** This entry is part of the Amy Johnson Crow’s writing challenge 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Week 43: Transportation
Bonners Ferry on the Trinity River
Bonners Ferry was located on the Trinity River in Anderson County, Texas. During the late 1870’s, my third great grandfather, James Madison Carter, operated the ferry.[2]
Before modern bridges were built to span the Trinity River, ferries were built and placed strategically in areas that were not fordable. Ferries often had different styles of construction, but the most common ferry was a flat, raft-like barge which could carry wagons, people and animals.
As a part of their charter, ferrymen had to keep the riverbanks graded so that access to the ferry was not obstructed. Many ferrymen also stretched bank-to-bank cables as a guide for the ferry crossing. Ferrymen were allowed to charge for the ferry’s use and were required to post their fares, which averaged one or two dollars for light and heavy wagons, twenty-five cents for one man and his horse, six to 12 cents for a man on foot, four to six cents a head for cattle, and lesser prices for smaller animals. Ferry owners often raises their fares for crossings at night or during inclement weather.[3]
James Madison Carter was born around 1821 in South Carolina.[4] He was the son of David Carter and Lavinia York. He married Nancy Mayson on 26 November 1846 in Franklin County, Georgia. Together they had six children. After his wife’s death, James moved his family to Catahoula Parish, Louisiana where he met and married Frances Coats.[5] Frances was born in Mississippi and was the daughter of Morgan Coats.[6] The Pine Grove Baptist Church in Rinehart, Louisiana received James Madison Carter as a member of their congregation on 8 June 1861.[7] Other entries from the church record book show him being deeply involved in his church serving as a delegate to represent his church, serving as deacon, being involved in many business transactions, moderator and committee member.[8] An entry recorded on 9 April 1864 shows him making acknowledgment to the church for getting drunk and asking for forgiveness which was granted. On 11 August 1867, James Madison Carter was granted a letter of dismissal upon his request.[9] This was most likely the time he and his family made their move to Texas.
The Carter family is shown in the 1870 census living in Freestone County, Texas and began operating Bonners Ferry in the mid to late 1870’s[10]. James Madison Carter passed away around 1877 leaving his wife Frances with five small children under the age of ten. Frances took over the operation of the Ferry for a short while before moving to Keechi in Leon County to be near her family[11].
Frances Coats Carter
[1] [Bonner’s Ferry – Anderson County, Texas], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth10051/m1/1/: accessed October 22, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Palestine Public Library.
[2] History of Leon County, Texas; compiled and edited by Leon County Historical Book Survey Committee; sponsored by the Leon County Historical Society, Inc. and the Leon County Historical Commission; Volume 1; 1986; Dallas, Texas; Curtis Media Corp.; Carter Family F169 [Matt Rutherford]
[3] Ferries in East Texas by Bob Bowman, Item Type: Web Page; Title: Ferries in East Texas.URL http://www.texasescapes.com/BobBowman/Ferries-in-East-Texas.htm; Accessed: 2019-10-25
[4] 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; 2009; Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com
[5] Louisiana, Marriages, 1718-1925; Ancestry.com Operations Inc; 2004; Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com
[6] 1850 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M432_230; Page: 53A; Image: 424; Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.2009; Provo, UT, USA
[7] Baptist Minute Book, Pine Grove Baptist Church, Rinehart, LA; 8 June 1861; pg 13; Copy of entry in possession of Larry Chapman, 1194 Lamb St. Trout, LA 71371
[8] ibid
[9] ibid
[10]History of Leon County, Texas; compiled and edited by Leon County Historical Book Survey Committee; sponsored by the Leon County Historical Society, Inc. and the Leon County Historical Commission; Volume 1; 1986; Dallas, Texas; Curtis Media Corp.; Carter Family F169 [Matt Rutherford]
[11] ibid
Digging Up Roots 
On April 30, 1862 the 10th Texas Infantry was ferried across the Trinity River. They camped near Bonner Ferry. My Great Great Grandfather was in Company C. I have spent the last 4 years researching this unit.
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