In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1911) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1846
From Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901), History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time (1911)
GEORGE P. CARPENTER, M. D.
Dr. Carpenter, who is the oldest medical practitioner in Cedar Rapids, has that love for and devotion to his profession which has brought to him success and secured him a place among the ablest representatives of the medical fraternity in this section of the state. He was born in Lancaster, Ohio, September 21, 1846, and is a son of Dr. Paul and Mary (Fetters) Carpenter. On the paternal side his ancestors came from Holland in colonial days, and representatives of the family bore a prominent part in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812. The Fetters family is of German origin and was founded in Ohio at an early day.
Dr. Paul Carpenter, our subject's father, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and when a young man began the study of law with James BuchanJm, afterward president of the United States, but not liking that profession he ran away from home and located in Lancaster, Ohio, where he took up the study of medicine, later becoming one of the foremost physicians and surgeons in that part of the state. For forty-five years.
he was successful\- engaged in practice in Lancaster, and there died in 1880, at the age of seventy. He was a prominent Mason and served as eminent grand commander of the state for twenty years. As a RepuhHcan he took an active interest in political affairs, but could never be prevailed upon to accept office. Religiously both he and the mother of our subject were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The latter died in Lancaster, Ohio, at the age of thirty-five years. Of their five children our subject is the second in order of birth and the only survivor. I he father was twice married, his first wife Ijeing Mary Cannon, by whom he had two children, both living, namely: Henry \V., a physician of Lancaster, Ohio; and Mary Ellen, wife of W. J. Carty, of Columbus, Ohio.
Dr. George P. Carpenter obtained his early education in the schools of his native place, and was graduated from the high school of that city at the age of fifteen years. He then entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, vv'here he pursued a literary course and was graduated in 1865. He commenced the study of medicine under the able direction of his father, and later attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, where he was graduated in March, 1868, at the age of twenty-two years. While yet a student he spent one year in an army hospital with his brother, Dr. H. \V. CarpeiUer. who w-as a surgeon in the army. There were from twelve hundred to eighteen hundred patients in the hospital the entire time, and there he gained a good practical knowledge of medicine and surgery, which was of great benefit to him in his snbsc(ucnt career.
Immediately after his graduation Dr.
Carpenter came to Cedar Rapids, arriving here on the 4th of April. 1868, and at once opened an office. The city at that time contained a population of only three thousand, and he has therefore witnessed almost its entire growth and development. Two years after locating here he entered into partnership with Dr. E. L. Mansfield, and together they engaged in practice for five years, but with that exception Dr. Carpenter has always been alone. He has always engaged in general practice, but of late years has given special attention to surgery and has performed many notable operations.
On the ist of July, 1869, in Delaware, Ohio, Dr. Carpenter was united in marriage with Miss Delia Pant, a native of that state and a daughter of Rev. S. Fant, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and one of the pioneer clergymen of that section. By this union were born four children, namely: Laura, wife of A. S. Smith, of Chicago; Alice, at home; Paul F., a resident of Los Angeles, California; and George B., a student in the high school of Cedar Rapids. The wife and mother died March 31, 1897, and was laid to rest in the Oak Hill cemetery of Cedar Rapids.
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Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, and the Cedar Rapids Medical Society, and has been a member of the staff of St. Luke's hospital since it was founded fi"teen years ago. He stands high in his profession and enjoys the personal friendship of a number of the most noted physicians of the United States. The Doctor is widely and favorably known, and it is safe to say that no man in Linn county has more friends or is held in higher regard than he. He has a very fine collection of relics and curios gathered from all parts of the work.
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During his boyhood 'william Pieper attended the district schools of his native land until fourteen years of age, and then worked as a farm hand until coming to this country with the hope of benefiting his financial condition. In 1840 he took passage on a sailing vessel at Bremen, and after a stormy voyage of nine weeks landed in Baltimore, Maryland. He at once proceeded to Dayton, Ohio, and as he spent his last twenty-five cents on the day of his arrival there he was forced to seek employment at once. Going to Piermont, that state, he hired out to a stock farmer at six dollars per month, and remained there six months. He then returned to Dayton, where he worked four months at eight dollars per month, and later was employed by Joseph Snyder at eighty dollars per year.
In 1842 Mr. Pieper went to Columbia City, Whitley county, Indiana, and after working for others at that place for two years he purchased eighty acres of land at three dollars per acre. Later he sold that farm for one thousand dollars and bought one hundred and ninety-five from a Mr. Hamilton. This property he sold in 1854 for twenty-five hundred dollars, and then came to Iowa, locating in Pioneer township, Cedar county, where he purchased a farm of two hundred and ten acres. To the cultivation and improvement of that place he devoted his energies until 1887, when he removed to Lisbon and has since lived a retired life. He owns a good home at this place, where, surrounded by all the comforts of life, he is now enjoying a well-earned rest.
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In 1857 Mr. Pieper was again married, at Huntington, Indiana, his second.l union beingwith Hannah Foss, by whom he had five children: W'ilHam, who married Minnie Davis and resides at Olin, Iowa; Louis, also a resident of that place; Minnie, who married Frank Jackson and died in 1897; August, who married Molhe Cameron and lives near Olin; Hannah, wife of Reuben Cole, of Clinton, Iowa. The mother of these children died in 1868.
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Fall, a traveling salesman of Mechanics- Aille, Iowa, and after his death wedded Rev. Lewis Krome, the present pastor of the German Reformed church at Lisbon, and they have one child, Harold William.
By his ballot Mr. Pieper supports the Democracy, and takes an active interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Lutheran church, while his estimable wife is a Christian Scientist in religious belief. He is a genial, pleasant gentleman, who makes many friends, and he and his family receive and merit the high regard of the entire community. His wife is particularly a well posted woman, and takes a commendable interest in general affairs.
For over thirty years this gentleman has been a resident of Marion, where he is now successfully engaged in business as a carpenter and contractor, and also owns and operates a planing mill as the senior member of the firm of J. D. Rowe & Son, at No. 1408 North Tenth street. Throughout his career of continued and far-reaching usefulness his duties have been performed with the greatest care, and his business interests have been so managed as to gain for him a liberal patronage, and the confidence of the public.
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Fraternallv Mr. Rowe is a member of the Masonic order and the Iowa Workmen, and politically is identified with the Republican party, in the success of which he takes a deep interest. His wife is a member of the Christian church, and both are held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
GEORGE P. CARPENTER, M. D.
The state of Iowa, with its pulling industrial activities and rapid development has attracted within its confines men of marked ability and high character in the various professional lines and in this way progress has been conserved and social stability fostered. Dr. George P. Carpenter, whose name initiated this review, has gained recognition as one of the able and successful physicians of the state And by his labors, his high professional attainments and his sterling characteristics has justified the respect and confidence in which he is held by the medical fraternity and the local public. Although yet a man in the prime of life, he is the oldest physician in years of continuous connection with the profession in this city. He was born in Lancaster, Ohio, September 21, 1846, his parents being Dr. Paul and Mary (Fetters) Carpenter. The family is of Holland origin, but was founded in America during the colonial epoch of our history and was represented in the Revolutionary war and again in the war of 1812. The Fetters family is of German descent and was established in Ohio during the pioneer history of that state.
Dr. Paul Carpenter was a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and in early manhood took up the study of law under the direction of James Buchanan, afterward president of the United States, but he regarded the profession as uncongenial and ran away from home, taking up his above in Lancaster, Ohio, where he began the study of medicine. In time he came to be recognized as one of the distinguished physicians and surgeons in his part of the state, practicing with marked success in Lancaster until his death, which occurred in 1880, when he had reached the age of seventy years. lie always kept abreast with the progress of the profession and was most conscientious in the performance of his duties. His political views were in accord with the principles of the republican party, but he would accept no office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his professional duties, his Masonic work and his efforts for the betterment of the community along other lines. He ranked high in Masonry and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also the mother of our subject, who died in Lancaster, Ohio, at the age of thirty-five years. Dr. Carpenter is the only survivor in their family of five children and is second in order of birth. For his first wife the father married Miss Mary Cannon and their surviving children are Henry W., a physician of Lancaster, Ohio, and Mary Ellen, the wife of W. J. Carty of Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Carpenter then married Mary Fetters and of this union our subject is the second child in order of birth.
An apt student, Dr. George P. Carpenter readily mastered the branches of learning taught, in the public schools of Lancaster and completed the high school course when but fifteen years of age. For further study he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and completed a literary course by graduation in 1865. Whether environment, inherited tendency or deliberate choice have most to do in shaping his later career it is impossible to determine, but the study of medicine seemed to prove attractive to him and he began reading under the direction of his father, while later he benefited by instruction in the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in March, 186S, at the age of twenty-two years. While yet a student he spent one year in an army hospital with his brother, Dr. IT. W. Carpenter, who was an army surgeon. There were between twelve and eighteen hundred patients in the hospital the entire time and the practical experience which he thus gained of medicine and surgery proved of inestimable benefit to him.
Immediately after his graduation Dr. Carpenter located for the private practice of medicine in Cedar Rapids, remaining continuously a resident of this city since the 4th of April, 1868. He found here a population of about three thousand and has, therefore, witnessed almost its entire growth and development, and no man feels greater pride in what has been accomplished or has given his aid and influence in more substantial manner toward furthering its upbuilding. Two years after his arrival here he became a partner of Dr. E. L. Mansfield and they were together for five years. Otherwise, Dr. Carpenter has always been alone and, while he has usually given his attention to general practice, he has also specialized to a great extent in surgery and has successfully performed many notable operations. His practice from the beginning has been large and of an important character and he has ever been an industrious and ambitious student, whose reading and research have constantly augmented his ability and promoted his efficiency.
Dr. Carpenter has been married twice. On the ist of July, 1869, in Delaware, Ohio, he wedded Miss Delia Fant, a native of that state and a daughter of the Rev. S. Fant, a Methodist Episcopal minister, who was one of the pioneer preachers of that section. Dr. and Mrs. Carpenter became the parents of two daughters and two sons: Laura, now the wife of A. H. Smith of Los Angeles, California; Alice, who married Lieutenant A. S. Smith of the United States Navy and died May 1, 1901; Paul F. and George B., both residents of Los Angeles. The wife and mother passed away March 31, 1897, and was laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery of Cedar Rapids. On the lath of July, 1909, Dr. Carpenter was again married, his second union being with Belle Hawthorne Dusill of Cedar Rapids. His home contains a fine and most interesting collection of relics and curios, gathered from all parts of the world, for he has traveled extensively, gaining thereby that broad culture and experience which only travel can bring. He has long been one of the prominent and helpful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as steward and trustee for thirty years.
His political views accord with the principles of the republican party and his fraternal relations are with Mount Hermon Lodge, No. 263, F. & A. M.; and Trowel Chapter, No. 49, R. A. M. He has always regarded the practice of medicine and surgery, however, as his chief interest, has served as medical examiner for the Northwestern Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee and many other companies and has been a member of the staff of St. Luke's Hospital since its founding. He holds membership in the Cedar Rapids Medical Society, the Iowa Union Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He has kept in touch with the work done by the profession whereby the interests of humanity have been advanced, and is in thorough sympathy with the movement for general education concerning the laws of health and the prevention of disease. He holds to high standards in practice and his expressions concerning brother practitioners are friendly and indulgent, ne is widely recognized as a man of the highest and purest character and there is constant demand for his services both professionally and socially.
As printed in History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: E. L. Mansfield
The printed record stops around 1901. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.