Carpenter, Melrose

CARPENTER, LEWIS, WOOD, NOURSE, MEAD, ROBINSON, TUTTLE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/25/2012 at 12:56:42

History of Poweshiek County Iowa

MELROSE CARPENTER

For a period of fifty-three years the late Melrose Carpenter had been a resident of Poweshiek county, during which period he had won and held the esteem and regard of the majority of those with whom he came in contact. His birth occurred in Essex county, New York, on the 9th of March, 1829, and his parents were Elijah and Abigail (Lewis) Carpenter. The father, who was a farmer, was of English and the mother of German extraction. Both spent their latter days in the Empire state.

After the completion of his education, which was acquired in the common schools of his native state, Melrose Carpenter assisted his father in the work of the farm, continuing to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1854. Deciding that better opportunities were afforded farther west he migrated to Iowa, at that time locating in Le Claire. In 1857 he came to Poweshiek county, buying two hundred and ninety acres of land on section 9, Madison township, in the cultivation of which he engaged until the 14th of October, 1892, when he retired from active duties and removed to Brooklyn. He continued to reside there until his demise on the 12th of December, 1910, at the age of eighty-one years, nine months and three days.

He was married at West Fort, New York, on the 30th of November, 1853, to Miss Achsah Wood, who passed away on the 27th of February, 1880. Of this union there were born three children: Wallace, Henry H. and Charles E. On the 26th of March, 1882 Mr. Wood was married to Mrs. L. Adella Nourse, a daughter of Avery and Julia (Mead) Robinson. The father, who was a broom-maker by trade, was of English extraction. He was born in Portage county, New York, migrating from there to Dixon, Lee county, Illinois, with his parents in his very early youth. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted in company D, Eighth Wisconsin Regiment, and at the expiration of his term of service reenlisted. He was for a time a steward in a hospital in Tennessee. Death came to him during the Red River expedition at the battle of Yellow Bayou, and he was laid to rest in the National cemetery at Nashville, Tennessee, on the 3d of July, 1864. Mrs. Robinson passed away in Iowa in 1907 at the home of her daughter. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter were born two sons: Orville C., an electrician living in Great Falls, Montana, who married Miss Lucille Tuttle of Albia, Iowa; and Homer A., who is cultivating the old homestead.

In politics Mr. Carpenter was a republican, while his church affiliation was with the Baptist denomination of Le Claire. He was a fine type of Christian character, bearing with uncomplaining fortitude and kindly consideration for others the intense pain with which he was afflicted during his last illness. During the long period of his residence in Madison township he had become recognized as a man of upright character and incorruptible integrity, a kind neighbor and loyal friend.