Photograph used for an article dated March 18, 1955. Nathaniel Coburn Carter, the founder of Sierra Madre, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1840. In 1864 Mr. Carter married Annetta M. Pierce, a native of Lowell. They had five children: Mrs. Florence Carter Meade, Arthur N., Mrs. Julia Carter Henszey, Mrs. Anita Carter Gregory and Philip C. Carter. In 1870 Mr. Carter's failing health demanded a milder climate and he came to California, visited different sections of the country and returned east. He came back in 1872 and bought a portion of the Flores Ranch near San Gabriel. In 1874 Mr. Carter organized "Carter Excursions", bringing trainloads of people to California from all over the East and in 1881 he bought 845 acres of the Santa Anita Ranch from E.J. Baldwin, 150 acres from John R. Richardson and 108 acres from the Southern Pacific Railroad. Later when he had subdivided and sold much of the property he named the settlement "Sierra Madre." Carter built his own home on a beautiful site high against the mountains at the head of Baldwin Avenue. He had a great sense of humor, and hearing that Abbot Kinney had named his place just east of Eaton Canyon "Kinneloa," called his "Carterhia." Carter was one of the original incorporators of the Sierra Madre Water Company and of the Sierra Madre Library Association. He died in September, 1904, at the age of 64.; Cartherhia was built in 1882 and has been demolished. Carterhia, the home of Nathaniel C. Carter in Sierra Madre.
Carter, Nathaniel C.--Homes and haunts Dwellings--California--Sierra Madre Lost architecture--California--Sierra Madre Mountains--California, Southern San Gabriel Mountains (Calif.) Sierra Madre (Calif.) Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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