Cartee, Lafayette

LAFAYETTE CARTEE, son of John L. and Seclendia Cartee (Cartier), was born in December, 1823, in Tioga county, N. Y. In 1825 he was brought by his father’s family to Coudersport, and here he lived until 1843. He was almost self-taught, having very limited opportunities of attending school, even after the opening of the academy in 1840. In 1844 he traveled west, and late in the same year became principal of the high school at Newport, Ky., a position he filled for two years. In 1846 he entered St. John’s College, Cincinnati, as professor of mathematics and civil engineering, but failing health compelled him to resign in 1848, and in November of the same year he took passage on board a sailingvessel, bound for San Francisco, a sea-voyage being recommended by his physicians. Reaching San Francisco in June of the following year, he found himself much improved in health. In. California he spent a few months, and then went to Oregon, locating in Oregon City, where he remained some years. He was a member of the first territorial legislature, was speaker of the house the second term, and during the following few years he was engaged in surveying and engineering. In the fall of 1855 he returned to Potter county, Penn., and was married during the ensuing winter to Miss Mary Bell, of Ceres, McKean county, who died at Dallas, Ore., in December, 1862. Mr. Cartee was engineer in the construction of the first railroad in Oregon—a short line, but difficult of construction. He has been a resident of Boise City, Idaho, since 1863; was surveyor-general of the Territory for many years, and has devoted much time and means to the raising of fruit and beautifying his home. He has one son and three daughters, all born in Oregon, now living near him at Boise City, Idaho.

History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania : with biographical selections, including their early settlement and development, a description of the historic and interesting localities, sketches of their cities, towns and villages, portraits of prominent men, biographies of representative citizens, outline history of Pennsylvania, statistics. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1890, page 1145