The active career of Herman C. Carpenter, who is engaged in the hardware business at Ralston, has extended over a period of fifty-one years, which is a most unusual record. He was born in the state of New York on the 31st of November, 1847, and is the youngest son of Cyril and Thursey Carpenter, also natives of the Empire state. The father, who was one of a family of five, all of whom have now passed away, was a carpenter by trade, always taking a prominent and helpful part in the public life of the communities where he resided, being identified with many official positions. He went west in 1856, locating in La Salle county, Illinois, where he engaged in the carpentry trade at first but later studied and practiced medicine until his demise in 1887, having survived his wife many years. Mrs. Carpenter had three brothers and sisters, all of whom have passed away. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter, as follows: Marilla, deceased; Isaiah; Samantha; Anna; Joseph; Mary, who is deceased; and Herman C., our subject.

The educational advantages afforded Herman C. Carpenter were very limited, his education being confined to the brief and irregular terms of the La Salle county schools which he attended until the age of thirteen years. He has always been a close observer and careful reader, which together with his wide and varied experiences in life has enabled him to become quite a well informed man. At the tender age of thirteen years he began his career by buying a half interest in a threshing outfit in the operation of which he engaged for forty-six years, a distinction not many can boast. In connection with this venture he rented a farm in La Salle county, which he cultivated until 1875, when he moved to Iowa, where he bought two farms of one hundred and twenty acres each. One of these was located on section 19, Scranton township, Greene county, and the other on section 24, Richland township, Carroll county. He disposed of his realty interests in 1892 and moved to Ralston, where he is now engaged in the hardware and implement business.

>Mr. Carpenter and Miss Emma A. Isgrig celebrated Christmas, 1868, by their marriage. Mrs. Carpenter is a daughter of Wilson and Mahala Isgrig, natives of Ohio who came to Illinois and thence to Iowa, locating upon one hundred and sixty acres of land which he had purchased in Glidden township, Carroll county. Mr. and Mrs. Isgrig were the parents of five children, the others beside our subject being: Alice, Emma A., Charles and Lizzie. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter, as follows: Ida M., who married M. Fredericks of Jefferson, Iowa, and has had two children: a boy, Clarence, and a little girl who is deceased; Alice, who became the wife of Noah Kaffer of Glidden and has three children; Charles, who is deceased and left a wife and five children; Mattie, who married William McNeal and has two children; Ollie, who is deceased and was the wife of Harry Harshburger of Greene county, Iowa, by whom she had one son, Guy; Hattie, who is now Mrs. Kelly Bishop of South Dakota and has five children; Lottie, who married Clarence Cooper of Glidden by whom she has one child; Irah, who is deceased; Earl, who is the youngest son and lives at home; Myrtle, who married Earl Shewy of Ralston and has three children; and Bertha, who became the wife of Harry Clarke by whom she has one child.

Although Mr. Carpenter takes an active interest in political affairs he has never affiliated with any party, always having accorded his support to the men and measures he deemed best adapted to sub serve the interests of the people, his first presidential ballot, however, was cast for Lincoln.

He continues to take a helpful interest in the government of the community by his capable discharge of the duties of constable, of which office he has been the incumbent for the past nine years. His years would entitle him to retirement but his alert manner and active participation in the life of the community should put to shame many a younger man whose period of usefulness does not promise to be the length of Mr. Carpenter's.

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