Joseph William Carter was born prior to the year 1836.  His mother, Malvina Gardner was a slave in the home of Mr. Gardner until a man named D.B.  Smith saw her and noticing the physical perfection of the child at once purchased her from her master.

Malvina was agrieved at being compelled to leave her old home, and her lovely young mistress.  Puss Gardner was fond of the little mullato girl and had taught her to be a useful member of the Gardner family; however, she was sold to Mr. Smith and was compelled to accompany him to his home.

Both the Gardner and Smith families lived near Gallatin, Tennessee, in Sumner County.  The Smith plantation was situated on the Cumberland River and commanded a beautiful view of river and valley acres but Malvina was very unhappy.  She did not enjoy the Smith family and longed for her old friends back in the Gardner home.

One night the little girl gathered together her few personal belongings and started back to her old home.

Afraid to travel the highway the child followed a path she knew through the forest; but alas, she found the way long and beset with perils.  A number of uncivil Indians were encamped on the side of the Cumberland mountains and a number of the young braves were out hunting that night.  Their stealthy approach was heard by the little fugitive girl but too late for her to make an escape.  An Indian called “Buck” captured her and by all the laws of the tribe was his own property.  She lived for almost a year in the teepe with Buck and during that time learned much about Indian habits.

When Malvina was missed from her new home, Mr. Smith went to the Gardner plantation to report his loss, not finding her there a wide search was made for her but the Indians kept her thoroughly concealed.  Miss Puss, however, kept up the search.  She knew the Indians were encamped on the mountain and believed she would find the girl with them.  The Indians finally broke camp and the members of the Gardner home watched them start on their journey and Miss Puss soon discovered Malvina among the other maidens in the procession.

The men of the Gardner plantation, white and black, overtook the Indians and demanded the girl be given up to them.  The Indians reluctantly gave her to them.  Miss Puss Gardner took her back and Mr. Gardner paid Mr. Smith the original purchase price and Malvina was once more installed in her old home.

Malvina Gardner was not yet twelve years of age when she was captured by the Indians and was scarcely thirteen years of age when she became the mother of Joseph William, son of the uncivil Indian, “Buck”.  The child was born in the Gardner home and mother and child remained there.  The mother was a good slave and loved the members of the Gardner family and her son and she were loved by them in return.

Puss Gardner married a Mr. Mooney and Mr. Gardner allowed her to take Joseph William to her home.  The Mooney estate was situated up on the Carthridge road and some of Joseph William’s most vivid memories of slavery and the curse of bondage embrace his life’s span with the Mooneys.