CARPENTER, David

1st bio of David CARPENTER
Past and Present of the City of Rockford and Winnebago Co., IL, C. A. Church.   Chicago: Clarke, 1905, pp 746-749

David CARPENTER, uncle of Mrs. CRANDALL and Mrs. HYATT [see also the biography of Oliver A. CRANDALL, Winnebago County, IL], was born in Berkshire County, MA, 18 Mar 1808, and died 09 Mar 1897.  He was married to Miss Julia PETTIBONE, of St. Lawrence County, NY, in 1836, [p 749] coming to Winnebago County on their wedding trip and settling on a large farm near Rockton on the west side of the river.  Mrs. CARPENTER was the first white woman to settle on that side.  When they came through Chicago it consisted of old Fort Dearborn and a cluster of houses.  They came from Chicago by team, it requiring six days for the journey, and it seemed to them they were going to a far country indeed, but when they came in sight of the valley filled with groves and wild flowers they greatly rejoiced and felt that they had reached the promised land.  At an early gathering of neighbors Mrs. CARPENTER was the only professing Christian, and she urged the importance of Christian observances, and through her effort a society was founded and finally a church built, Mr. and Mrs. CARPENTER becoming the charter members.  Rockton owes much of its moral status to these early settlers.

Mr. CARPENTER was elected and served as supervisor several years.  He was also one of the first jurors of the county, was president of the board of village trustees five years, and was superintendent and trustee of the Congregational church 12 years.  At one time he, with several brothers and a sister, owned all the land between Rockton and Beloit, WI, on the west side of the Rock River.  The bridge at Rockton is still known as the CARPENTER bridge.  Mr. and Mrs. CARPENTER had one son, Luman N., who is still living, at Lovelocks, NV.  Mrs. CARPENTER died 28 Jan 1901, greatly loved by all who knew her.  There are but few families better known in Winnebago County than the CARPENTERs.

2nd bio of David CARPENTER
Portrait & Biographical Record Winnebago & Boone Cos., IL. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1892, p 1142

The farming community of Rockton Township, Winnebago County [IL], recognizes a worthy representative in David CARPENTER, who for a number of years pursued the even tenor of his way on a well-developed farm of 164 acres.  In 1863, however, he removed to the village, and has since that time lived retired from work of any kind.  He was born in Adams, MA, in 1808, and is the son of Nathaniel CARPENTER, who was born 29 Oct 1764, in Rehoboth, Bristol County, MA.  He departed this life in Oct 1842, when 78 years of age.

The father of our subject emigrated to Rockton, Winnebago County, in the spring of 1836, starting from Stillwater, Saratoga County, NY, in May of 1836.  The party, which was composed of our subject, his young bride, aged father, his brothers John and Nathaniel, and four sisters, were shipwrecked en route, near Ripley [probably Ripley, Houghton Co, MI].  The maiden name of our subject's wife was Julia M. PETTIBONE; she was born in Jul 1814 in Stockholm, St. Lawrence County, NY, and is a daughter of Luman and Almira (RUDD) PETTIBONE, natives, respectively, of VT and NY.

Our subject was heavily bereaved in 1833, by the death of his mother, who died at Hoosick Falls, NY.  The parental family included 12 children, two of whom are still living:   Mary C., Mrs. John BACHELDER, makes her home in San Francisco, CA.  A sister, Mrs. Susan LAWRENCE, died in Rockton in 1892, when 82 years of age.  Mr. and Mrs. CARPENTER have buried one son, Philip Pettibone, who died when 18 months old.   Another son, Lyman N., has been a resident of Lovelock [Pershing County], NV, since 1865, where he is a prominent and wealthy business man.  The son was married to a Miss Nellie LOVELOCK, whose father was the founder of that place.  During the late war, he was a volunteer from Plover, WI, going ot the front as Second Lieutenant.  He participated in many important battles of that period, but was prevented by sickness from being present at the battle of Shiloh; he was taken prisoner at Altoona.

An adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. CARPENTER, Ann Phidelia LIPPITT, entered their home when eight years of age, and was given an excellent education in the Rockton schools.   In 1856 she married C. B. AYER, of Chicago, and is at present residing at Beloit [Rock County], WI, where her husband has charge of the Water Works.  Our subject is not only respected by his associates, but by all who know him, for his uprightness and ability, while the members of his family are likewise regarded with favor by their acquaintances.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly.