CARPENTER-Daniel - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Daniel CARPENTER, a successful farmer and prominent manufacturer of tile and also one of the leading and progressive citizens of Richland Township, Fountain Co was born almost within a stone's throw of his present home some 62 years ago. His parents, Benjamin and Sophia (Strader) Carpenter, were both natives of Ohio but they emigrated to Indiana at the very early date of 1828. This state had been admitted to the Union nearly 12 years before and since 1815 the savages had ceased to molest or seriously trouble the settlers; but scattering bands of Indians yet remained with in the borders of Indiana and civilization had only just begun to conquer the wilderness. The result pioneers were not easily discouraged and work had no terrors for them, but both the newly wedded husband and wife came of sturdy ancestors. The maternal grandparents of our subject Henry and Mary M. Whitsel Strader were probably North Carolinians but they were direct descendants of German forefathers. The paternal grandparents, Abel Carpenter and his worthy wife, were natives of VA and were reared to habits of energetic industry. They removed to Ohio at an early date in the history of the Buckeye state and their son Benjamin was only following the example of his honored parents when he too sought a new home in the Western wilds and with his young wife, Sophia, located upon 160 acres of Government land situated in what is now VanBuren Twp. Unbroken prairie surrounded their farm, upon which not even a sod had been turned when they removed there. Humble was their log house and rude were their few articles of furniture but hope brightened their present with visions of future success in life, and no parents more warmly welcomed their first-born than did the father and mother of Daniel Carpenter whose birth took place 1830. Our subject grew and throve apace, and other sons and one daughter made sunshine in the homestead. Five children there grew to mature years and of these the second son Sampson now a resident of Richland Twp; Jacob, third in order yet remains in his native twp, Van Buren; Benjamin, the 4th child is well known in Richland Twp his home and Mary J, the only daughter married Lloyd Ray and died leaving several children. Our subject was educated in the subscription schools 45 days in a year being the average of his attendance and instruction. Self-reliant, energetic and industrious, he attained early manhood and in 1854 married Sarah, daughter of Usual H. Merker (sic - should be Meeker). Daniel Carpenter and his wife have been the parents of six children of whom two son and two daughters matured. The eldest is john F a prominent farmer of Fountain County; Florence is the first daughter; H. Edward is a successful agriculturist of Richland Township; M. Della married John Reisterer and died leave 2 children; and two little ones died in infancy. The beloved mother of these sons and daughters passed away 1868. After a time the father married again. The second wife was Miss Elizabeth Death, a daughter of John C. Death. Five children were born, all yet living. The bright promising sons and daughters are: Monroe; Mary; Daniel; Edith and Blanche all well known and highly esteemed in the social circles of their home. The members of the family all belong to the Christian Church and are among the active and efficient religious and benevolent workers of the congregation. Our subject and his wife have prospered and now own about a section of valuable land. In 1876 Mr. Carpenter engaged in a profitable enterprise, as in the year he erected a factory upon his farm and began the manufacture of tile. In connection with this industry he owns and operated a sawmill. Politically, the affiliations of Mr. Carpenter have been with the Republican party since 1856 prior to which time he was a Democrat. He served with ability one term as Supervisor of the county but has no aspirations for political prominence or official position. The daily duties of his farming and manufacturing business keep him full employed and leave him but little leisure time. Our subject however takes an active interest in the general welfare of the nation and the community among which he has passed the years of his useful life and is always among the foremost citizens in the advancement of progress and improvement. Fraternally, he is a Mason and a valued member of the lodge at Hillsborough (sic), and in this society and throughout the county has scores of true and tried citizens.

Daniel CARPENTER, farmer and tile manufacturer, Hillsboro was the eldest child of Benjamin H and Sophia Strader Carpenter. About 1828 or 1829 his parents removed from Butler Co Ohio to Fountain County and settled in Van Buren Twp in which his father is still living. Here Mr. Carpenter was born on March 2, 1830. He has always been engaged in improving and cultivating land. On Jan 1, 1854, he was married to Sarah Angeline Meeker by whom he had the following children: Emily Jane born March 30, 1855 died infancy; John Franklin April 15, 1856; Jacob Oliver March 12, 1858 died March 27, 1873; Florence Maria Aug 19, 1860; Henry Edward Sept 23, 1862; Martha Adella Aug 9, 1864. His wife dying in March 1868 he married again April 4, 1869 Miss Elizabeth DEATH daughter of John C. Death, an early settler in Van Buren Twp. She was born June 14, 1837. They have 4 children: Monroe, born Jan 12, 1870; Mary Ellen Dec 16, 1871; Daniel Wesley, April 11, 1873 and Rosanna Edith Nov 29, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter own altogether 575 acres of choice land. The last four years he has been manufacturing drain tile, the annual product of which has amounted to $3,000. Mr. Carpenter was a democrat until 1856, when he joined the republicans and voted for Col. Fremont. His great grandfather Strader was a soldier of the Revolution.