AF has birth about 1792. He is number 3298 in the Carpenter Memorial.
See page 372. He has extensive notes. His family is on page 567 (#924). 8kidsChester Carpenter, soon after he came of age, came to Derby, VT, and
bargained for a lot of unimproved land; this was in the summer of 1807.
He felled 10 acres of trees that season and cut them up suitable for piling.
The winter following he taught school in Brownington, an adjacent town.
The following spring he returned to Derby and cleared the land sowing it to
wheat. The following summer he built a barn and finished it in season to store
his wheat crop, this wheat paid for his land. He taught school during the next
winter in Derby (in the so called Moses Blake District) and again the next
winter, it being the winter of 1809-1810.
In the summer of 1811 he built a house and was married Nov. 11, 1811 and
commenced housekeeping.In the fall of 1812, he volunteered to defend the northern frontier when
called for. He was then a sergeant in the militia at Derby; he was the first
man to step out of the ranks and volunteer. The call was for six months and
the troops were to render service whenever and wherever needed. Two companies
were ordered to Derby. He was a member of Captain Mason's company and was
chosen orderly sergeant. After serving his term of enlistment, he returned to
his farm.In December of 1815, he purchased the old farm at Derby Center, and opened a
tavern, and in course sold liquor. In 1819, he tore down the old house and
built a house now occupied (in 1898) by William H. Hinman, kept it until 1839,
when he rented it, and built the house now owned (in 1898) by Mr. Spear.About 1825, he made profession of religion and became a member of the Baptist
church. In 1836 he was largely instrumental in building the Bapptist meeting
house and parsonage, contributing his own means of not less than $1,000.00.
See the rest of the notes on page 373.He was a townsman, justice of the peace, Colonel in the regiment, and a member
of the Masonic fraternity.MISC: Did he move to Hamilton county, IL?
http://freepages.religions.rootsweb.com/~jgholson/minutes.htm
... below is a part of a Baptist church minutes ...
MUDDY RIVER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
Began and held at Ten Mile Church meeting House, Hamilton County,
Illinois, Saturday before
the Third Lord's Day in September, 1823, and days following.
Agreeable to appointment, Elder Herrin delivered the introductory sermon
from Jeremiah 8th ch.
and 22nd verse, "Is there no balm in Gilead" &.
The Association then convened, and being opened by prayer by Elder
Carpenter, proceeded to
business.
1st. Chose Elder Chester Carpenter Moderator, and Theophilus Sweet
Clerk.Resided in Derby, VT Chester Carpenter, soon after he arrived
of age, came to Derby, VT, and bargained for a lot of
unimproved land; this was in the summer of 1807. He felled 10
acres of trees that season, and cut them up suitable for piling.
The winter following, he taught school in Brownington, an
adjacent town. Returning to Derby in the following spring he
cleared the land on which he had felled trees the summer before
and sowed it to wheat. The following summer he built a barn,
and finished it in season to store his wheat crop; this wheat
paid for his land. The next winter he taught school in Derby,
in the so-called Moses Blake district, and again the next winter
being the winter of 1809-10. The summer following that year, he
built a house, and was married Nov. 11, 1811, and commenced
housekeeping. In December of 1815 he purchased the old farm at
Derby Center, and opened a tavern, and of course sold liquor. In
1819, he tore the old house down, and built the one now occupied
by William H. Hinman, kept it until 1839, when he rented it, and
built the house now owned by Mr. Spear. About 1825 he made
profession of religion and became a member of the Baptist
church. In 1836 he was largely instrumental in building the
Baptist meeting house and parsonage, contributing of his own
means not less than $1,000. In 1840 he secured the location of
the academy at Derby, furnished means and superintended the
building of the academy and boarding-house, at an expense to
himself of not less than $3,000. He also gave the land for a
cemetery in the rear of the Baptist meeting house. To encourage
the building up of the village, he sold his land suitable for
building lots for less than its actual worth for farming
purposes. Every enterprise calculated to improve and develop
the interest of the county received his best personal efforts,
and procured aid so far as his means would allow. As a citizen
and townsman, whatever was for the general interest, he
considered was his own interest. He was a tavern-keeper from
1815 to 1840; he kept and sold liquors in small quantities to
his patrons, the traveling public.His bar-room was not the lounging-place for town topers and
village loafers; if any person called for a drink, and
exhibited signs of drunkenness, or had recently drank at his
bar, a quiet but prompt refusal decided the matter. Implements
for gambling never on any occasion were allowed a place in his
house. His house was for the purpose contemplated by law-a home
for the traveller. He was amongst the earliest advocates of
temperance, and the first tavern-keeper in this part of the
country to throw alcohol in all its forms out of his bar. He
paid nearly one half of the expense of building the academy at
Derby. He was elected and served on the executive committee for
many years. As a townsman he was always ready to do what he
could to advance the moral, religious and educational interests
of the town, and was for many years called upon by his fellows
to serve them in various offices in their gift. He was justice
of the peace for about 30 years. He was a member of the Masonic
fraternity for many years.2 SOUR S203
3 TEXT pg 373
1 MILI In the fall of 1812, in the time of our last war with England,
he volunteered to defend our northern frontier when called for.
He was then a sergeant in the militia at Derby; he was the
first man to step out of the ranks and volunteer. The call was
for six months, and the troops were to render service whenever
and wherever needed. Two companies were ordered to Derby. He
was a member of Captain Mason's company, and was chosen as
orderly sergeant. After having served his term of enlistment,
he returned to his farm.
1 MILI
1 MILI
2 SOUR S203
3 TEXT pg 372
AF has birth about 1796, but this is incorrect. See page 372 of the Carpenter
Memorial. She was the daughter of Nathaniel Kendall of Windsor, VT.Of Windsor, VT
He has resided in Hatly, Can. and since in Kinney, ,IL
Resided in Randolph, Vt.1 MILI We find a George Carpenter of Randolph a pensioner of the war of
1812; probably it is this George who served as major in the
militia.
1 MILI
1 MILI
2 SOUR S203
3 TEXT pg 373
Arminda was living in 1895 at Randolph, with her son-in-law Hon.
Nelson L. Boyden.
1 MILI Elias served in the war of 1812; he was appointed orderly
sergeant when the company was made up. He volunteered at the
battle of Platsburg, in 1812, and went to Burlington, VT, and
could not cross the water. He was captain of a company of
cavalry.
1 MILI
1 MILI
2 SOUR S203
3 TEXT pg 373
A widow.
Resided in Barre, VT
1 MILI He served in the war of 1812 as captain; he was acting as a major when he died.
BIRTH: 29 OCT 1785 Randolph, Orange, Vermont in another area of the IGI.Burried: 2ND Row Randolph Center Cemetery By Vtc
Two different statements given for Danford's death. Resided in
Danville, Williamstown, VT, and Grand Rapids, Mich.2 SOUR S203
3 TEXT pg 373JLC provides the following notes.
Notes for DANFORD M. CARPENTER:
Danford M. Carpenter (1801-1889)
Sometime after 1860 and before 1865, Danford M. Carpenter, son Norman Danford & daughter Florence all moved to Kent Co., MI - Grand Rapids. DM Carpenter & son Norman D. Carpenter owned "Carpenter, Judd & Co." located @ "13 Canal St." (see 1865 City Directory -name misspelled as "Danforth"). This business mined & sold lime (for plaster work) & hardware. By 1870, Norman D. Carpenter built a substantial house at the NW corner of Fountain & Prospect -1870 US census & 1870 city directory "57 Fountain" - today's "333 Fountain St."(see google street view). Sometime after the death of DM Carpenter, Norman D. Carpenter sold out that successful business & moved to Detroit, MI (see 1900 US census for Norman D. & Ellen Carpenter). Wife of Norman, "Ellen" died & in 1914 he married w#2 Mary L. Pond (b. Turin, NY 1862) @ Barnesville, Belmont Co., Ohio 27 Jan 1914. They next moved to Los Angelos, CA - he died prior to 1930 - find widowed "Mary P. Carpenter" in 1930 US census? Daughter of DM, Florence Carpenter never married- kept books for her father/brother's co. until sold. I am tracing the history of "333 Fountain St., Grand Rapids, Kent Co., MI" but am not a descendant. Hope you find this info helpful for your Carpenter family tree? .
11461. William Mattox Carpenter
Resided in NY City.
He went to China as a missionary and came back to ,OH where he
died.
11464. Florence Adelaide Carpenter
Resided in Grand Rapids, MI
JLC added the following notes:
Notes for FLORENCE CARPENTER:
Daughter of DM, Florence Carpenter never married- kept books for her father/brother's co. until sold
He went west and has not been heard from since.
Resided in Sioux Falls, Dakota
Extracts taken from the Memorial Sketch of Philo Carpenter, by
Rev. Henry L. Hammon:Philo lived on the farm with his father till he was of age. He
received little money from his parents, but did receive those
greater gifts, good blood, a good constitution, a good
common-school education-supplemented by a few terms at the
academy at South Adams-and habits of morality, industry, and
economy. He made two trips as a commercial traveler as far
south as Richmond, Va. But having had his thoughts turned
toward medical studies during his stay at South Adams, he went
to Troy, N.Y., and entered the drug.store of Amatus Robbins,
where, in connection with a clerkship, he continued his studies,
and at length gained a half-interest in the business. He was
married there in May, 1830, to Sarah Forbes Bridges, but she
died the following November.It was at Troy that young Carpenter experienced that great
change which gives permanence to all the natural virtues and
fixes the character on the bed-rock of Christian principle. In
March, 1830, he joined the First Presbyterian church then under
the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. Nathan S. S. Beman.The return of a cousin, Isaac Carpenter, who had explored the
west, on an Indian pony, from Detroit to St. Louis, and his
report of the land to be possessed, and especially of the
favorable opening at Fort Dearborn, was the immediate occasion
of young Carpenter's decision to come hither. He closed out his
business early in the summer of 1832, shipped a stock of drugs
and medicines to Fort Dearborn, took the short railroad then
built to Schenectady, thence took passage on a line boat on the
Erie canal to Buffalo, thence on the small steamer Enterprise,
Capt. Augustus Walker, to Detroit, thence by mud wagon, called a
stage, to Niles, MI, thence on a lighter belonging to Hiram
Wheeler, afterward a well-known merchant of Chicago, to St.
Joseph at the mouth of the river, in company with George W.
Snow; thence they had expected to sail in a schooner to Fort
Dearborn, but on account of the report of cholera among the
troops there, a captain, one Carver, refused to sail, and had
tied up his vessel. They however engaged two Indians to tow
them around the head of the lake in a canoe, with an elm bark
tow-rope. At Calumet, one of the Indians was attacked with
cholera, but the druggist doctor prescribed for him and they
kept on till, just fifty-six years ago this evening, they were
within sight of the fort, at about the present location of the
Douglas monument, when the Indians refused to proceed. But
Samuel Ellis, who had come from Berkshire , ,MA., lived
there. They spent the night with him and he brought them the
next morning in an ox-wagon to the fort, on the 18th of July,
1832.Rev. Mr. Hudreth reports this trip a little differently :-" At
St. Joseph a Frenchman told them of 'very nice way to go;' they
hired the two Indians, left St. Joseph, Monday, July 16, 1832.
First night stayed in a place where a vessel had been beached.
Tuesday night, reached a deserted house at Calumet. Wednesday
morning, pushed along and breakfasted with Samuel Ellis. After
breakfast, Mr. Ellis brought them with their trunks into
Chicago, reaching there about noon, Wednesday, July 18."There was then here, outside the fort, less than two hundred
inhabitants, mostly Indians and half-breeds, who lived in poor
log-houses, built on both sides of the river near its mouth. The
cholera was raging fearfully among the troops, and Mr. Carpenter
engaged at once in ministries for their relief. Detecting life
in one young man, supposed to be dead, he saved him from a
premature burial.REV. H. L. HAMMOND - Dear Sir: Will you permit a
stranger to express her grateful appreciation of the Memorial of
the late Philo Carpenter, recently read by yourself before the
Chicago Historical society. It was a gratification to hear a
tribute so truthful paid to the memory of one who was so truly a
friend of humanity.During the dread summers of 1849 and 1850 it was my privilege to
be a member of his family, and to know how tireless were his
efforts in behalf of the sick and suffering. Fearless of
disease himself, he seemed to lead a charmed life among the
abject poor, with all their wretched surroundings. It was
impossible in many cases to obtain a physician's attendance, and
here Chicago's first druggist did their work as necessity forced
it upon him. His devoted wife, while greatly fearing for her
husband's safety, never sought to restrain him in his work of
mercy, but with her own hands prepared nourishment to be used in
his daily ministrations among the cholera-stricken to whom he
was doctor, nurse, and minister. Said the Rev. Dudley Chase,
the rector of the church of the Atonement: "I never visit the
stranger, the sick, and the poor, but I find that Deacon
Carpenter has been there before me. He ought to be ordained."
It is notstrange that such devotion was unrecorded, for this man in the
quietness of his daily life shunned the breath of praise more
than that of pestilence. * *Yours Respectfully,
CHICAGO, JULY 30, 1888. SOPHIA T. GRISWOLD.
With a Methodist brother and an officer of the fort, he held a
prayer-meeting the first evening after his arrival. Inquiring
if there was any preaching on Sunday, he was told there was
preaching neither Sundays nor weekdays; and he began public
service, July 22, 1832, reading a sermon in the absence of a
minister. This was the beginning of uninterrupted public
worship in Chicago."-REV. HILDRETH.At the end of the first month, viz.: on Aug. 19, a Sunday-school
was regularly organized, of which he was chosen superintendent.
That Sunday-school still lives in the First Presbyterian church
of this city, whose pastor is Rev. Dr. John H. Barrows.When Mr. Carpenter's goods arrived, he opened the first drug
store in a log building on Lake Street near the river, where
there was a great demand for his drugs, especially his quinine.
The anticipated opening of the IL and ,MI canal, a
bill for which, introduced by the late Gurdon S. Hubbard, passed
the Illinois' house of representatives in 1833 - though it did
not become a law till 1835. and the canal was not actually
commenced till Mr. Hubbard removed one of the first shovelfuls
of dirt, July 4, 1836 turned attention to Fort Dearborn,
increased the population rapidly, and Mr. Carpenter's business
prospered. He soon removed to a larger store vacated by
George W. Dole, also a log-house, and enlarged his stock with
other kinds of goods. He bought a lot on South Water Street
between Wells and LaSalle and there built a frame store, the
lumber for which was brought from Indiana on a "prairie
schooner" drawn by ten or twelve oxen.In 1871, he also built a two story frame house on La Salle
Street opposite the court house square, and having been married
again in the spring of 1834, to Miss Ann Thompson of Saratoga,
N.Y., he made there his home. Seven children were the fruit of
that marriage, only two of whom, Mrs. W. W. Cheney and Mrs. Rev.
Edward Hudreth, and the children of a third, Mrs. W. W. Strong,
survive him.In 1842, he removed his business to 143 Lake Street; the next
year he sold out to Dr. John Brinkerhoof; some of the fixtures
are thought to have remained in use till consumed in the great
fire of 1871. After the sale, Mr. Carpenter confined his
business to the care of his real estate, which had then become
considerable, as he had appropriated all his spare funds to its
purchase. He had sublime faith in the future value of Chicago
real estate. He early acquired a quarter- section, ten miles
up the north branch of the river, and another quarter on the
west side, which he afterward subdivided as Carpenter's Addition
to Chicago. It is that part of the west side now bounded by
West Kinzie Street on the north, Halsted on the east, West
Madison on the south, and a line between Ann and Elizabeth on
the west. He went to Washington and secured a patent for this
quarter section signed by Andrew Jackson, which his heirs still
possess.It was probably on that journey to Washington, which occupied
three weeks, that he set out at the same time with an U.S.
officer who traveled on the Sabbath in haste on public business,
but the deacon kept his conscience as well as holy time, and
thou he apparently lost three days, he yet rode into Washington
on the same train with the official.Few shared his sanguine expectations when he preempted this
tract as the foundation of his fortune. "It was so far from the
village." "It would never be wanted except for farm purposes,
and was too low and marshy even for cultivation." "In the
spring of the year it was often under water and could be crossed
only by boat," and "there was little prospect that it could ever
be plowed except by anchors." Rev. Flavel Bascom tells us that
when he first came with his wife to IL and was being
carried by Philo Carpenter in a two-seated buggy across the mud
bottoms of West Chicago toward the interior, at one place Mr.
Carpenter stopped, pointed to a marsh and said: "Here I have
preempted a quarter section of land which I expect will make me
rich some day." The young minister and his wife on the back
seat exchanged significant glances at the visionary
anticipations of the good deacon.About 1840, Mr. Carpenter removed his residence to the west
side, built a fine house as it was then thought, in the middle
of one block of his addition, which is bounded by West. Randolph
Street on the north, Morgan on the east, West Washington on the
south, and Carpenter on the west. There I found him when I came
to Chicago in 1856-one of the earliest acquaintances I made
here thirty-two years ago. I could but admire the place, for he
had tried, to plant in that block every kind of tree and shrub
found in this region, and he showed his good taste by allowing
them all to grow naturally. Not one was trained into any
fantastic shape, or deformed with shears. That was long the most
prominent house on the west side. It has lately been removed
and the entire block offered for sale by the heirs. It is
greatly to be desired that it should be bought by the city for a
park-a little breathing place of convenient access to the people
amid many blocks of buildings. It should be improved after his
plan and called Carpenter Park, as a perpetual memorial of the
good pioneer. And better still, if some tablet could tell that
this was the resting-place of good men and women coming to the
west for its salvation from barbarism, intemperance, and
infidelity, who were refreshed by the generous hospitalities of
Mr. Carpenter and his worthy wife, and sent on their way with a
hearty God speed.And another tablet should tell of it as the hiding-place for the
colored emigrant from the south, whom this officer of the
underground railroad piloted by night to Canada bound vessels,
as they were seeking that liberty which was then denied them
under the stars and stripes. Two hundred fugitives it is said
were thus helped to a land of liberty, and it is not known that
one of them was ever recaptured.There he lived till 1865, when with the hope of benefiting his
wife's health, he removed to Aurora, ,IL, where she died six
months afterward; and for the last twenty years of his life was
alone in his pilgrimage.Only the angels know how much of the usefulness of this good man
was wrought by the prayerful influence of his sainted wife, Ann
Thompson Carpenter. So symmetrical was her character in all
the womanly virtues, so exalted her standard of personal piety,
that one, who had known her intimately for years, hesitates to
tell the simple truth lest the words find no credence. There was
an indescribable charm in the house over which she presided, and
the wanderer and the wayfarer always found a place and a
welcome. In all the trials of life, in the sickness and death
of three children there was the same unmurmuring spirit, the
same loving submission to the will of God. In perfect sympathy
with her husband in every work of reform, she was ever fearful
that his zeal should find some hasty utterance that would wound
the feelings of another. He was a person of strong convictions.
she, of deep sympathies. While she denounced sin, her mantle of
charity was covering the sinner. It is not too much to say, that
in her sweet spirit every Christian grace had special
prominence.He returned to the city to spend the last twelve years, but not
to the historic block. His health was delicate. He was unable
to undertake new business, but lived quietly with his children
till Aug. 7, 1886, when he passed to his eternal home.When Rev. Jeremiah Porter was considering the question of
accepting a call to labor in FortDearborn, he was told, "There is one good man there who has
organized a Sunday-school." He came, found the man and
the school, and began his labors. Mr. Carpenter and a few
others, under the guidance of the young minister, formed the
first church here, the First Presbyterian, of which he was
chosen one of the elders. The date of the organization was June
26, 1833. Dea. Carpenter wrote and circulated the first
temperance pledge and delivered the first temperance address. A
meeting had been arranged, and a lawyer, Col. Richard J.
Hamilton, engaged to deliver the address, but at a late day, the
lawyer declined to speak. Our pioneer hastily prepared himself
and filled the gap.He was one of the first officers of the Chicago Bible society,
founded August 13, 1835. He early interested himself in the
cause of education, earnestly opposing the sale of the school
section in Chicago, and pleaded that only alternate blocks
should be put on the market. Other counsels prevailed, and
all but four blocks of the tract, bounded north by Madison, east
by State, south by 12th, and west by Halsted streets, were sold
for less than $40,000. But few years elapsed before the 138
blocks sold were worth many millions. For ten years he was a
member of the board of education. His connection did not cease
till his removal to Aurora in 1865. On his return from Europe
in 1867, he found one of the palatial school-houses of the west
side, at Centre avenue, corner West Huron street, named in his
honor, the Carpenter School, for which he gave $1000 as an
endowment for text-books for indigent children.The first "one-horse-shay" that made its appearance in Chicago
in 1834, contained Philo Carpenter and his newly-married wife.
The first dray was introduced by him; and the first
platform-scales, which are now in possession of Daniel Warne of
Batavia, ,IL, which can weigh up to 750 pounds; also the first
fire-proof safe.He was one of the original members of the Third Presbyterian
church, formed July 1, 1847, and was one of its elders. He was
one of the first corporate members of the Chicago Eye-and-Ear
Infirmary, and one of the founders of the Chicago Relief and Aid
Society. He was the leader in the formation of the First
Congregational church in May, 1851. And as that event gave him
special prominence in that denomination and in the country, the
circumstances are worth noting. He had long been interested in
the anti-slavery cause. He was a patron of the Alton' Observer,
Elijah Parish Lovejoy's paper; he helped to establish Zebina
Eastman's paper, the Western Citizen, here in Chicago. His
activity in behalf of fugitive slaves has been already
mentioned. He was a delegate to the Cincinnati convention,
held in April, 1850, which resolved: That the friends of pure
Christianity ought to separate themselves from all slave-holding
churches ecclesiastical bodies, and missionary organizations
that are not fully divorced from the sin of slave-holding: and
we who maybe still in connection with such bodies, pledge
ourselves that, we will, by the aid of Divine grace, conform our
action in accordance with this resolution. and come out from
among them, unless such bodies shall speedily separate
themselves from all support of or fellowship with
slave-holding."He was not a man to vote for a resolution in public and forget
all about it in private, and as the general assembly of the
Presbyterian church, which met in Detroit in May of that year,
failed, in Deacon Carpenter's view, to take right action, he
led the church to adopt a minute that they would not be
represented in presbytery, synod, or general assembly till right
action was taken.This minute was, of course, entirely unpresbyterial and
unconstitutional.Minute of the majority of the Third Presbyterian church in
reference to fellowship with slave-holders "1. Resolved, That
this church holds that in the language of the scripture, God
hath made of one blood all nations of the earth. 2. Resolved,
That chattel slavery is blasphemous toward God, inhuman and
cruel to our fellow-men, and that Christians are especially
called on to discountenance it and have no fellowship with those
who participate in its abominations. 3. Resolved, That this
church are dissatisfied with the present position of our general
assembly on the subject of disciplining those guilty of holding
their fellow-men in bondage; that their last acts at Detroit
have been construed to represent black or white as suited the
different sections of the church. 4. Resolved, That this
church, so long as this vacillating policy is pursued, hereby
declare their determination to stand aloof from all meetings of
presbytery, synod, and general assembly, and thus. as they
believe free, and relieve themselves of all responsibility."Nevertheless it was adopted by forty-eight out of sixty-eight
resident members. The presbytery, after giving them a little
time to rescind their vote, were compelled to treat the majority
as seceders, and to recognize the minority as the Third
Church-an act supposed to be ecclesiastically right, although it
involved turning the majority of the church out of the building
they had in great part erected, and to which they thought
themselves justly entitled.There was, however, an addition to the church which the Deacon
had himself built for a session-room, which had not been turned
over to the trustees. He therefore gave notice that Divine
service would be conducted as usual in the session-room.A council was soon called. and the First Congregational church
of Chicago was formed, May 22, 1851. The names of Philo
Carpenter and Ann Carpenter stand first and second on its roll
of members. He was elected deacon, and retained the office
till he removed to Aurora, and after his return was made deacon
emeritus.From records of the First Congregational church, Wednesday
evening, July 19, 1882. At the prayer-meeting this evening,
on motion duly made and seconded, the church by a rising vote
unanimously adopted the following.Whereas, Our brother Philo Carpenter, has just completed fifty
years of residence here, during which time all that is now
called Chicago, has come into existence, and all the history of
the city has been made; and Whereas, In addition to his public
and private life and labors, for which we in common with all our
fellow-citizens do him honor, we desire to make grateful special
mention of his relationship to this church: therefore,Resolved, That we recognize in him the Father of this church,
not only as first member on its records, but the one who above
all others is to be regarded as its founder and its earliest
benefactor and friend.Resolved, That we put on record our appreciation of his
faithfulness to principles of right which led to the formation
of this church, and our most hearty congratulations that his
life has been spared, not only to see the feeble church of
thirty years ago become the strong body it now is, but also to
see the nation adopt the principles he then labored and suffered
for, by the putting away of slavery.Resolved, That this church in appreciation of its regard for
Deacon Carpenter and of his long connection with it, does hereby
elect him Deacon Emeritus for life, and the clerk is hereby
instructed to forward to him a copy of this action duly
attested.(Attest} J. W. SYKES, Clerk.-F.
Of two wooden church edifices erected for their accommodation,
largely at the expense of Deacon Carpenter, one which was
occasionally besmeared and called Carpenter's nigger church,"
was burned to the ground on a Sunday night after Rev. Joseph E.
Roy, who had just come from an eastern seminary, had preached in
it his maiden western sermon. Whether the fire was communicated
by a spark from the young man's discourse, or by an incendiary,
or was purely accidental, does not appear. The other on Green
street, near West Washington, was soon outgrown-Rev. Geo. W. Perkins was then the popular preacher-and a
permanent house of rock-faced stone was put lip on the corner of
West Washington and Green streets. Deacon Carpenter advanced
most of the money, and waited on the society many years for its
repayment without interest.A little later he united with Joseph Johnston, Rev. John C.
Holbrook, and Chas. Goodrich Hammond in starting the first
denominational paper here, the Congregational Herald. In 1835,
he was one of the incorporators of the Chicago Theological
Seminary, and for many years one of its board of directors and
chairman of its executive committee. He afterward engaged with
great zeal in opposing secret, oath-bound societies. In early
life, before he came west, his indignation had been aroused by
the abduction in western NY, of William Morgan, for
publishing a little book revealing the secrets of Free Masonry.
The abducted man was never found or heard of after, and was
supposed to have been murdered. The perpetrators of the crime
escaped justice, and public sentiment held the Masonic
fraternity responsible for their escape. Deacon Carpenter
suggested the establishment of a paper to oppose all such secret
societies, and gave the money for the publication of the first
number of the Christian Cynosure, and provided headquarters for
the movement at a cost of $20,000. He bought for gratuitous
circulation 1000 copies of Finney's book on Masonry, and wrote
and distributed tracts of his own on the subject. Few of his
co-laborers in other reforms partook of his zeal in this, and
the methods of some of the friends of the reform he could not
approve, yet he continued the war undaunted while he lived, and
provided in his will for its continuance after his death.Surely we have here specification enough to show that from first
to last he was a grand pioneer of the best things.2. Philo Carpenter was a wise man. With rare sagacity he
foresaw the future of Chicago, discerning the great city through
the small trading-post; and his confidence never wavered. He
wisely bent his energies to the establishment of the most useful
institutions for the coming city. His sagacious forecast for
this trading-post is proved by its growth in a little more than
half a century from two hundred souls to three quarters of a
million, and his judgment of the first institution needed has
been confirmed by the establishment of nearly three hundred
Sunday-schools in it, and more than four hundred in Cook County;
our citizens have endorsed the church by founding more than four
hundred of them of all kinds. That First Congregational Church
has here some fifty junior sisters. The public-school has been
approved by the creation of nearly one hundred of those temples
of learning, which are the pride of the city and the Meccas of
the children. The need of that temperance pledge is sadly
evinced by our four thousand saloons still foolishly patronized;
his opinion of slavery became the opinion of the nation a
quarter of a century ago.During the war, Deacon Carpenter and one of the elders who
remained in the Third Church were reading together from the
bulletin at the Tribune office, when the elder, giving him his
hand, said "Deacon. you were right and we were wrong." That
Theological Seminary has sent out more than three hundred
graduates, has now more than one hundred regular students, and
nine professors and teachers, some of whom have obtained a
national reputation. Four or five other denominations have
imitated the Congregationalists in their zeal for theological
education in this metropolis of the west. As for secret
societies, though our brother "received not the promise," he yet
"died in the faith," and we may say `the end is not yet." The
Masonic fraternity could not do now what it was accused of doing
in 1826, without being swept from the land by a cyclone of
public opinion. Who shall say that the good man could, on
the whole, have more wisely used his time, his strength. and his
money?3. Deacon Carpenter was an honest man. The financial crash
of 1837 found him an endorser on paper of unfortunate friends.
He made no effort, as is often done, to evade his
responsibilities, but borrowed the money and met the claims.
When it became necessary to pay what he had borrowed, and money
could not be procured, he spread out a full schedule of all his
real estate, and allowed two disinterested men to select from
any part of it what they deemed a fair equivalent for the debt.
It is astonishing to note how much they selected, evincing. as
it did, the immense depreciation of western lots and lands after
1837, viz.; 960 acres in Fayette , IL, four and a
half blocks in Carpenter's Addition, half a block in the School
Section, three lots on Washington street near the Chamber of
Commerce, and a house and lot, his homestead on LaSalle street,
opposite the court-house-property that was soon prized at more
than one million dollars-to pay a claim of $8600! However
excessive he may have thought the award, he faithfully carried
out the agreement. Probably the severest thing he ever said
about the award was: "I should have thought they might have
left me my home!"My neighbor, the late James Ward, well known in connection with
the public-school buildings, told me: "I located in Chicago
against the earnest remonstrances of my father, who thought it a
den of thieves, and could not believe there were any honest men
here. I bought a lot of Philo Carpenter and partly paid for
it. My father, hesitatingly, sent me from the east money to
complete the payment. I took the amount to Mr. Carpenter. He
received and counted it, then took out his pencil and commenced
to figure. I feared I had made some mistake, and asked him If
there was not enough. He replied, `Yes; more than enough, for
there is a premium on eastern money. He computed the sum and
passed it back. I wrote to my father that there was at least
one honest man in Chicago."A Milwaukee lawyer, who did not know him very well, once wrote
him that through a defect in the conveyance he might recover
possession of some property he had sold, which had greatly
appreciated. He came out of his office holding the letter in his
hand, with that look of scorn which meanness always evoked, and
said to his wife: "Hear what a shyster lawyer has written to
me." "Well, you will pay no attention to it, of course?" she
replied. "This," said he, "is my answer: `Sir, I made that sale
in good faith, and in good faith it shall stand."'I do not find that Mr. Carpenter ever engaged in any of the
questionable enterprises and speculations that abound here. He
did not lend his name to the baseless mining, banking,
insurance, and other schemes. He did not dabble in stocks. He
was not in any combinations to corner the market and force up
the prices of the necessaries of life. He did not operate on the
Board of Trade, although, as it seems to some of us, a too
lenient public sentiment tolerates there what is not thought
honest in the common walks of life.He held a large amount of real estate, on which he put his own
price-a higher price often than the estimate of his
fellow-citizens. But this is not strange for one who had his
remarkable faith in the future of Chicago; and who had seen
those values arise from nothing. We think it not all
extravagant to point to him as an "Israelite, indeed, without
guile."4. Philp Carpenter was a benevolent man. Probably no object
of charity, public or private, which he deemed worthy, ever
appealed to him in vain. It is impossible to estimate the
amount of his benefactions. They were a steady and
ever-increasing stream, from the organization of that first
Sunday.school in 1832, to the date of his last will and
testament. No computation is known of the amounts he gave to the
earlier churches with which he was connected, but it it known
that he gave to the First Congregational Church, first and last,
more than $50,000. To the Chicago Theological Seminary, he
had given before his death more than $60,000, and in his will
made it the residuary legatee of his estate, which, it is
expected, will amount to not less than $50,OOO more. To the
American Home Missionary Society, the American Board, and the
American Missionary Association he deeded, several years ago,
each a three-story brick-house on Ann Street, available after
his death. To the National Christian Association he had given
property worth $40,000 or $50,000, and his will added $6000 to
the objects it represented. Relatives and friends had been
freely aided during his life, and were provided for after his
death. One-quarter of all his real estate was given to
benevolent objects in his will. As the gross amount was about
$400,000, this turned $I00,000 into the channels of benevolence.5. Philo Carpenter was a modest man. He was always
unassuming. He never put himself forward. When there were
reproaches to meet and trials to brave, or burdens to carry he
never was found in the rear; but when there were honors to gain
he never crowded to the front. While a member of the board of
education, he declined the presidency, and could be prevailed
upon to accept only the vice-presidency. He never was elected to
a civil office, and never ran for any.In the church, though its founder and wealthiest member, he
never sought to control, never claimed any superiority over the
poorest of his brethren. I can emphatically say that in all my
intercourse with him I was never once made to feel that I was
the poor man and he was the millionaire. Where no principle was
at stake he was deferential to others, polite, courteous - in
short the true Christian gentleman.Smaller matters can illustrate great principles. When Philo
Carpenter and his little band met a presbytery to whom
ecclesiastically they were amenable, and who, backed by all the
authority of the great general assembly of the Presbyterian
Church of the United States of America. declared them
"disqualified to act as members of the Presbyterian church, and
110 longer to be recognized as such," and his friends were
wondering how they should avert or survive the terrible blow,
they must have been astounded when he arose and calmly
announced: "Divine service will be held in session room next
Sunday at the usual hour." It might well have been said at
that moment, "This little band has a great leader." For that
simple notice was stronger than the whole general assembly.7. Yet withal he was a man of peace. Radically as he differed
from men, and earnestly as he sought reforms, he had no personal
quarrels. The entire absence of litigation during his long
life is proof of his pacific disposition. He never sued a man,
and he never was sued but twice in his life. One of them was
about a dog, and the plaintiff was non-suited.Sometimes, indeed, Mr. Carpenter was supposed to be deficient in
business enterprise - especially that he did not improve more of
his property, and provide himself with a greater income. But
listen a moment to his own explanation: "I can't get money
enough ahead, besides paying my taxes and assessments, to erect
many buildings, for as soon as anything comes in, somebody wants
it for a church, for a college, or for a seminary; or some
friend gets into trouble and wants help in meeting a note, or
releasing a farm from mortgage; or there comes some special
appeal for our benevolent societies who are in the straights,
and the money seems imperatively needed elsewhere." In the
later years of his life he made more improvements, but still
left much unimproved property.Philo Carpenter was sometimes called "a man of one idea," but
the record we have rehearsed shows, we think, several ideas - as
many, indeed, as most men have, and all good ones. They
might perhaps all be reduced to the "one idea " - that grand one
of loyalty to the right, loyalty to God and humanity. Oh ! that
we had many more such men with "one idea." He was sometimes
called "an extreme man." If that means that he was in the
front rank of progress, at the head of God's marching columns,
we accept it as true, and no reproach, but a great honor.Without such men how could there be any advance in the church or
the world? Events have proved that he was only ahead of his
generation. Almost every one of his positions, once thought
extreme, have been reached and occupied by his brethren and his
fellow-citizens.But the good man was far from thinking himself perfect, and he
would be the first to frown upon us if we should presume to
represent him as without fault. We will only quote the closing
sentence of the minute adopted by the First Congregational
Church soon after his decease:"Without claiming perfection for our brother, we would rejoice
in the invaluable legacy to this church of his faith and life,
and praise our God that by His grace, No. I on our rolls, went
in and out before a great and wicked city for half a century and
left a record unstained."Deacon Carpenter was a man of commanding presence, in stature
about six feet high; not being corpulent and continuing erect
to the end of his life he seemed even taller. His normal weight
was about one hundred and seventy-five pounds. He had a light
complexion, dark brown hair, a mild blue eye, a countenance
singularly benignant, pure, and inspiring confidence. No one
could see him and not trust him. As he never drank intoxicants,
nor used narcotics, there were no blotches to mar his face,
which grew more serene and heavenly to the last.The afflictions which deprived him of his wife, and reduced his
seven children to two, and brought severe illness upon him,
diminished his strength and made him in his last years somewhat
averse to society. He did not appear much in public, but as long
as enough strength remained he attended public worship and
retained to the last his interest in "the dear old First
Church," as he lovingly called it. An affection which the
church reciprocated, as `ye have said by making him Deacon
Emeritus.The Chicago Congregational Club, the first year of its
existence, 1883, elected him an honorary member, "in
recognition," of his more than fifty years of residence in this
city, of his leadership in its early religious enterprises, of
his faithfulness to the cause of freedom when it costs greatly
to be faithful, and especially in grateful recognition not only
of his being the first member of our First Church, but of his
being the father of Congregatiorialism in this city.THE CHICAGO CONGREGATIONAL CLUB, MARCH 21, 1883.
DEA. PHILO CARPENTER, DEAR SIR
At the meeting of the club last evening, at the suggestion of
the executivecommittee, the following was adopted:
Resolved, That in recognition of his more than fifty years of
residence in this city, of his leadership in its early religious
enterprises, of his faithfulness to the cause of freedom-when it
cast greatly to be faithful, and especially in grateful
recognition not only of his being the first member of our First
Church but of his being the father of Congregationalism in this
city we do hereby elect Dea. Philo Carpenter an honorary member
of this club.J. W. SYKES, Secretary. C. G.
HAMMOND, President.On the fiftieth anniversary of his arrival in Chicago, July 18,
1882, a large number of our citizens called at his residence to
do him honor. His death, August 7, 1886, resulted from a severe
cold taken some time previously, terminating in congestion of
the lungs. His body was embalmed and the funeral was
postponed till August 15, awaiting the arrival from California
of his daughter, Mrs. Rev. Edward Hildreth.In the absence of Rev. Dr. Goodwin, the pastor, funeral was
conducted by Rev. Dr. Franklin W. Fisk of the Chicago
Theological Seminary, assisted by Rev. Drs. Flavel Bascom, and
Joseph E. Roy, and Rev. H. L. Hammond. The deacons of the
church were pall-bearers, with E. W. Blatchford, Carlisle Mason,
Judge William W. Farwell, Dr. John H. Hollister, and Professors
Hugh NI. Scott and James R. Dewey, honorary pall-bearers. A
very large congregation was in attendance, including especially
the old residents of Chicago. The services were short, as a
further memorial service was anticipated after the return of the
pastor. They included, however, the reading of a very cordial
appreciative letter from the First Presbyterian Church, of which
Mr. Carpenter, as already told, was one of the founders and
first elders, and the singing of a touching hymn that had been a
favorite of Mr. Carpenter, of which a manuscript copy was found
in his memorandum book after his death:This is not my place of resting,
Mine's a city yet to cone;
Onward to it I am hasting,
On to my eternal home.
In it all is light and glory,
O'er it shines a nightless day,
Every trace of sin's sad story,
All the curse hath passed away.
There the Lamb our Shepherd leads us
By the stream of life along,
On the freshest pastures feeds us,
Turns our sighing into song.
Soon we pass this desert dreary,
Soon we bid farewell to pain,
Never more are sad or weary,
Never, never, sin again.
The appointed memorial service held by the pastor after his
return, early in September. Text, Prov. V: 7, " The memory
of the just is blessed." His sermon on that occasion was
extensively reported in the papers.The mortal remains of this pioneer, Sunday-school
superintendent, church founder, deacon, abolitionist, reformer,
philanthropist, and Christian brother, sleep in Graceland, but
his spirit, who can doubt, is with the blessed on high."His estate was valued at, personalities $100,000; real estate
from $400,000 to $500,000. The personal estate is to be divided
between his two daughters and the children of a third; the real
estate is to be divided into four equal parts, three of which
are to he given to the heirs, and the fourth, after taking out
some legacies, among which are $500 each to his old friends,
Revs. Jeremiah Porter and Flavel Bascom, D. D., is to he
devoted to religious and educational work as follows: to Oberlin
College, $2000: Ripon College, $2000; Iowa College, $2000 Berea
College, ,KY, $5000: Chicago Theological seminary, $2000; the
library of the Chicago Theological Seminary, $1000; New West
Education Commission, $2000; Chicago Historical Society, $1000;
Chicago City Missionary Society, $2000 American Congregational
Union, $2000; IL Home Missionary Society, $1000; Camp
Nelson Academy, ,KY, $250; Rev. Joseph E. Roy, in trust in
opposition to secret societies, $2000; American Board of Foreign
Missions, $2000; American Missionary Association, $1000;
American Home Missionary Society, $1000; American Christian
Union, $1000; to his daughters to be used in opposition to
secret societies, $4000; Chicago Theological Seminary, to endow
an alcove in Hammond Library, $5000; and the balance to the
Chicago Theological Seminary."The daughters, Mrs. William W. Cheney of Chicago, and Mrs. Rev.
Edward Hudreth of Los Angeles, California, now have the pleasure
of personally presenting a bronze bust of their father. The
cast for this bust was taken after his death by Lorado Taft of
this city. From it one of marble, made in Paris, has been
already presented to the Chicago Theological Seminary. This of
bronze was cast by the American Bronze Company of Grand
Crossing, Hyde Park, and is certainly a creditable work of art
that will be recognized at once by all who ever knew Deacon
Carpenter.A few extracts from the Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men
of Chicago, 1875.Mr. Carpenter was always an open, zealous, fearless advocate of
what he believed to be the right his convictions were ever on
the side of liberty; his efforts were in behalf of progress; his
time and money were ever at command to aid in spreading the
truth, or in assisting the oppressed. While in Troy, he made
a profession of religion, and united with the church under care
of Dr. Beaman in that city. Arriving in Chicago he joined with
eight other citizens and twenty-five members of the garrison to
found the first Presbyterian church and society under the charge
of Rev. Jeremiah Porter, and was elected elder of the first
meeting held June 26, 1833. He was among the first to stand out
boldly in defense of the doctrine of universal freedom, and
spent years of valuable time and much money in the anti-slavery
cause when it was the reverse of popular to be know as an
"abolitionist." Many a poor fugitive from the slave driver's
lash met with invaluable assistance from him at a time when it
was scarcely safe to be suspected of meddling with the "peculiar
institution." Indeed his zealous adherence to the cause of the
oppressed was the occasion of sundering his connection with the
church of which he had been one of the earliest and ablest
supporters. We give the sketch of the action of the time as a
valuable leaf in the history of the freedom movement in Chicago.The third Presbyterian church, with which he was then in
fellowship, believing that the position taken by the general
assembly on the subject of human slavery was inconsistent and
retrogressive, began to feel restive under their forced
connection and fellowship with slave holders, some apologizing
for the system, and others defending it. Early in 1851 the
following resolutions were presented at a meeting of the
society, and were adopted by forty-eight out of a resident
membership of sixty-eight:1st. Resolved, That this church hold, that, in the language of
scripture, "God hath made of one blood all nations of the
earth."2d. Resolved, That chattel slavery is blasphemous towards God,
inhuman and cruel to our fellow-men: and that Christians are
especially called upon to discountenance it, and have no
fellowship with those who participate in its abomination.3d. Resolved, That this church is dissatisfied with the present
position of our general assembly on the subject of
disciplining those guilty of holding their fellow men in
bondage; that their last acts at Detroit have been construed to
represent black or white, as suited the different sections of
the church.4th. Resolved, That this church, so long as this vacillating
policy is pursued, hereby declare their determination to stand
aloof from all meetings of Presbytery, Synod and Assembly, and
thus, as they believe, free and relieve themselves of all
responsibility.(This action was complained of to the Presbytery, and that body
placed the following actions upon its records:1st. That those members of this church who voted for said
resolution, did thereby and by subsequently neglecting to
rescind said resolution, disqualify themselves to act as members
of the Presbyterian church, and can no longer be recognized as
such while retaining their present position.2d. That the session consisting of the pastor and those elders
who did not vote for the resolution referred to, immediately
inform those who have thus separated themselves from the church,
that if any of them still wish to walk in fellowship with this
church, under the constitution of the Presbyterian church, that
wish shall be granted.3d. That all who do not express such wish within two weeks, be
regarded as adhering to their previous action, and the session
be directed to strike their names from the roll of the church.)Deprived thus of the religious privileges, the excluded members
cast about for some other church organization, more republican
in its form of government. They chose that adopted by the
Puritan fathers, who in organizing "a state without a king, and
a church without a bishop," left an example which they thought
worthy to be honored, and imitated by their descendants. On May
22, 1851, the first Congregational church of Chicago was formed,
holding its meetings on Washington street, between Halsted and
Union. Mr. Carpenter was one of the principal movers in the
organization. During the years which have since elapsed he has
been permitted to witness its growth to a membership of nearly
one thousand persons, and to the proud position of mother to
twenty-four Congregational churches now in the city and suburbs.
The completeness of the revolution in popular opinion during
that short period of twenty-four years, is shown in the fact
that principles then so unpopular as to call forth the anathemas
of the church, even to the excommunication of those
conscientiously holding them, have now prevailed so mightily, as
to have been successfully vindicated, almost within the first
decade after their enunciation, and recognized as legitimate,
not only by branches of the Christian church, but also by the
governments of the civilized world. Mr. Carpenter was not only
a prominent member of the newly formed church, but a liberal
one.Dating from the erection of the first edifice on Washington
street near Union (constructed largely at his own expense,)
including also the building of the stone structure on the corner
of Green and Washington, 1854, and extending to the completion
of the magnificent church on the corner of Washington and Ann
streets, ever memorable for its occupancy by the city
government, as well as the inauguration there of the relief work
for the sufferers at the time of the great fire of 1871, the
known contributions of Mr. Carpenter to the church and society
during this time aggregated over fifty thousand dollars,
($50,000) not to mention various other donations that would
considerably increase that sum.Among other reforms, which as outgrowths of his religious
principles have found in Mr. Carpenter an earnest advocate, that
of temperance early engaged his attention, and on his arrival
here, he at once began his labors in this behalf, circulating
the first total abstinence pledge in Chicago, he secured the
signatures of several of the most prominent citizens, together
with those of two officers of the garrison, and one Indian
chief, who at least for the time being, put aside his bottle of
firewater. One gentleman, still a resident of Chicago, signed
with the reservation, "wine excepted," but what is rarely the
case, has lived even better than he wrote, being still a firm
friend and advocate of total abstinence. It is worthy of remark
here that as a result of the interest awakened, an arrangement
was made in the fall of 1832 for a public temperance meeting at
the log building of Rev. Jesse Walker, at which Col. R. J.
Hamilton was expected to make the principal address, but at a
late hour declining to do so, rather than allow a failure, Mr.
Carpenter prepared and delivered the first temperance address,
so far as is known, ever delivered in Chicago. For years he was
an active worker in the cause, though in common with many other
earnest temperance men strongly protested against the secret
organizations for this object, believing it better promoted
through open associations.And this suggests the direction of Mr. Carpenter's later efforts
in the cause of reform. Under the conviction that any
organization that must needs enforce concealment of its purposes
and methods by sworn secrecy, must be out of harmony with and
inimical to the open Bible, sound morals or a free Republic.He is now well in years (1875) but young in heart and erect in
form as ever, though his head is silvered with the frosts of
age. He is one of the few men who have no enemies, though his
course has always been independent as well as upright He has
been a hard worker, but has operated quietly, and none of those
who knew him the most intimately ever appreciated the extent of
his exertions till they saw the fruit of his labors.In closing this account of the philanthropist we wish to add the
account of an interesting incident which occurred at the
triennial convention of the alumni a short time before he died.
"Reference having been made by Professor Fisk to the beginning
of that grand `aggregation of good giving' to the seminary in
the $20,OOO given by Deacon Philo Carpenter as a `starter' for
the professorship endowment fund, all eyes began searching the
room to see if the venerable philanthropist was present,
whereupon the demand arose that he be presented to the body.
With a common impulse of reverence all rose to their feet before
the venerable man. And there stood, now leaning like Jacob upon
his staff, the man who started the first Sunday-school, and
helped organize the first church, in Chicago, fifty-one years
ago."2 SOUR S203
3 TEXT pg 376-386
Abel E. Carpenter
He went to Chicago in 1838 and was clerk for his brother Philo
in his drug-store. He resided in a small town 28 miles west of
Chicago, where he lived and brought up his family; he and his
family were members of the Baptist church. His wife, Sarah L.
Warren, was born in Fredonia, Chautauqua , N.Y.; she taught
school in Chicago, both select and district, from March, 1834
until she was married in 1836.2 SOUR S203
3 TEXT pg 386CENSUS: 1880 US Census
Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Abel CARPENTER Self M Male W 66 MA Retired Merchant RI MA
Sally CARPENTER Wife M Female W 66 NY Keeping House MA MA
Ethel WALKER SonL M Male W 35 MI Clerk In Store MA MA
Sarah WALKER Dau M Female W 39 IL At Home MA NY
Angeline CLEMMENS Other Female W 16 IL Servant LUX LUX
Source Information:
Census Place Aurora, Kane, Illinois
Family History Library Film 1254218
NA Film Number T9-0218
Page Number 114A
Sarah Lewis Warren Compact Disc #83 Pin #275332
Father: Daniel Warren Disc #83 Pin #275127
Mother: Nancy Morton Disc #83 Pin #275301
Died in infancy.
Died in infancy.
1 MILI He was in the service of the United States in the Civil War, in
Company B in the 105th regiment of IL volunteers. Civil War VET.
2 SOUR S203
3 TEXT pg 771
Resided in Savoy, ,MA.
5740. Seneca or Lucena Carpenter
NAME: Seneca not Lucena. Per handwritten notes in my copy of the Carpenter Memorial. Also HE married Lydia Bliss in 1827. (JRC 1/2001) Resided in Springwater, N.Y.
IGI: SENECA CARPENTER Sex: M
Spouse: LYDIA BLISS
Marriage: Abt. 1823, Livingston, New York
Source Information: Film Number: 1761007