Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

D. H. Carpenter owns and operates a well improved farm on section 15, Nokomis township, where he has made his home since 1883.  He was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1851, one of a family of eight children, born of the marriage of James H. and Anne (Scroggy) Carpenter.  The father was likewise a native of the Keystone state but was reared in Salem, Ohio, where he was married, and later moved to Pittsburg.  He was a wood turner and mechanic by trade but spent his last years on a farm in Blackhawk county, Iowa, whence he removed in 1865 from Dubuque county, having removed to the latter place from Pittsburg in 1854.  He died in Blackhawk county in 1895, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years.  Mrs. Carpenter, who was born in New Jersey, was reared in the Buckeye state.  She too passed away in Blackhawk county, this state, in 19l7, having attained the extreme old age of ninety-one years.

D. H. Carpenter was a little lad of three years when he was brought by his parents to Iowa, the family home being established first in Dubuque county, and was a youth of fourteen when the family took up their abode in Blackhawk county, this slate.  He acquired his early education in the common schools and later pursued a course in Cornell College at Mount Vernon. Iowa.  Subsequently he taught school for two years and remained at home until the time of his marriage, which occurred October 23, 1872, the lady of his choice being Miss Anne Lee, a native of Cedar county Iowa, and a daughter of William Lee.

Following his marriage Mr. Carpenter rented land in Blackhawk county, which he farmed for ten years.  He then came to Buena Vista county and purchased eighty acres of raw prairie, which he developed into a fine farm.  He erected a house, which he has since remodeled, has built a large barn and other outbuildings, has set out fruit and shade trees and made many other improvements.  As time passed and he prospered in his undertakings he added to his original purchase an additional eighty acres, so that his farm now embraces one hundred and sixty acres.  He is engaged in general farming and also keeps a number of cows for dairy purposes.  He is a stockholder in the creamery and the Farmers Elevator at Alta.

Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have become the parents of six children, two of whom died, one dying in infancy, while James died at the age of nineteen years. The living are:  Louisa, the wife of A. P. Sprague, of Alta, by whom she has a son and daughter, David and Eugenia; David M., who wedded Adena Swanson, of Chicago, by whom he has a daughter. Naomi, and who follows farming in Elk township; Frank I., who assists in the operation of the home farm; and Mary Marguerite, who is in school.

Mr. Carpenter is an independent republican but while he is interested in political progress he has never been active as an office seeker.  His religious views are indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Alta, of which he is an official and at various times he has served as superintendent of the Sunday school.  His fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Alta, and he has served through all the chairs in the lodge, has been district deputy.  Both he and his wife are members of the Rebekah lodge, in which Mrs. Carpenter has filled all of the chairs and has been a delegate to the grand lodge.  They are highly esteemed in both social and fraternal relations and are classed with the worthy residents of Nokomis township, the hospitality of their pleasant home being freely accorded to their numerous friends and acquaintances.