From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 643.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 643.

Extracted from Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, first published in 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, Illinois and submitted by Susie Martin-Rott.

Henry M. Carpenter was but eight years old when he was deprived of a mother's care and love. He was early initiated into the intricacies of the banking business, for even as a boy he found employment in the bank. At the age of eighteen he was made assistant cashier, and then two years later, having given evidence of his ability and trustworthiness, he was made cashier. In the thirty-two years during which he has been the incumbent in that responsible position he has distinguished himself by his accuracy, his devotion to duty, and the general efficiency with which he has administered his duties, so that the directors of the bank have had no reason to regret their reposal of trust in him and the people, who have come into almost daily contact with him for so many years, have found him always courteous in his attention to their wants.

In 1883 Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage to Miss Mary F. Farwell, a daughter of Major Farwell. Two children have been born to the couple, Millington F. and Halstead M., both of whom live at home. Politically Mr. Carpenter was a democrat until 1896, nearly always casting his ballot for its candidates. Since 1896 he has been independent in his politics, voting for the candidate of both parties from time to time. Fraternally he enjoys pleasant relations with the Knights of Pythias, being a charter member of Monticello Lodge, No. 87, but has no other lodge affiliations.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 321.

A native son of Rome township, L. M. Carpenter was born March 13, 1856, his parents being D. R. and Christiana Carpenter. Both were natives of the state of Ohio, but came to Jones county, Iowa, in 1854, where Mr. Carpenter entered land. A few years later, however, he embarked in mercantile business in Olin, where he conducted a profitable general store until 1882, when he retired. He also identified himself with the interests of his fellow citizens, taking a prominent part in public affairs, and was a stanch advocate of the principles of the republican party. A long life of usefulness was granted to him and before he died he enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing his son following in his footsteps along the road of progress in the world's affairs, for he lived until 1901, being seventy-six years of age when his course was run. His wife, on the other hand, had died in 1862. Both were laid to rest in the cemetery at Olin. Four children had been born to them, namely: A. E., who is now in Ottawa, Kansas; Sarah, deceased; L. M., the subject of this sketch; and Lillie, who is also deceased.

L. M. Carpenter literally grew up in the mercantile business, for he always assisted his father from his childhood's days. He attended the public schools of his locality, whence, he derived a fair training in the rudimentary branches of education. At the age of sixteen he was entrusted by his father to go to Chicago to buy all the stock, and at one time, during that early period, purchased ten thousand dollars' worth of goods, a large amount for so young a boy. At the age of twenty, his father took him into partnership in his operations. The success which had marked the senior man's undertakings but increased during the years when father and son shared the toils and returns of the business, yet in 1887 Mr. Carpenter deemed it the best thing to sell his interests to Lamb Brothers of the firm of Lamb, Carpenter & Lamb, of which he was a member. Thereupon he engaged in the hardware and grain business, in which he continued until 1895, when he sold out to G. W. Huber. He has since been living retired. Like his father Mr. Carpenter has been very successful in all of his undertakings and has secured a handsome income, from which he is now deriving the benefit. In addition to the residence he occupies in Olin, which is one of the finest of the town, he owns several business buildings and has three hundred and sixty-six acres of land in Fairview township, and the fact that he is the vice president of the First National Bank at Olin is another indication of his financial stability.

At the age of twenty Mr. Carpenter wedded Miss Nevada Lamb, also a native of Rome township, where her birth occurred in May, 1858. She is a daughter of Jacob and Mary J. (Easterly) Lamb, who were born in Ohio, where they were reared and married, but came to Iowa in the early '50s. Jacob Lamb did not long survive the change of home, for he died in 1863, but his wife lived until 1904, when she passed away, at the age of seventy-one years. Eight children were born to the couple. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have had two daughters: one who died in infancy; and Lillie May, who was born in 1878 and died in 1895. She had profited by many educational advantages and was a young woman of high culture, while an attractive and gracious personality endeared her to a host of friends and acquaintances in Olin. When death called her she was laid to rest in the cemetery at Olin.

Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Carpenter is trustee, and both are otherwise identified with its work. Politically Mr. Carpenter is a stanch republican and is deeply interested in public matters playing no insignificant part in the local councils of his party and in local affairs. Fraternally he affiliates with the Masons, as a member of lodge No. 200, and with the Modern Woodmen.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 588.