Central California Biographies

A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California : illustrated : containing 
a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its discovery to the 
present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of 
some of its eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of 
to-day (1893)

Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Author: Barrows, Henry D; Ingersoll, Luther A

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 


W. L. CARPENTER, of the city of Salinas, one of the pioneers of California, was born in 
Herkimer county. New York, February 22, 1829. His father. Low Carpenter, was a farmer 
and a native of the same county, where he married Nancy Barney, likewise born in the 
same place. Of their family of nine children, our subject is the fourth. Of these four sons 
and five daughters, some are still living. A brother of the subject, David Carpenter, has 
been Tax Collector of Contra Costa county, California, for many years. He came to the 
State of California in 1850. 

Our subject came to the " Golden State " in the " golden days" of 1849, and mined in 
California for about nine years in Placer and El Dorado counties. Later he also mined in 
Sacramento county, then located in Contra Costa county in 1859, and engaged in dairy 
farming. There he lived until 1867, when he located in the Salinas valley, where he has 
since resided. 

In 1872 he was elected Assessor of Monterey county, on the Republican ticket, and 
succeeded himself, in 1874. He proved himself an efficient official, and gave thorough 
satisfaction. 

In 1877, Mr. Carpenter married Laura Horvell, and one daughter has been born to 
them: May Laura, who came to them May 9, 1887. The family home is located on the 
outskirts of Salinas, surrounded by thirty acres of land, and is a model dwelling place. 
Mr. Carpenter is esteemed for his many excellent traits of character.