Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
Our subject's mother and step-father, Thomas Gillam, came to Michigan in 1852 and bought eighty acres of land in White Oak, where our subject now lives. About thirty acres of this piece of property were improved and upon it were a log house and a barn. Here they made their home until their death. Our subject is one of ten chjildren, seven of whom are now living: Salathiel B. Gillam, born March 6, 1839, and died at the age of thirty years. He served in the Fourth Michigan Cavalry during the latter part of the war, where he contracted a disease which caused his death. His wife was Sarah Ellen Karney, and both are deceased; Rebecca Amanda, born December 10, 1841, was the wife of Reuben French, she now lives in California; Betsey Amelia, born December 22, 1843, the wife of John Pulling of White Oak; Theresa Maria, born April, 1845, the wife of Augustus Jastopher, lives in Unadilla, Michigan; Charles H. Carpenter, our subject; Malon Van Ransaeller, born July 12, 1850, married Lena Austin who is deceased and he still lives in Grand Ledge; Martha Ann Gillam, born March 5, 1852; Thomas J., born February 22, 1854, married to Ella Carter of White Oak; Wallace Adelbert born November 9, 1857, died at age of two years; Edgar Milton, born Sepbember 9, 1859, died November 15, 1904. His wife was Ida M. Burgess.
At the age of nineteen years our subject left hoome and started out for himself in the world. He was educated in the district schools of White Oak, receiving just what advantages were to be had, in the country schools of those days. He drove a team and worked by the month on a farm and also worked in a mill for seven years, and during this time purchased eighty acres of wild land in White Oak.
May 18, 1875, Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage to Miss Victoria, daughter of Daniel and Maria (Bullock) Dutcher, natives of New York. Mrs. Carpenter was born November 3, 1847. The mother was born January 2, 1809 while the father's birth occurred September 1, 1805. The parents were married at Yates, New York, April 13, 1826, and were first settlers of White Oak.
Mr. and Mrs. Dutcher were the prents of eleven children: Elizabeth, born January 15, 1828, died January 15, 1892. She was the wife of Reuben Young of Williamston, and the mother of four children: Benonia, born November 22, 1829, died in infancy; Daniel T., born October 17, 1831, lives near the old homestead in White Oak; Joseph Atwood, born January 3, 1834, died September 6, 1902, married Matilda Townsend; Abagail, born December 19, 1835, the wife of George Wilson, who died in the civil war. Her second husband was Elias Clark; Stephen, born November 8, 1837, died March 23, 1866, married Martha Clickner. Stephen served in the civil war and there contracted diseases which caused his death; Israel, born October 19, 1839, died December 27, 1862, married Cynthia Dix; Mary Maria, born October 3, 1841, married Walter Van Buren, and was the mother of two children. Her second husband was William Z Secord; Patience, born June 2, 1843, married Edgar Van Buren of White Oak; Olive born May 30, 1845, was the wife of Myron Van Buren of Stockbridge; and our subject's wife.
After the marriage of our subject and wife they moved on their eighty acre farm in White Oak, built a frame house and barn, cleared up the land, and otherwise improved the farm and lived there until 1889, when they moved to their present farm of seventy-eight acres, formerly owned by his parents. Here our subject has built a large frame house and barns and otherwise improved the place. To our subject and wife were born four children: Abbie Annie, February 25, 1877, married to William Gauss and they live in White Oak, and are the parents of two children, Leota Naomi, October 4, 1898, and Charles Cecil, August 17, 1902. Lettie Naomi, born August 21, 1879, is the wife of James D. Kitchen of Stockbridge township; Olive Ida, August 31, 1882, the wife of Earle C. Walker, and they have two children: Clifton H., April 8, 1903, and Bernice Mattie, April 23, 1904. Mattie Victoria, born July 23, 1888, at home.
Our subject is very active in the interests of the Republican party and for three terms has served as Justice of the Peace. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter attended the M. P. church and are active in the interests of all work that tend to the upbuilding of the community. Mr. Carpenter is fraternally connected with the I. O. O. F. and a valued member of the order.
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Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
 Sondra Higbee
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