He is listed as born 15 Oct 1897 in SSN and Nautralization records, and 1899 in the Florida death index.
His WWI draft registration says he was born in Minsk, and his naturalization declaration in 1919 says Falexava, Russia.
His daughter Evelyn recounts that he was well off financially and a “Ladies Man” in the old country.
His emigration record shows him as Leib Kortuzinsky, age 17 and a (patten) cutter leaving Hamburg 11 Dec 1913 aboard the Amerika bound for New York. He was listed as male, Russian and single, from Felksowo.
His marriage license to Rose Levine was issued on 18 Sep 1917 in Manhattan.
His naturalization declaration on 30 Sep 1919 as Louis Karter said he was born 15 Oct 1897 in Falexava, Russia and immigrated on 25 Dec 1913, and is married to Rose.
He is listed in 1920 as Louis Karter (22, RUS), immigrated in 1913, and naturalized in 1919. With him is his wife Rosie (20, RUS), son Wiliam 1 1/2, and a boarder Isador Levine (31, RUS) who immigrated in 1911.
In 1925 Louis Carter (27, RUS) was an alien, in the US for 11 yrs, and living in the Bronx with wife Rose (25, RUS) also an alien and here 10 yrs; with children William (6), Alice (3) and Evelyn (5 mos).
By 1930 Louis (33, RUS) was widowed and living with a boarder, working as proprietor of a Ladies dress shop, and first married at age 21. His 3 children having been placed in a childrens home follwing his wife’s death.
He was married a second time to Emma, which ended in a quick divorce in less than a year.
Then in 1940, he is listed in the Bronx, working as a manager for dresses (41, RUS), an alien, with (3rd) wife Vivian Pitruzzello (26, NY) son William (21, NY) and daughers Alice (18, NY) and Evelyn (15, NY).
He got his US citizenship on 23 Dec 1946, and was living at 340 Moshulu Pkwy, Bronx at the time.
Listed in Kingston, PA in 1950 as proprietor (50, RUS) of his dress factory. With his wife Vivian (35, NY) and daughters Valerie (8, NY) and Karen (3, NY).
Louis had a clothing factory in Emmaus, PA in the middle 1950’s. The story goes that because of high costs and union labor, he moved the factory from New York. At the time, Emmaus (close to Allentown) had several clothing factories. His son William ran the place.
The family moved to Wilkes Barre to live there, but did not move the factory.
[Obituary] The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre PA - Tuesday, 17 October 1989, pg 9
Louis Carter
Louis Carter, 90, of 14415 North Kendall Drive. Kendall, Fla. died late Sunday night, Oct. 15, 1989, In the Baptist Hospital, Kendall, where he had been a patient for the past week. Born in Russia, he came to the United States as a youth. He moved to the Wyoming Valley area 55 years ago and pioneered the dress manufacturing business in the area. He was the founder and operator of numerous factories, and at the peak of his business, employed 5,000 people. Some of his operations Included Carter Dress, Val Kare Dress, Slocum Dress. Vivian Sportswear, Val Sportswear, Duryea Sportswear and Avoca Sportswear, among others. He was the president and founder of the American Independent Dress Manufacturers Association. For a number of years, he was the Dress Manufacturing Association chairman for the Community Chest, which Is now the United Way. Surviving are his wife, the former Vivian Pltruzello, at home: children; William, Mrs. Alice Zemler and Mrs. Evelyn Cooper, all of Kingston; Mrs. Valerie Letbowltz, Rldgewood, N.J.: Mrs. Karen Dreyfuss, Kendall Lakes, Fla.: nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren: sisters, Mrs. Mae Horowitz, Los Angelas; Mrs. Anna Israel Owltz, Texas. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. from the Rosenberg Funeral Chapel. 348 S. River St.. Wilkes-Barre. Interment will be In Temple Israel Cemetery, Swoyersvllle. Rabbi James Michaels and Cantor Ahron Abraham will officiate. Friends may call at the home of his son and daughter-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. William Carter, 745 Nandy Dr.. Green Acres, Kingston, through Friday. The formal Shiva period will be observed in the family home, 14415 N. Kendall Dr., Kendall, beginning Sunday night.