Biography of Thomas B Carpenter, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 648

Thomas B. Carpenter. A lifetime devoted with perseverance and energy to the
pursuits of agriculture have contributed materially to the success which has
attended Mr. Carpenter's efforts. He was the fourth of six children born to
Jesse and Polly A. (Sidwell) Carpenter, and was born on the 2d of October,
1828, in Alabama. His father, who was a native of Virginia, came to Arkansas
while it was still a territory (about 1833 or 1834), and located in St. Francis
County, where he followed carpentering, and was a general worker in wood, and
at the same time conducted farming. Thomas B. Carpenter was brought to Arkansas
in his early youth, and was educated in the subscription schools of his adopted
State. In 1853 he was united in marriage to Miss Tabitha A. Tuggle, a native of
the Blue Grass State, and their family now consists of five children: Margaret
L., born in 1855; James T., who died at the age of six months; Dicie, who was
born in 1861; Jesse Lee, whose birth occurred December 7, 1864, and Polly
Alice, born February 26, 1868. In 1854 Mr. Carpenter made his first purchase of
land, which consisted of 197 acres, and by hard work, managed in a few years to
put forty acres under the plow, and to erect a good double log house, barns,
etc., also a cotton-gin. In 1877 he sold this farm and purchased a tract of 211
acres in Christian Township, and has made some valuable improvements on this
farm, also, improving seventy-five acres. After making this his home for twelve
years, he sold it in July, 1889, for a consideration of $3,000, and now thinks
of giving up farm life, and engaging in mercantile pursuits. He is a Democrat
in politics, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He
has given his children good educational advantages, and they are now well
qualified for any commercial position or pursuit. The youngest son, Jesse, has
for some years been engaged as clerk in the mercantile house of a Mr. Van
Ronkle, of Newport, Ark., and is now the trusted manager of his employer's
business. With this son, Mr. Carpenter contemplates embarking in business.
Richard, the eldest son, is a successful farmer of Jackson County; Margaret is
the wife of W. P. Young, and resides in the county; Polly A. is still at home.