John Joyce Carter

"John Joyce Carter was born June 16, 1842, in Westport, Ireland, the son of John Carter, a wealthy storekeeper, and Cecelia Joyce Carter. Unscrupulous relatives and others lost his father's estate in a mill speculation. They then married off John's only sister, Honora ... to a 19-year-old cousin who was going to America on a sailing ship [c. 1845]. The youngsters cooked their scanty food on the open deck of the ship. "
(from The Link)

As 2nd Lieutenant, Company B, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his initiative and bravery at the battle on 17 September 1862.

He later served as Captain, Company D, in the 1st New York Veteran Cavalry, beginning 10 October 1863.

He had a men's clothing business in Titusville (PA) in 1865. In 1877 he sold and went into the oil business. "Col. John J. Carter, an oil operator of Pennsylvania, came to West Virginia in 1893, and on his own account bought producing oil properties in Tyler Co., West Virginia ... On May 1,1893, The Carter Oil Company was incorporated and organized as a subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey) ... The main office was at Titusville, Pennsylvania, until August, 1915, when Col. Carter ... retired ..." (and the Company moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma).
(from History)

[The company eventually became Exxon]

Sources: Army Medal of Honor citation;
The roster of the 1st NY Veteran Cavalry from Sean Coykendall;
The History of West Virginia, Old and New,Chicago and New York: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1923, Volume II, Page 246 - transcribed online at RootsWeb by Joan Wyatt; and
The Link, The Carter Oil Company, September-October, 1956 - also thanks to Sean Coykendall.

His papers, Diaries of a Titusville, PA oilman's travels, 1876-1916. 45 volumes, are in the West Virginia State Archives (listing), Charleston, WV .

6/16/1842; Westport, IRELAND

1/3/1917; burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Titusville, PA