William Hodding Carter, I
Encyclopedia
William Hodding Carter, I (April 17, 1881 - August 3, 1955), was a businessman, Democratic
politician
, and farmer
from Hammond
, the largest community in Tangipahoa Parish, one of the "Florida parishes" east of Baton Rouge in southeastern Louisiana
. Carter was a leading spokesman for the anti-Long
faction
.
Carter was born in Kentwood, also Tangipahoa Parish, to Thomas Lane Carter and the former Anna Hennen Jennings. He was educated at Sheffield High School in Sheffield, Alabama
, at a college preparatory school in Lebanon, Tennessee
, and Rugby Academy and Tulane University
, both in New Orleans. After college, he worked in both sugar
and cotton
production and became the cashier
of the American Cotton Oil Company in Vidalia
, the seat of Concordia Parish, located west of the Mississippi River
.
He moved to Hammond in 1905, and in 1906 married the former Irma Dutartre of Natchez, Mississippi
(Adams County
), the daughter of cotton planter John D. Dutartre and the former Corinne Henderson. He worked for several farming associations; in 1924, he became manager of the Farm Bureau in Hammond. He and Irma had three children: William Hodding Carter, II
(1907- 1972), a newspaper
editor
and publisher and author
; John Boatner Carter (born 1908), and Corinne Carter (born 1910). He later married the former Lucille Ballenger.
From 1928-1934, Carter served on the Tangipahoa Parish Police Jury, the parish governing board akin to the county commission in most states. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives
in 1940. Sam Houston Jones was elected governor
that year in a runoff contest with Earl Kemp Long. Carter himself was anti-Long. Newly-elected legislators in 1940 included such notable figures as deLesseps Story Morrison, Sr., later the mayor
of New Orleans, William Joseph "Bill" Dodd, then of Allen Parish in western Louisiana and subsequently lieutenant governor
and education superintendent, and Arthur C. Watson
of Natchitoches
, later the chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. Morrison and Watson were anti-Long, but Dodd was usually in the Long camp.
For several years, Carter was the postmaster
in Hammond. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Chamber of Commerce
. Carter served on the board of trustees of Hammond Junior College
, which subsequently became Southeastern Louisiana University
, until he was removed by Governor Huey Pierce Long, Jr
.
Carter was an uncle of philanthropist Sir Alfred Beit
. Carter died in Hammond and is interred in Greenlawn Cemetery there.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
from Hammond
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
, the largest community in Tangipahoa Parish, one of the "Florida parishes" east of Baton Rouge in southeastern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. Carter was a leading spokesman for the anti-Long
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
faction
Political faction
A political faction is a grouping of individuals, such as a political party, a trade union, or other group with a political purpose. A faction or political party may include fragmented sub-factions, “parties within a party," which may be referred to as power blocs, or voting blocs. The individuals...
.
Carter was born in Kentwood, also Tangipahoa Parish, to Thomas Lane Carter and the former Anna Hennen Jennings. He was educated at Sheffield High School in Sheffield, Alabama
Sheffield, Alabama
Sheffield is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States, and is included in The Shoals MSA. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 9,652. Sheffield is the birthplace of notable attorney, actor, former senator and presidential contender Fred Thompson...
, at a college preparatory school in Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it...
, and Rugby Academy and Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, both in New Orleans. After college, he worked in both sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
and cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
production and became the cashier
Cashier
Cashier is an occupation focused on the handling of cash money.- Retail :In a shop, a cashier is a person who scans the goods through a machine called a cash register that the consumer wishes to purchase at the retail store. After all of the goods have been scanned, the cashier then collects...
of the American Cotton Oil Company in Vidalia
Vidalia, Louisiana
Vidalia is a city in and the parish seat of Concordia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,543 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Vidalia is located at and has an elevation of ....
, the seat of Concordia Parish, located west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
He moved to Hammond in 1905, and in 1906 married the former Irma Dutartre of Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
(Adams County
Adams County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,340 people, 13,677 households, and 9,409 families residing in the county. The population density was 75 people per square mile . There were 15,175 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
), the daughter of cotton planter John D. Dutartre and the former Corinne Henderson. He worked for several farming associations; in 1924, he became manager of the Farm Bureau in Hammond. He and Irma had three children: William Hodding Carter, II
Hodding Carter
William Hodding Carter, II was a prominent Southern U.S. progressive journalist and author. Carter was born in Hammond, the largest community in Tangipahoa Parish, in southeastern Louisiana, to William Hodding Carter, I , and the former Irma Dutartre...
(1907- 1972), a newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and publisher and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
; John Boatner Carter (born 1908), and Corinne Carter (born 1910). He later married the former Lucille Ballenger.
From 1928-1934, Carter served on the Tangipahoa Parish Police Jury, the parish governing board akin to the county commission in most states. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
in 1940. Sam Houston Jones was elected governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
that year in a runoff contest with Earl Kemp Long. Carter himself was anti-Long. Newly-elected legislators in 1940 included such notable figures as deLesseps Story Morrison, Sr., later the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of New Orleans, William Joseph "Bill" Dodd, then of Allen Parish in western Louisiana and subsequently lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
and education superintendent, and Arthur C. Watson
Arthur C. Watson
Arthur Chopin Watson was an attorney, state legislator, civic leader, philanthropist, and chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party from 1968–1976. He was afflicted with polio in infancy and lost the use of both legs, and his mother died when he was only seven...
of Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
, later the chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. Morrison and Watson were anti-Long, but Dodd was usually in the Long camp.
For several years, Carter was the postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
in Hammond. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. Carter served on the board of trustees of Hammond Junior College
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
, which subsequently became Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
, until he was removed by Governor Huey Pierce Long, Jr
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
.
Carter was an uncle of philanthropist Sir Alfred Beit
Sir Alfred Beit, 2nd Baronet
Sir Alfred Lane Beit, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative Party politician, art collector and philanthropist and honorary Irish citizen.-Family background:...
. Carter died in Hammond and is interred in Greenlawn Cemetery there.