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         MILTON CARPENTER, a farmer residing on section 1, Oakland Township, is one of the settlers of Louisa County of 1851. He was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., Aug. 17, 1826, and is the fifth in a family of ten children, who were born to Cyril and Amanda (Mason) Carpenter, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of Connecticut. The ancestry as far back as can be traced lived in these two States. Accompanied by his family, in 1837, Cyril Carpenter emigrated to Lake County, Ind., where he engaged in farming, and there passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in February, 1847, at the age of fifty years. During the War of 1812 he was drafted as a soldier, but sent a substitute. His wife survived him for seven years, dying in 1854.

Our subject was reared to farm life, receiving his education in the district schools of New York and Indiana, and later engaged in the lumber business near Crown Point, Lake Co., Ind., for several years. Making that his home until 1851, he then resolved to try his fortune in the West, and came to Louisa County, settling on section 1, Oakland Township. The following year he purchased forty acres of raw land, which he immediately began to improve, and from time to time has added to that tract until he now owns about 200 acres, situated in one of the finest farming districts of the State. All the improvements necessary to the model farm of the nineteenth century have been made, a nice residence has been erected, and the farm stocked with the best grade of Short-horn cattle.

In 1859 Mr. Carpenter made an overland trip to California. While en route, on the 20th day of August, the party of which he was a member was attacked by the Indians, and the entire train was burned, four men being wounded, and one, Abel L. Root, the partner of our subject, killed. Immediately joining another train of emigrants, Mr. Carpenter left the scene of the disaster, which occurred 150 miles north of Salt Lake City, and completed the trip. He remained in California until 1860, when he returned to his home by way of the Isthmus of Panama. During the late war he served as Captain of the home guard. His brother Charles, who enlisted in the 19th Iowa Infantry, at Wapello, for three years’ service, was shot at the battle of Chipola, La., in 1862, and died from the effects of his wound.

On the 3d of July, 1848, in Lake County, Ind., Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage with Eleanor Hungerford, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of David and Eunice (Bostwick) Hungerford, who were also natives of that State. Her father was a farmer by occupation, and in 1854 emigrated to Louisa County, Iowa, settling in Oakland Township, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1856. His wife was called to her final home in 1863. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter, three children were born: Adelaide A., now Mrs. Hesser, resides in Clay Center, Kan.; Ida is the wife of Mr. Nicholson, Judge of the Probate Court of Ness County, Kan.; and Effie A., now Mrs. Morgan, also resides at Clay Center. In 1858 Mr. Carpenter was called upon to mourn the death of his wife, who died after an illness of two months. He was again married, in Washington County, Feb. 22, 1862, Mary Farley becoming his wife. She is a native of Ohio, and a daughter of James and Ellen (Taylor) Farley, the father a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of England. In 1854 the parents emigrated to Winnebago County, Ill., where Mr. Farley, who is now nearly ninety years of age, makes his home with his children. His wife died in 1880, at the age of seventy years. By the second union seven children were born, three of whom are living: James Elmer, Charles Oscar and Arthur Alferd, who are at home. Those deceased are an infant, who died in Illinois, in 1865, Bertha, who died at the age of two years, five months and fifteen days, in 1876, and Roy, who died at the age of eleven months, in 1879.

Mr. Carpenter is one of the prominent and progressive farmers of Oakland Township. In 1865 . . .

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. . . he built his present residence, and everything about his place shows him to be a man of thrift and enterprise. He takes great interest in political affairs, casting his ballot with the Democratic party, and has held several offices of public trust. For the past twenty-two years he has held the office of Secretary of the School Board and is now Township Clerk. He assisted in organizing some of the school districts in his township, and has been prominent in the promotion of any enterprise for the public welfare. Since his arrival in the county he has witnessed many of its most important changes, and has ever been regarded as one of its most worthy citizens. Mrs. Carpenter, who is a most estimable lady, is a member of the Christian Church at Columbus City.