Biographical Sketch of J. L. Carpenter, Johnson County, Missouri, Chilhowee Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** J. L. Carpenter, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Chilhowee township is a member of one of Johnson county's most worthy pioneer families. He was born in Johnson county, Missouri, in 1864, a son of Thomas N. and Sarah (Howerton) Carpenter. Thomas N. Carpenter was a son of Wilson D. Carpenter, who settled on a tract of land in Johnson county at the place where Carpenter cemetery is now located. This burial ground was established in 1845 and the first grave made there was made for the re- mains of Marshall Carpenter. Wilson D. Carpenter was one of the early day teachers and a successful farmer and stockman as well. Thomas N. Carpenter entered 80 acres of land in Johnson county at the time of his marriage with Sarah Howerton, daughter of Mr. William H. Howerton, of Honey Creek, Henry county. From time to time, Mr. Carpenter increased his holdings and at one time was owner of 896 acres of choice land in Johnson county. He was engaged in farming and stock raising on a large scale and became very influential in public affairs. Thomas N. Carpen- ter was well educated and a keen thinker and his opinion on all matters connected with the business interests was favored with the greatest respect by all members of the community. He was the leading spirit of all religious and social gatherings, his kindly, pleasant manners mak- ing him a favorite with both young and old. Mr. Carpenter was a devout and earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and it was he who hauled practically all the lumber used in the construction of the church building at Prairie View, hauling it in ox-wagons from Lex- ington. The pioneer preachers were always made welcome at the Carpenter home and among those who partook of Thomas N. Carpenter's hospitality were: Reverends F. E. Pitts, Wallace, Peter Cobb, Thomas Cobb, Woold- ridge, and Murphy. All the wants of the ministers of the Gospel were bountifully and cheerfully supplied by Mr. Carpenter, who considered it not only his duty but his gracious privilege to do so. Thomas N. Carpenter was born at Franklin, Kentucky, August 27, 1826 and died December 27, 1900. Mr. Carpenter's father and mother built the primi- tive log cabin, which was the Carpenter home for years. The mother handed up the boards and the father nailed them in place. The house was a double log one, rude but comfortable. The Carpenter children often watched their mother make their clothing, from the time she card- ed the wool and spun it wuntil she wove the cloth on the loom, which is still preserved at the old homestead, and fashioned it. J. F. and T. W. Carpenter attended school in a building, which was erected for school purposes by his father, where a "subscription school" was held. Of this school, Gordon Turner, Will Boyer and Beldon Lewis were early day teachers. There was much open prairie when J. L. Carpenter was a youth. Wild game was plentiful and his father often killed deer while he stood in his own doorway. Large numbers of prairie chickens were caught and the traps emptied and set again and again. The Carpenters sent the prairie chickens back east. The young people of Mr. Carpenter's day were not without amusements and they had many happy times attending the country dances, parties, "singing schools," and "writing schools." He recalls a man, who was want to pass through the country buying horses and for whom all the little children daily watched, Colonel Tutt, re- nowned for his bag of "yaller boys." He would toss the gold coin into a yard, where the little ones played, and laugh heartily as he watched them scramble for it. He often left the bag of gold in the yard over night, when he remained with one of the settlers, for in those days a thief was unknown. Most of the pioneers were poor, but all were as honest as the light. J. F. Carpenter, the brother of J. L. Carpenter, once found a sack containing six thousand dollars. He learned within a short time that the money belonged to Jack Burford and to him the en- tire amount was gladly returned and no reward was asked. J. F. Carpen- ter is visiting his brother, J. L., at the time of this writing. In 1887, he was united in marriage with Charlotte Gillum, the daughter of Isaac Gillum, a pioneer of Henry county. To them have been born the following children: Richard M., Kansas City, Missouri; Henry B., Rich Hill, Missouri; Mrs. Grace Brockhahn, Hereford, Texas; and Mrs. Una B. Pritchard, of South Dakota. J. L. Carpenter was never married. He is the owner of 280 acres of land, nearly half of which is pasture. Mrs. Rice is his housekeeper. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Carpenter were the parents of the following: Thomas W., Blairstown, Missouri; J. F., of whom mention has been made; R. K., deceased, Mrs. Mary J. Sprague, Chilhowee; J. L., subject of this review; Mrs. Martha Rice, wife of Harry L. Rice, on the home place; and Lizzie, deceased. Mrs. Carpenter was born in Madison, North Carolina, May 13, 1830 and died May 11, 1911. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. 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