He was twice elected mayor of the Ludington, Michigan, and was a banker, and a lumber tycoon.

[2] He then enrolled at Indiana's University of Notre Dame in 1884 at the age of 18 and graduated in 1887 with a civil engineering degree.

[6][7][8] Cartier and his wife were Catholic and attended St. Simon Church of Ludington.

[1] Cartier also held the following positions: Cartier was connected with or a member of the Knights of Columbus, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE), Knights of the Maccabees, Royal Arcanum, and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association (he was president of the state association of Michigan for nine years; also a member of the board of trustees).

[13] Cartier died suddenly of a heart attack at age 68 in Chicago on November 7, 1934, while receiving medical attention for a kidney problem.