JOHN W. CARPENTER has been a resident of the city of Janesville, Rock County, for many years, and in that time he has won a standing in business circles, and as an intelligent and progressive citizen, of which any man might be proud. He has met all his business engagements promptly, and his word has ever been beyond question. He has built up a good trade in the coal and wood line, and those who have dealt with him longest are the best friends he has in the city.
Mr. CARPENTER was born at Northville, Fulton Co., N.Y., Feb. 9, 1839, a son of Allen D. and Mary Ann (WADSWORTH) CARPENTER, both also natives of Fulton County. Children as follows were born to them: John W.; Laura, wife of Nathaniel BALLARD, of Evansville, Wis.; William H., of Evansville; Mary Ann, Mrs. McKINNEY, of Evansville; Josiah, of Union township, Rock County; and Emma, wife of Edwin WINTERS, of Evansville. The father was originally a cabinet maker, but became a carpenter and joiner. In 1855 he came to Wisconsin and settled on an eighty-acre farm in Union township, Rock County. After a time he acquired as much more land, and gave his attention to the improvement and cultivation of what speedily became a choice and valuable farm. He died on that place Jan. 21, 1861, aged about forty-six years. His wife survived him until 1894, and was past seventy-six years of age at her death.
Joseph CARPENTER, the grandfather of John W., was a native of Vermont, and was a carpenter and joiner by occupation. He was the father of a numerous family. He died in New York when over sixty years of age. Josiah WADSWORTH, the father of Mrs. Mary A. CARPENTER, was born on Long Island and was one of the earliest settlers of Fulton County, N.Y., where he reared his family of fifteen children. When he died he was well on toward eighty years of age.
John W. CARPENTER was reared on a farm, and received his elementary schooling in the district school at Hope Center, N.Y. He was sixteen years old when he came West with his parents, and his home has been in Rock County ever since. For the past twenty-five years he has lived in Janesville. On reaching manhood he started out for himself as a farmer, renting land the first two years. He bought a farm of 183 acres in the town of Union, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, and then sold. He bought another farm, consisting of 280 acres, and made very substantial improvements on this tract, which he converted into a desirable home, dwelling there some time. Some twenty-five years ago, renting the farm, Mr. CARPENTER moved into Janesville to engage in the wood and coal business. He retained the ownership of the farm until a few years ago, when he thought it wise to enlarge his business in the city. Our subject is a Republican, and was a supervisor of Center township some two or three terms.
Mr. CARPENTER and Miss Sarah Jane PARKER, daughter of Isaac and Maria (SOPER) PARKER, were married March 20, 1861, and they have had three children, Jessie, Charles and Lulu. Jessie married David CREIGHTON, and has her home in Whitewater; they have one child, Catherine. Charles married Huldah BALKE, and resides in Janesville; he is a brakeman on the railroad. Lulu, formerly a teacher in the Janesville public schools, married James WADDLE.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 799-800 - Submitted by Carol