“So you didn’t fight in the Civil War,” was asked Uncle Joe.

“Of course I did, when I got old enough I entered the service and barbacued meat until the war closed.”  Barbacueing had been Uncle Joe’s specialty during slavery days and he followed the same profession during his service with the federal army.  He was freed by the emancuapation proclamation, and soon met and married Sadie Scott, former Slave of Mr. Scott, a Tennessee planter.  Sadie only lived a short time after her marriage.  He later married Amy Doolins.  Her father was named Carmuel.  He was a blacksmith and after he was free, the countrymen were after him to take his life.  He was shot nine times and finally killed himself to prevent meeting death at the hands of the clansmen.

Joseph William Carter is a cripple.  In 1933 he fell and broke his right thigh-bone and since that time he has walked with a crutch.  He stays up quite a lot and is always glad to welcome visitors.  He possesses a noble character and is admired by his friends and neighbors.  Tall, straight, lean of body, his nose is aquiline; these physical characteristics he inherited from his Indian ancesters.  His gentle nature, wit, and good humor are characteristics handed to him by his mother and fostered by the gentle rearing of his southern mistress.

When Uncle Joe Carter celebrated the 100dth aniversary of his birth a large cake was presented to him, decorated with 100 candles.  The party was attended by children and grandchildren, friends and neighbors.  “What is your political viewpoint?” was asked the old man.

“My politics is my love for my country”.  “I vote for the man, not the party.”

Uncle Joe’s religion is the religion of decency and virtue.  “I don’t want to be hard in my judgement,” said he, “But I wish the whole world would be decent.  When I was a young man, women wore more clothes in bed than they now wear on the street.”

“Papa has always been a lover of horses but he does not care for Automobiles nor aeroplanes,” said a daughter of Uncle Joe.  Uncle Joe has seven daughters, he says they have always been obedient and attentive to their parents.  Their mother passed away seven years ago.  The sons and daughters of Uncle Joe remember their grand-mother and recall stories recounted by her of her captivity among the Indians.

“Papa had no gray hairs until after mama died.  His hair turned gray from grief at her loss,” said Mrs. Della Smith, one of his daughters.  Uncle Joe’s smile reveals a set of unusually sound teeth from which only one tooth is missing.

Like all fathers and grandfathers, Uncle Joe recounts the cute deeds and funny sayings of the little children he has been associated with:  how his own children with feather bedecked crowns enacted the capture of their grandmother and often played “Voo-Doo Doctor.”

Uncle Joe stresses the value of work, not the enforced labor of the slave but the cheerful toil of free people.  He is glad that his sons and daughters are industrious citizens and is proud they maintain clean homes for their families.  He is happy because his children have never known bondage, and he respects the laws of his country and appreciates the interest that the citizens of Evansville have always showed in the negro race.