In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1889) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1810
From History of the fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers (1879), History of Erie County Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers (1889)
CHARLES CARPENTER
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His father, Gardner Carpenter, a resident of Norwich, Conn., was for a short time paymaster under flcncral Washington; was postmaster of Norwich for fifteen years; was an extensive merchant and ship-owner in the West India and European trade; but, by disasters at sea during 1812-15, lost nearly all his property. He died April 26, 1815.
He married Mary Huntington, Oct. 29,1791. This lady, mother of Charles Carpenter, was descended from the first white mole child born in Southeastern Connecticut.
The Carpenter family were heirs to the great Carpenter estate in England, and the family coat-of-arms is cut upon some of the tombstones in Massachusetts.
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From an early day he took a deep interest in the artificial propagation of fish; was active and prominent in inducing the State to experiment in the propagation of white-fish, and at present has charge of the branch of the State Fish Hatchery, on Kelley's Island. He was an enthusiastic advocate of grape-culture, and the pioneer in this portion of Ohio, having planted the first acre of grapes on the island; and, perhaps, no person has had a greater variety under cultivation at one time- Charles Carpenter married Caroline Kellcy, second daughter of Put us and Surah Kellcy, at Kelley's Island, Nov. 7, 1844. Mr. Carpenter resides on tho farm purchased by him nearly thirty* five years ago. Much of the success in fruit-culture, to which Kelley's Island is largely devoted, is due to him.
ing portion* of the land purchased at that early day. That the possibilities of the future of the islands, high as was the estimate put upon them at that time, were not fully appreciated, w;n, in after years, fully developed. The sales of wood, cedar and stone, repaid many times the amount of the entire purchase, and the tillable land, a strong limestone soil, proved to be of superior quality. And though the wood and cedar, as articles of commerce, have long since disappeared, the stone trade, from the small beginning of D. and I. Kelley. with one wharf, has developed into proportions of which some idea may be formed when it is stated, that the par value of the capital stock of the stone companies was. at their organization, about two hundred thousand dollars, the business furnishing employment to over one hundred men.
GRAPE TI.Tl RE.
But another element, not at that time appreciated, because unknown, was destined to enter into the question of future values, and effect an entire revolution in the agricultural prospects, business and pursuits of the people. It had been observed that at many places on the island, wild gnte vines were abundant, of unusual size and thrifty growth. Acting upon this observation, Mr. Datns Kelley, about the year 1842, procured a number of vines of the Isabella and Catawba variety, from Rockport, his former residence, and setting them in his garden, developed in due time the adaptability of the islands, both as to soil and climate, to the culture of the grape.
Mr. Charles Carpenter, who had purchased the farm of Horace Kelley, and who was a practical fruit culturist. looking impressed with the importance of the grape culture, and sanguine of its success on the island, set out the first acre of graM>s planted as a field crop, and enthusiastically urged his neighbors to do likewise. The first wine from the product of hi* vineyard was made in 1*50, in the old log house, his former residence, with such primitive appliances in the shape of press, etc.. as were at his command.
The effect of the demonstration that the grape culture would be successful were soon apparent. Small vineyards, the nucleus of larger ones, dotted the island. Large profits for a time insulted from the sale of the fruit, packed in boxes for table use. Farms divided in five and ten acre lots, were parcelled out to different owners, the price of land, under the impetus thus given it, advanced three to four hundred >er cent., and within a few years there were nearly one thousand acreset to vines. The excess of supply over demands, for table use, as also in the quality of the crop for that purpose, directed attention to the manufacture of wine, and there were, in course of time, erected on the island, cellars, which, including those of the Kelley's Island Wine Company, are capable of storing half a million gallons of wine.
The present average crop of grapes is about seven hundred tons, nearly all of which is manufactured into wine. In 1800, was organized, the Kelley's Island
Wine Company, having u capital of one hundred thony sand dollars, and posse-sing, by the terms of its char- 1 ter, the privilege of increasing it-* capital stock totwo hundred thousand dollars. The cellar built and owned by Mr. Charles Carpenter was rented by the company, and the manufacture of wine commenced therein in the fall of the above named year. The officers of the company were: Addison Kelley, president; George C. Huntington, secretary; A. S. Kelley, treasurer: and C. W. Farciot, superintendent. The business proving very successful, it was deemed advisable by a majority of the stockholders to increase the capital stock to the full amount allowed by the charter. Accordingly, in 1871, books were opened for subscriptions to the new stock. Very nearly the full amount was soon taken, and a new and larger cellar, in addition, was built, with all the improvements and appurtenances necessary to the prosecution of the business on a large scale.— the cellars, when finished, having a storage capacity of some four hundred thousand gallons, and being, in point of capacity and completeness of machinery and outfit, the finest establishment devoted to the manufacture of wine in the State. The officers of the company at the time of the increase of capital stock, were: Addison Kelley, president: Norman Kelley. rice president: A. S. Kelley. secretary: Erastus Huntington, treasurer, and ('. W. Farciot. superintendent.
On the 30th of August. 187i;. the upper stories of the two cellars, which were adjoining, were destroyed by tire, entailing a heavy loss (with no insurance) on the company. New roofs were immediately placed upon the two buildings, the machinery placed in the first one. where the business of pressing was resumed and where it has since remained. The lower rooms of each cellar being arched, were not injured by the fire, and are now nsed, as before, for the storage of wine.
ABORKiOXAL A XTlyl'ITIES.
That the island was a favorite place of residence and resort of the aborigonal inhabitants of the country is well established, not onlv by the leircnds that have descended to us from successive generations of tho past, bat in very marked degree by the remains of pounds, burial-places, fortifications, implements, which are found at different points upon the island. The residence ground! and garden of Mr. Addison Kelley were evidently once the site of a populous village, as the remains of broken pottery, pipes, stones indebted upon the edges — probably for use as singers, for fishing lines or nets, of some kind, and other articles of rude manufacture for household and other purposes, found there, sufficiently attest.
On the premises of Mr. Andrew Cameron at the west bay, are found similar evidences of occupancy by this prehistoric race.
On the Huntington farm arc still plainly visible the remains of a circular earth work, which, before suffering from the encroachments of the waters of the
51U lake, enclosed some seven acres of laud. The family residence of the late O. C. Huntington stands very nearly in the center of this enclosure.
But the most interesting, because enduring and intelligent, evidences of occupation of the island, by the predecessors of civilization, are the numerous rocks, — "inscription" and others, — bearing upon the surfaces, marks of the rude handiwork, of these people of a past age.
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If these mute evidences of the patient toil of the race, who preceded the whites, as denizens of this region, in the preparation of the implements necessary in the social economy of its existence, are a matter of interest to the students of the past, much more of interest is the study of the records of this people, as graven upon the "Inscription Rocks," when considered in the light of intelligent translation. Of these rocks, two have been discovered. One, upon the shore of the "North Hay," has cut upon itfl surface, merely one or two figures, smoking pipes, ands supposed to have no particular historic significance.
The other, on the south side, standing in the water, near the shore, on laud formerly owned by Mr. Addison Kelley (and who, in his transfer of the lands, conditioned that "Inscription Rock" should be preserved from all needless injury, and free to all visitors), is an object of interest second to none in the field of antiquarian research.
The following, condensed from a "pen portrait," by Mr. Kelley. is given as conveying an intelligent description in a few words. This "Inscription Hock" lies on the south shore of Kelley's Island, in Lake Erie, about sixty rods east of steamboat landing. The rock is thirty-two feet in greatest length, twenty-one feet in greatest breadth, and its surface eleven feet above the water in which it sets. It is part of the same stratification as the island, from which it has been separated by lake action. The top presents a smooth and polished surface, like all the limestone of this section, when the soil is removed, suggesting the idea of glacial action: upon this surface the inscriptions are cut, the figures and devices are deeply graven in the rock. Schoolcraft's "Indian Antiquities" says of it: "It is, by far. the most extensive, and will sculptured, and best preserved inscription of the antiquarian period ever found in America." It is in r tie pictographic eh a racier of the natives; its leading symbols are readily interpreted. The human figures, t he pipe-smoking groups, and other figures, denote tribes, negotiations, crimes anJ turmoils, which tell a story f thrilling interest connected with the occupation of this section by the Erics, the coming of the Wyandots. of the final triumph of the Iroquois, and flight of the people who have ieft their name on the lake. In the year 1851, drawings of the inscriptions were made by Colonel Eastman, United Slates army, who was detailed by government, to examine them ou the representation of General M. C. Meigs. Copies of the inscriptions were made, and submitted to Shingvank, an Indian learned in native pictography, by whom they were deciphered and a full translation was given, which was published in Colonel Eastman's work, but which is too long for insertion here. These inscriptions were first discovered about the year 1834. by Charles Omstcd, of Connecticut, who observed them while trailing and studying the glacial groves. Since then, the rock has been visited by thousands of persons, and has become much worn, and some portions of it so nearly obliterated that a photograph, taken at this time, would give but an imperfect representation of it. Still, it is yet. and for many years must remain, an object of interest to the antiquarian.
As printed in History of the fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers (1879). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Carpenter, Charles, Kelley’s Island, one of the prominent pioneers of Kelley’s Island, was born in Norwich, New London county, Conn., in 1810, ano was a son of Gardner and Mary (Huntington) Carpenter, who had a family ot five sons and one daughter, but two of the children are now living, Gardner, jr., born in 1802, and Charles. One son, George, and the daughter, Mrs. Les-
Brief Biographical Sketches.
ter, both died leaving families. Charles received a liberal education, and in 1830 became engaged in the manufacture of cords and twine, but by too close application to business his health became impaired, and he went South on a trip. After his return his mill and property was destroyed by fire. He then came to Kelley’s Island on a visit, where he found employment, and here he remained. He was married in 1844 to Caroline Kelley, a daughter of Datus and Sarah Kelley. They have had a family of four children, Lester, Alida, now Mrs. Seton; Mary, now Mrs. Ward; and Sara, now Mrs. Moysey. Mr. Carpenter purchased his farm of 124 acres in 1844. He purchased the farm with accompanying farm tools and stock from Horace Kelley on credit, he having nocapital at the time. He then became engaged in the lime and building stone business, having many government contracts. He retired from the stone business in 1863. He first became engaged in the grape culture in 1844, and erected the first wine cellar north of Cincinnati in 1851, and became engaged in the manufacture of pure grape wine. He retired from active business some time afterward, selling his wine cellar to the Kelley Island Wine Company. He now devotes his entire attention to his vineyard, each orchard, and the cultivation of a great variety of smaller fruits. The Kelley Island Wine Company was formed in 1886, and rented Mr. Carpenter’s cellars and some years later purchased the property.
Carpenter, Mrs. Jane A., Huron, was born in Greenwich, Fairfield county,. Conn., in 1823, and was a daughter of Charles and Maria (Brown) Brundydge, who settled in New London, Huron county, in 1832, and later in Williams county, where Mrs. Brundyge died in 1877, leaving a family of three children: Jane A., Phebe, now Mrs. D. Thomas; and Charles Henry. Jane A. was married in 1843 to David S. Carpenter, who was born in Westchester county, N. Y., in 1818, and with his parents settled in New London, Huron county, when he was a child. The parents had a family of eleven children, but one of whom is now living, Mrs. Eliza Hallday. Mr. David S. Carpenter purchased his homestead in Huron, Erie county, and erected his fine residence thereon in 1859. He died September 16, 1877, leaving a widow.
Car Skaden, William, Oxford, North Monroeville p. o., one of the representative men of his town, was born in Luzerne county, Pa., in 1826, and was a son of Anson and Sarah Car Skaden. Anson served in the War of 1812-14. William Car Skaden learned the carpenter and joiner’s trade after settling in Ohio. October 28, 1843, he came to Cook’s Corners, Oxford township, where he worked for his brother Henry, who was then engaged in the carpenter’s trade, and also in the manufacture of plows. His brother Henry died in 1856. William was married in 1848 to Ceiucia Jefferson. They have two sons: Delos,, born in 1849, and Wihner, born in 1868. Ceiucia was a daughter of Willard and Susanna (Burt) Jefferson. Susanna was born in New York in 1797, and Willard was born in Vermont in 1796, and died in 1884, leaving a widow and
History of Erie County.
-eight children. Willard served in the War of 1812. He was married and settled in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and in 1835 came to Oxford township. Delos was educated at the Granville University, and is now engaged in the publishing interest at Chicago. Wilmer is now student at the Granville University. Mr. Car Skaden purchased his present homestead of seventy acres in 1851, for which he paid $18 per acre, on which he erected his own buildings. He is now engaged in the raising of blooded stock. He was trustee of the town during the war.
As printed in History of Erie County Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Addison Kelley (b. 1812) Erastus Huntington (b. 1838) George C. Huntington (b. 1808) Norman Kelley (b. 1836)
The printed record stops around 1879. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.