The Story of Bob and Elizabeth

After the war, Captain Carter settled down on his father's farm,
trying to make a living by running a mill ,grinding
corn and wheat. In 1865 a girl about twelve years old 
climbed on a horse and with a sack of corn rode to the
Carter Mill several miles away. The little girl's parents
had been well to do and highly respected leaders in their 
community. They had been slave owners, but the slaves were 
freed and the parents dead and only a step mother left to 
carry -on. She arrived at the mill and the miller, seeing 
her through an opening supposed to be a window went to her
and helped her off her horse.. taking her sack of corn , he
invited her into the mill. She warmed herself by the fire as 
it was a cold day.
Once inside , Bob Carter, the miller, said to a man there
" Who is this little girl who just came in ."
The reply was," Why it's Betty Coble. Bob 
continued by saying," She's the prettiest girl
I have ever seen and I expect to wait for her."
Robert joined Bethseda Methodist Church in 1855 . 
He had a good singing voice and he became song leader.
 He would lead the singing at Rehobeth Camp Meeting.
People for miles built tents of wood, and once a year
they loaded their wagons with provisions, hitched the 
cow behind the wagon and the family drove to a two week
meeting at Rehobeth.
About two years after the meeting of Bob and Betty
at the mill when she was 14 years of age. Bob was
the song leader and was in the bush arbor morning 
and afternoon leading the singing. 
There was a spring of water with gourds made for 
dipping water from the spring across the field
from the camps. It was customary for the boys
and girls to walk across the field to the 
spring and back. Bob asked Betty to walk with him,
but she had been teased so much about him that
she refused even after much persuasion .
However, after three more years when Betty was seventeen,
she accepted his attentions. On August 30, 1871 just six
days after Betty was eighteen, Bob and Betty were married
by the Rev.George Wilhoit in the Coble home.
 Some of Bob's sisters were present Betty was dressed 
in a white dress . After the wedding day they left in a
 buggy for the house on the Carter farm known as the 
miller's house. On the second day neighbors and friends 
called on them socially as this was the day of the enfair
Betty had a beautiful dress and hat to match for this 
occasion .Although she didn't wear her hat until they
 attended Bethesda Methodist Church.
George Was a young private in 42nd Co C One day a grave
was dug for four deserters who were to be shot.
Capt. Carter asked who would come forward and 
pray and talk with these condemned prisoners and George Wilhoit.

In 1871 William Henry Kimmer,an orphan came to live
with the Carters. The father and step mother didn't
want him They treated him so cruelly that his uncle
Jim Kimmer who was 17 years old , took him from 
house to house. For punishment he had been made 
to stay in the cold and dark barefooted for hours 
at a time some times until midnight. Betty kept poultrices 
on his feet since they were so badly frost bitten. 
During this time he could not play but had to sit 
before the fire and he could not stand on his feet.
The only clothes he had were the one on his back.