My Genealogy Hound

HON. GEORGE D. CARPENTER. The late George D. Carpenter whose active and honorable business career of many years was closed suddenly in death, July 20, 1885, was born in Chenango County, New York, July 6, 1838. He received his early education at Binghampton Academy, came to LaSalle County, Illinois, in early manhood and devoted himself to teaching school until the outbreak of the Rebellion. He enlisted in the Seventy-second Illinois Volunteer infantry and was afterward commissioned captain of Company C, Sixty-sixth United States Colored troops and, without shrinking from duty, partook of the dangers, privations and hardships of the Yazoo Expedition, participating in the engagements at Ft. Pemperton, Grand Gulf, Champion Hill, Big Black, and the siege of Vicksburg. He was in command of the first Black River Arkansas Expedition, and after the war was ended he commanded the military posts at Biloxi and Pass Christian, Mississippi, until mustered out of service in the spring of 1866.

Mr. Carpenter’s identity with Woodson County dates from 1870 when he located in Liberty township. By dint of untiring energy and good management he developed into one of the leading stock farmers in the county. Four years after his advent to the county, as a recognition of his splendid business qualities and manly worth he was chosen by the voters of his county to be clerk of the court, which office he filled six years. Upon the expiration of his term of office he returned to his country home and herds.

When the First National Bank of Yates Center was organized he was elected its president, which position again called him from the farm to a residence in the county seat. In his connection with the bank Mr. Carpenter exhibited rare business traits and the stability and integrity of the institution was due in a great measure to his personal worth and credit. In his death the institution suffered a serious loss.

In April, 1869, Mr. Carpenter married Miss Laura Scovel. Their four daughters are Dora E. Bigelow, Mabel L. Wamsley, Edna A. and Jessie C. Carpenter.

George D. Carpenter was a man warm, tender and devoted to his friends, broad in his views and possessed of the most generous impulses. He was a representative Mason, was a Sir Knight, an Odd Fellow and a Workman. Never in the history of the county was a larger concourse of its citizens assembled as a convention of sorrow and never in the history of any community did a citizen deserve more the attention paid him when dead than he upon whose casket friends showered tears and flowers upon this sad occasion.