Carpenter, William (1830-1902)

CARPENTER, JOHNSON, LEAMON, STANLEY, BURGE

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 2/6/2019 at 09:47:46

Obituary -

(Audubon County Journal Audubon, Iowa 20 Nov 1902)

William Carpenter was born in Green Castle, Indiana, December 23, 1830, and died at his home in Exira, Iowa, November 14, 1902.

He was one of the earliest pioneers of Audubon county, coming here in 1852 and four years later married Miss Martha Johnson, theirs being the first marriage certificate issued in the county. Their entire married life extending over a period of nearly half a century was spent in this county, except five years during which they resided in Taylor county.

During their residence in the latter place they united with the Baptist church, and after their return there being no organization of that denomination here, Mr. Carpenter never identified himself with any of the churches represented in Exira but ever cherished a kindly feeling for all of them.

He was a man honorable and upright in all his dealings with his fellowmen. Quite and reserved his acquaintances were few but his friendships lasting. For several years he had been in failing health but not until a few days previous to his death was he confined to his bed. Although loved ones assisted by neighbors and the Knights of Pythias, of which he was an honored member, could alleviate his sufferings, they could not stay the hand of death, and on Friday noon his spirit was released from its frail tenement of clay to be with God.

His wife and one daughter, Mrs. B.R. Leamon, of this city are left to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father, two sisters, Mrs. Stanley of Decatur, Iowa, and Mrs. Burge of Anita, Iowa, and six brothers, Mr. David Carpenter of Spokane, Washington, Mr. Elijah Carpenter of Gazelle, California, Frank, John, Henry, and Reuben Carpenter, of Brownell, Kansas, are also living.

The funeral services were held at the Congregational church Sunday morning, Nov. 16, conducted by the pastor, W.W. Hartsough, assisted by Rev. H.I. Wissler. The Knights of Pythias took charge of the remains after the services at the church and conducted a beautiful and impressive burial service at the grave. Interment in Exira cemetery.

(Find A Grave Memorial ID 78644667: Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.)