James Carter's early life is as yet unknown. Per the census, he may have been born in North Carolina, South Carolina or Alabama. The 1880 census says he was born in NC and that his parents were born in Virginia. In 1836, Greenberry Carter was the bondsman on James' marriage record in Hardeman County, Tennessee (Note: Greenberry Carter was a son of Jesse Carter of Hardeman Co., Tenn. I do not believe Greenberry was James' father, since G.B. later named another son James. Also, G.B. was too young to have been married when James was born). James married Salina Roxanna Dean April 27, 1836 in Hardeman Co., Tenn. Their first child, William L. Carter, was born there in April 1837. By 1839 they had moved to Tippah County, Mississippi (Greenberry Carter also went to Tippah County). A child John W. Carter may have been born to James and Salina in 1839 in Tippah County. He died in 1850; do not know for certain that he was their child. Their next four children were born in Tippah County: Robert M. 1841, Mary "Mollie" Charlesann Elizabeth 1844, Sarah Etter 1847, and Emily b.1849-50, d.before 1860. In 1851, the Carters moved to Webberville on the Colorado River in Travis County, Texas, where James worked as a wagoner and also served as a deputy sheriff. His next four children were born in Webberville: Amanda Roxanna 1851-52, Anna Bell 1854, James Buchanan "Buck" 1856, and Missie Lena 1859. James' two oldest sons served in the Civil War. About 1869, the Carters (along with all their children) moved to Waco in McLennan County, Texas, where James worked as a wagoner. His daughter Mollie McIlhaney settled in Coryell County. By 1880, James and Salina had moved to a rural area west of Waco, where James farmed on land he owned near Tonk Creek. He passed away on July 15, 1892.
NOTE:
I have never seen an instance where James Carter used a middle initial. He has been confused with a James M. Carter who also lived in Waco.