Carpenter, Frank, MD

CARPENTER, ROOD, ZWANK, DEBRUYN, EFNOR, LANDMESSER, GARY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/21/2009 at 12:02:02

Carpenter, Frank MD

To achieve an eminent standing in as exacting a calling as the medical profession requires something more than mediocre talents, a fidelity to duty and the happy faculty of winning and retaining the confidence and good will of all classes. These qualifications the gentleman whose life record is briefly outlined in the following paragraphs seems to possess, for he has, unaided, gradually overcome all obstacles until he stands in the front rank of the medical profession of Jasper County, a locality widely known for the high order of its medical talent.

Dr. Lewis Walter Frank Carpenter, of Reasnor, was born in Adams County, Illinois, July 15, 1869, and he is the son of Lewis J. and Sarah E. (Rood) Carpenter, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Illinois. At the close of the Civil War Lewis J. Carpenter began the practice of medicine and surgery in Schuyler County, Illinois, where he remained for ten years, then, in 1878, he came to Jasper County, Iowa, locating at Adamson's Grove, where he resumed his profession and there continued six years, then moved to Galesburg where he remained a few years, then went to Pella, Marion County, where he now resides, doing principally office work. He is seventy-five years old and his wife is sixty-eight.

Dr. Frank Carpenter received a good education in the common schools and he began life for himself when nineteen years old by teaching school, which he followed two years, after which he went to Des Moines where he was conductor on the street railway for three years. He then went to Killduff and engaged in the mercantile business, conducting a general store with much success until 1900. He had long desired to take up the practice of medicine, and in that year he entered Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa, taking the full four years course in the medical department, graduating in 1904, after which he moved to Ira, Jasper County, in July of that year, and began practicing, being successful from the start, and he remained there until April 1, 1906, when he came to Reasnor, where he has since resided, meeting with great success as a general practitioner.

On April 6, 1890, Doctor Carpenter was united in marriage with Anna Zwank, daughter of Jacob and Anna (DeBruyn) Zwank, both natives of Holland, where they grew to maturity, emigrating to America when young and located in Pella, Iowa, where Mrs. Carpenter was born. The father is deceased, but the mother, who has re-married, is living in Newton. Mr. Zwank devoted his life to farming.

To Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter one child has been born, Fred Elton Carpenter, whose birth occurred on June 21, 1892, in this County; he is attending Drake University, studying medicine.

Doctor Carpenter is one of three brothers, all of whom are living: Oscar Orville, born in 1867, is a practicing physician and surgeon in Sully; Doctor Frank is the second in order of birth; Fred Farley is a practicing physician at Pella, Iowa, and he was born in 1871.

Mrs. Dr. Carpenter is one of eight children, five girls and three boys, of whom seven are living, namely: Ira lives near Reasnor; Peter and Harmon are farming in this County; Mrs. George Efnor lives near Reasnor; Bessie married Clarence Landmesser, a farmer living near Killduff; Lillie is the wife of Earl Gary, cashier of the Bank of Lynnville; Ollie died in 1896. Mrs. Carpenter was born September 9, 1871.

Doctor Carpenter is a member of the American Medical Association, and the Iowa State and Jasper County Medical societies. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Galesburg, of the Knights of Pythias of Monroe, and the Improved Order of Red Men of Des Moines; also the Woodmen of the World at Galesburg, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Sully. He stands high in all these orders. Mrs. Carpenter is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star at Galesburg, and she belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Reasnor, also the Ladies' Aid Society of that Church. She has long been active in Church and Sunday school work. Politically, the Doctor is a Democrat. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 938.