BIOGRAPHY - H. CARPENTER
H. S. Carpenter owns and cultivates an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 8, Brenton township. The place is well improved, is neat and thrifty in appearance and returns good crops to the owner as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. Mr. Carpenter was born in the town of Norway, Herkimer county, New York, October 23, 1844, his parents being William and Anne E. (Randall) Carpenter. The father's birth occurred in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, February 22, 1811, and he traced his ancestry back to one of six brothers who came to this country from England at an early day.
William Carpenter removed to Herkimer county, New York, during the pioneer epoch in its development and there remained until after the birth of all of his children, when in March, 1867, he joined the westward movement and made his way to Illinois, purchasing what became known as the old homestead farm. His first wife died on the 15th of April, 1874, after which he was again married and continued farming for a number of years but spent his last days in honorable retirement in the home of his son, H. S. Carpenter, there passing away on the 21st of January, 1892, at the venerable age of eighty-one years. While in the Empire state he served as supervisor and also as justice of the peace while subsequent to his removal to Illinois he filled the office of magistrate for twelve years. No public trust reposed in him was ever betrayed in the slightest degree. On the contrary, he was ever loyal to the public welfare and his labors were an element in promoting the progress of the community in which he lived. His political allegiance was given to the whig party until its dissolution. In 1860 he cast his ballot for Abraham Lincoln and was afterward a stanch republican until his death. Both he and his wife were interested members of the Methodist church and took an active part in the work of the church, largely promoting its upbuilding and extending its influence through their efforts. Their lives, so upright and honorable on all occasions, cause their memory to be cherished while their example is one worthy of emulation. Their family numbered six children, of whom three are still living: Charles P., who is in California; H. S., of this review; and Harriet F., the wife of Samuel Pope, living in Steele county, North Dakota. Three of the number are now deceased and the family has the unusual record of three sisters marrying three brothers of the Pope family.
H. S. Carpenter remained with his father until he had attained adult age. His education was acquired in the schools of the Empire state and when not busy with his text-books he worked in the fields, becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. On starting out in life on his own account he chose the occupation to which he had been reared as his vocation and for fourteen years rented land from his father, bringing the farm under a high state of cultivation and securing a good income as the result of his diligence. On the expiration of that period he bought the farm where he now lives, comprising eighty acres, to which he afterward added an additional tract of eighty acres, so that he now has a quarter section in Brenton township. He was formerly largely engaged in handling stock, buying, feeding and shipping cattle until recent date. He now carries on general agricultural pursuits and the splendid appearance of his farm is indicative of his practical and progressive ideas concerning modern agricultural methods. He was one of the organizers of the Piper City Fair and Driving Association and formerly served as its secretary. He has also been secretary of the Brenton & Pella Farmers Mutual Insurance Company since it was organized.
On the 16th of December, 1869, in Piper City, Mr. Carpenter was married to Miss Mary A. Carpenter, a daughter of Joseph Carpenter, one of the oldest residents of the village. Her mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-five years and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Carpenter. She is still very active, possessing remarkable health and strength for one of her years. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with five children: Winnefred A., who for several years engaged in teaching music and is now at home with her parents; Dora M., the wife of E. E. Bishop, who is living in Brenton township; Hulda, the wife of R. R. Meents; Georgie V., who is a school teacher and lives at home; and Josephine M., yet with her parents. The children have all been provided with good educational privileges. Mrs. Bishop is a graduate of the Onarga Seminary and for several years was engaged in teaching school and the youngest daughter is likewise a graduate of Onarga Seminary.
The republican party receives from Mr. Carpenter a stalwart support. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and has upheld the party platform since that time. He is now township clerk and has held the office for twenty years, a fact which is indicative of his faithfulness and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen, who feel that they could secure no better incumbent for the office. He has also been school director for twenty-two years. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge at Piper City, having filled all of its chairs and is one of its exemplary representatives. He has likewise been a member of the Odd Fellows society for ten years. He takes an active and helpful interest in all public matters, especially those calculated to prove a benefit to his community and his cooperation can be counted upon to further any movement for the public good. During his entire residence in this county his record has been such as to win for him the esteem and regard of those with whom he has come in contact, while in business circles he has made an enviable record for commercial integrity.
Extracted 19 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 1, pages 434-436.
