AGED 104.
Robert Carter Died at This Age
and Never Knew Washington.
There died last Monday afternoon in a hovel which he called his home on the high bluff 200 yards west of the grand avenue cable line, Robert Carter, a negro who had reached the age of 104 years. Carter was a familiar character in Kansas City and was well known to many of the older inhabitants. He was born in Kentucky and was brought to this of the country in 1842 by the late James Thomas Smart. He lived in and around Kansas City for years and was for sixteen years janitor of the old city market located on the public square. Six years ago he became so badly affected with rheumatism that he had to abandon work No claim is made by the surviving members of his family that he was ever in the employ of George Washington.
One year after coming to Kansas City Carter married Mary Ann Whitley, who was then only 15 years old and who survives him. Carter was then a gray haired old man. But hale and hearty and he continued so until seven or eight years ago. He had twice been married in Kentucky, but both wives died, leaving six children. These he left in the blue grass country. His third wife became the mother of ten children, and these are said to have made old Robert Carter fifty-seven times a grandfather without his offspring in Kentucky being heard from.
The old couple were married a second time ten years ago in accordance with a custom in vogue among their race. The widow is now 64 years of age and rather weak. Her years are telling on her, but this has only been noticed of late. She has supported her herself and aged husband for six years by washing and ironing and by a little help from the neighbors. The couple owned their little shanty, which is on leased ground on a high bluff. Only once in four years had old Robert been off the hill, and that was when an acquaintance drove him down town in a wagon to look at the city. He liked to talk of old days and how the site of Kansas City looked when he came her fifty years ago.
The remains of the old centenarian were buried in Union cemetery yesterday afternoon.
The Kansas City Times
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
12 Jan 1893, p2

KANSAS CITY TIMES, KANSAS CITY, MO PAGE 2 JANUARY 12, 1893