davis, has been a frequent visitor with Rev. Carter during his last days of illness and was in charge of the ceremonies, which were held last Saturday morning. The Masonic lodge conducted burial rites at the Portales cemetery, for Rev. Carter had united with the Masonic bodies when a young man.
Of the five children born to Rev. and Mrs. Carter, all were present with their parents during the present year, when a family reunion was held here, but only the son and the daughter from Texas and the daughter in Portales were present at the funeral service Saturday morning.
The children are Mrs. K. T. Kelly of Earth, Tex.; W. W. Carter from Dodsonville, Tex; Mrs. C. H. Wolfe, Hollis, Okla; Mrs. C. M. Sloan, Strong City, Okla; and Mrs. F. D. Galloway of Portales.
The six friends carrying the body of this esteemed and honored pioneer to its last resting place were fellow Masons, and included Floyd Kennedy, Marion Stinnett, C. V. Harris, J. A. Fairly, Ed Copeland, and John W. Ballow.
Attendants from the Wheeler Johnson Mortuary were in charge of the burial services.
[Source: "Portales Valley News", Thursday, December 31, 1931]

Rev. O. W. Carter was born at Steelville, Crawford County, Mo., January 5, 1834, and died at Portalis, N. M., January 24, 1931, being at the time of his death, 97 years, 11 months and 19 days old.

On October 19, 1931, Brother Carter fell and broke his hip, and from that time on, until death came, he grew weaker and weaker.

Brother Carter was converted at the age of 15, and was called to preach the same year of his conversion. He has lived a long and devoted Christian life.

He was ordained to preach at St. Louis in St. Louis Presbytery. Dr. Milton Bird was moderator and preached the ordination sermon in the year 1859.

Brother Carter came to Texas in 1860 and remained a true soldier of the cross for Christ and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. At the time of his death, he was a member of Amarillo Presbytery; and as long as he could see how to write he never failed to send in his reason for being absent.

The writer of this obituary wishes to join in with Amarillo Presbytery and a host of friends and say, "May the blessings of God be on Sister Carter who is now confined to her bed, and who is past 90 years, and also to his children."

O. N. Baucom, Clerk of Amarillo Presbytery

Lubbock, Texas.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, January 21, 1932, page 13]