Person:James Carpenter (62)

Additional Links

• Soldiers' Monument in Dayton, Ohio - 1889 photo of monument erected by J.W. Carpenter on Main Street also showing old iron bridge and the Hose Company.

Research Notes

• middle name = Walling. Source = son James Walter's death certificate.
• possible middle name = Walter. His son, James Walter Carpenter, was called Jr. and his middle name of "Walter" has been sourced, therefore it is possible that his father was a "James Walter" as well.

1931 newspaper photo of Cambridge City home on Main street.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Newspaper Clippings, in Cambridge City Tribune. (Cambridge City, Indiana).

   26 Jan 1871, p 3 - J.W. Carpenter received a monument of Scotch Granite last week from Scotland, in the original package. When lettered it is to be erected at Middletown, Ohio.
   
   20 Apr 1871, p 3 - Frank Epply will be in charge of the business of J.W. Carpenter during the absence of the latter in Europe.
   
   8 Jun 1871, p3 - J.W. Carpenter of the Mammoth Tombstone house has arrived safely in Europe and is now giving attention to the many orders for Scotch Granite monuments he took with him. His business here is progressing finely with the usual amount of good work being turned out.
   
   22 Jun 1871, p3 - Frank Epply has just received a letter from J.W. Carpenter, dated Aberdeen, Scotland, June 6, stating that he will sail for home on the "City of Brussels" about the 27th of July. He has shipped eleven fine Scotch Granite Monuments to be put up in this State and Ohio. Those will be only a small part of his shipments.
   
   21 Sep 1871, p 3 - Mr. J.W. Carpenter on last Monday received from Scotland, specimens of a beautiful plant called Heather, which he will try to cultivate here. Major Sim also had a fine bunch of it, which he will place among his other rare specimens on his place.
   
   24 Jul 1873, p 1 - An Elegant Monument [From the Indianapolis Journal] - The Carpenter Brothers, of this city and Cambridge City, have contracted to furnish T.A. Bryan, Esq., on of the wealthiest citizens of Chicago, an elegant Scotch granite monument to be placed over the grave of his wife. It is a large octagon, twenty-five feet high, similar in design to the Sinker monument in Crown Hill Cemetery, and cost $6,900. This makes the fourth monument sold to Chicago people this year by the firm which is extending its sales throughout the country. Their branch at Cambridge City imports a larger amount of Scotch granite than any other house in the United States. The firm furnished the granite pillars for the Court House and Claypool's block, and will probably furnish those to be used in the building of the Franklin Fire Insurance Company.
   
   21 Aug 1873, p 2 - J. W. Carpenter informs us that he has ordered specimens of granite monuments from his establishment in Scotland, which will make the best and largest show at the coming exposition in Chicago ever displayed in the world. The stock wll be shipped direct from Aberdeen to that city.
   
   24 Sep 1874, p 3 - James W Carpenter has removed from CC to Indianapolis. Mr. Carpenter is an energetic, live man, just such a one as old Wayne cannot afford to lose. But business interest induced the change, and all that remains for us is to wish Jim success at the Capital. Nothing like going away from home for news. - Ed. Trib.
   
   30 Sep 1875, p 3 - We learn it is the intention of Mr. J.W. Carpenter to move to Dayton, Ohio, in short time, which will be a great loss to our town and will be sincerely regretted by the entire business community.
   
   4 Mar 1880, p 2 - Statue of Senator Morton. Our old friend and fellow citizen, James W. Carpenter, is a competitor for the honor of furnishing the statue of Senator Morton to be erected by the Morton Monument Association at Indianapolis On the 24th ult., a number of gentlemen from Indianapolis and Richmond, visited Dayton, O., for the purpose of inspecting his model, and were splendidly entertained at his residence, in company with some twenty-five of the first citizens of Dayton who had been invited to meet and dine with them there. The Indianapolis and Dayton papers give a glowing account of both the dinner and model - of which we have also received very favorable reports from private sources. Col. Will Schlater of Richmond, who was private secretary to Senator Morton, speaks in the highest terms of the statue; and the equally favorable opinion as expressed by other competent judges. It will be a source of great pleasure to Mr. Carpenter's old neighbors if he shall succeed in carrying off the prize.
   
   21 Apr 1877, p 2 - PHILADELPHIA, March 24, 1877 - To My Old Friends and Patrons: I desire to return my sincere thanks for past favors, and to announce to you that I have for the past few month been holding off from the purchase of marble until the same should reach the bottom in the general decline that has been taking place. That I might be enabled to give my friends the benefit of every possible advantage, I have remained right here at Head Quarters watching the market till my time came to purchase. I am happy today to inform you that I have purchased a stock of the finest Italian marble ever imported, which I shall be able to offer you at from twenty-five to thirty per cent lower than the poorest grade of Italian marble is now costing you. I wish further to say that I have secured the services of one of the finest practical workmen in the United States. I have also associated with me in business at Cambridge City, my son J.W. Carpenter, Jr. The firm titel in the future for the old establishment will be J. W. Carpenter & Son. We shall open for business on the 6th day of Aprl at a reduction from former prices that will surprise the "oldest inhabitant." Thanking you cordially for the many favors received at your hands during the last twenty-three years that I have been among you as a marble dealer, I ask a continuance of a portion of your favors for the new firm. Respectfully, J.W. CARPENTER
   
   27 Sep 1877, p 3 - J.W. Carpenter is moving all of his stock and everything pertaining to his business, to Dayton, Ohio, and united it with his works at that place.
   
   24 Jul 1884, p 2 - The Soldier's Monument that is being built by J.W. Carpenter & Son, and erected as a memorial to the Soldiers of Montgomery County, Ohio, at the expense of $25,000 borne by the county, will be dedicated by the holding a Soldiers' Reunion from July 29 to 31st inclusive. The monument is to be of Holcombe granite surmounted by a statue of a soldier in Italian marble. The entire height will be 80 feet, and will stand near the bridge on Main street, Dayton, O.
   
   3 Feb 1887, p 3 - James W. Carpenter, of Dayton, O., has renewed his subscription of $100 to the Natural Gas Company fund. Mr. Carpenter still seems to have an interest in our town's welfare and prosperity. Wish more were like him here.
   
   22 Aug 1889, p 3 - James W. Carpenter having sold his home property in Dayton, Ohio, it was thought that he would leave the city, but the following clipped from the Dayton Herald, says otherwise: Mr. J.W. Carpenter has purchased the Joshua R. Reynolds property on Huffman Hill and expects to make it his future home. Dayton will not therefore loose Mr. Carpenter who with his family will soon be at home at their beautiful Huffman Hill home.
   
   24 Apr 1890, p 3 - Mrs. E.C. Parker has returned home from a visit with her sister, Mrs. J.W. Carpenter, of Dayton, Ohio.
   
   23 Nov 1893, p3 - J.W. Carpenter of Dayton, Ohio, with his accustomed generosity, has presented teh M.E. church, of this place, with a beautiful memorial tablet, which not rests in the south front, facing on Church street. It is composed of pure white marble and is inscribed: "M.E. church, 1844, 1874, 1893." The church was built in 1844. In 1874 it was rebuilt, and in 1893 it was placed in its present elegant condition. Newlin McGrew, of Richmond, who never forgets Cambridge City, and will, we hope, never be forgotten by his many friends here, called Mr. Carpenter's attention to the matter, and the present elegant tablet is the result.
   
   5 May 1892, p 1 - The Father of the Electric Headlight. Dayton Journal. Ten years ago J.W. Carpenter, a resident of our city, conceived the idea of applying to the locomotive an electric headlight ; this being in the early part of electric lighting the services of expert electricians were difficult to obtain. But the best to be had at that time were secured by Mr. Carpenter and put to work in April, 1882, in Indianapolis. Work was pushed vigorously for two years. Those days it was a matter of "out and try," with electricians, groping along as it were in the dark, meeting the difficulties in the developments as the work progressed that was unthought of at the commencement ; but the work went forward and a successful light was finally obtained. How well our people will remember the great light that showed up on engine 460 of the Little Miami division of the Pan Handle system in September 1884, when through the courtesy of Superintendent John F. Miller, that engine was diverted from her regular run from Indianapolis to Bradford, and run through Dayton to Zenia, that our people might see and fully appreciate the great work that had been accomplished as a side issue by one of her busiest citizens. Thousands of our people gathered at the depot on that occasion, and were astounded at the success of the light. Mr. Carpenter, who came in on the engine, would have been given an ovation that night of unexampled enthusiasm had he not quietly slipped off the engine and out of the crowd unnoticed. For weeks after this event constant inquiries were made after the stock of the company by those desiring to secure some of it, but none was offered, those at the head of the enterprise not being fully satisfied of the final outcome, the reason being that the cost of equipping a locomotive was so great that the railroad management could not see their way to the adoption of the light. No one felt and appreciated the situation more keenly than Mr. Carpenter, and for over two years he sought more experienced electricians. The old company meantime was abandoned, new talent was procured and two years more of experimental work of the most discouraging character followed, but the indomitable pluck of the man continued the work until the result was the placing on the vestibule train, between Cincinnati and Columbus on the Little Miami road, the most successful light that had been produced up to that time, and at a cost of less than one-half that of the former light on the Indianapolis and Bradford division. The light was so successfully run on the the Little Miami for six months that it resulted in General Manager McCrea, of the Pennsylvania lines west of Pittsburg, tendering to Mr. Carpenter a contract for the equipment of a large number of engines on different divisions of the Pan Handle system at a stated price. This proposition was the first positive indication that had ever been received as to what a leading "trunk line" would be willing to pay for the equipment of their engines with the light. Although the light that was then being used could not be supplied at the price named, Mr. Carpenter felt confident from the fact that through his efforts the cost of the original light had been reduced more than one-half, that he could yet find the electrician with the ability to come within the prescribed circle. He secured the services of one of the most competent electricians in the United States, and started in on an entirely new plan as to engine dynamo and lamp. For the past four years, while our people have thought that the idea of a successful headlight had been abandoned by Mr. Carpenter, the work has been carried forward with more determination than ever, and the result has been a most pronounced success, while another company at Indianapolis have been pushing to the front the old and expensive light and have by the sale of a large number of them to different roads, demonstrated that the electric headlight came to stay, and Mr. Carpenter has been engaged in reducing the cost to the minimum and patent after patent has been taken out and the fondest anticipations as to compactness, strength and cheapness have been more than realized. Nothing has been produced heretofore, from what we can learn, that begins to compare with this new plant. It is so constructed that the entire machine, engine, dynamo and lamp go inside the headlight case. The construction is simplicity itself, the cost will not exceed one-fourth that of the light used on the Little Miami vestibule. Patents have also been taken out for heating and lighting an entire train by electricity, also street car motors double and single. This is plunk, tenacity and unconquerable energy rewarded.

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} James W Carpenter , in Find A Grave.
3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Obituary , in Cambridge City Tribune. (Cambridge City, Indiana).

   25 Apr 1895, p 2 - Our citizens were shocked on last Saturday, by the sad intelligence of the sudden death of James W. Carpenter, a former and highly esteemed citizen of our city, at his home in Dayton, Ohio. He has been away from his home for some time and returned Thursday, when he took seriously ill and died Saturday morning, the immediate cause supposed to be appoplexy. He was past 50 years of age, and a native of Chillicothe, Ohio. His wife and seven children survive him, and mourn the loss of a faithfull loving husband and father. They have a host of friends here who deeply sympathize with them in their sorrow. Mr. Carpenter has always been an active, vigorous business man, with a variety of experience, and by nature liberal and generous. The funeral occurred on Tuesday. An extended sketch of Mr. Carpenter's life, taken from the Dayton Journal, will appear in our next issue.
   
   2 May 1895, p 1 - Death of James W. Carpenter (Dayton (Ohio) Journal) - Dayton has met another loss in the death of one of its most active, energetic and enterprising citizens, James W. Carpenter. He had been absent at his marble quaries for some weeks and on his return on Thursday, April 18, was taken dangerously sick, and died Saturday morning following at his residence on Sunset avenue in this city. Mr. Carpenter was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, September 25, 1835. He was a son of Dr. Benj. Carpenter, a noted physician. He married Ezephie Tyner, a near relative of ex-Postmaster General Tyner, in 1855. He lived in Cambridge City, Indiana, until 1876, when he removed to Dayton. He purchased the Dr. Steele property, corner Third and Ludlow, and for some years conducted his marble and monumental business at that place, furnishing monuments for many prominent people in both East and West. He built the soldiers monument in Dayton and furnished the figures for the monument at the Soldiers' Home. Against much competition he go the contract for the elaborate and costly monuments erected to honor John Wentworth, of Chicago, Mayor McMichael, of Philadelphia, and Messrs. Groesbeck and McDonald, in Cincinnati, and Gen. Sol. Meredith of Cambridge City. Indeed many of the largest and most costly monuments ever erected in this country were the result of his energy, perserverance and industry. More recently he has given his time and energy to developing new quarries of fine marble in the South and Northwest. He was largely interested in the celebrated Piedmont quarry, near Marietta, Georgia. Mr. Carpenter was a consisten and devoted member of the First Presbyterian church of this city and also a Knight Templar Mason of the 32d degree. His wife and seven children, four daughters and three sons, survive him and mourn the loss of a loving and faithful husband and a kind and generous father. Mr Carpenter was a gentleman of fine physique, pleasant manners and remarkable conversational power. Fe wmen could make friends so easily and hold them so firmly. He had the sterling qualities of an old time gentleman - intelligence, character, integrity, steady habits. And few men have accomplished so much in the solid work of the world; few have left so many evidences of energy, enterprise and industry, and fewer still have done so much to extend the fame and establish the reputation of his adopted city - Dayton, which now so universally mourns his loss. Few men have lived among us who were marked by more striking characteristics of personality or who have had more interesting careers as business men. With a physical vigor that enabled him to do an enormous amount of work, he combined an alertness of mind that kept him constantly engaged in a variet of enterprises of large scope. While but a boy he attracted the attention of Ezra Cornell, the founder of Cornell College, by his alertness, and traveled with him as his secretary for some time while engagedin arranging the first telegraph lines of the West. He engaged in the monument business and conducted it with so much energy and intelligence, that although he livedin the small city of Cambridge City, Ind., he became the leading importer of granite in the United States, and his annual sales amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Among these mausoleums are those of W.S. Groesbeck and Alexander McDonald, in Spring Grove, Cincinnati, Governor Fenton, at Junction, N.Y.; Dr. Gibson, at Jamestown, Pa., one of the largest private monuments in the United States, the soldiers' monuments at Watertown and Seneca Falls, N.Y.; the Morton McMichael statue in Fairmont Park, Philadelphia; the Henry Chisholm statue, one of the most conspicious monuments in Lake View Cemetery at Cleveland, and the John Wentworth monument in Rose Hill Cemetery at Chicago. The last shaft is placed on the largest single granite base ever placed in the country, and the bringing of it from Hollowell, Me., to Chicago was regarded as a remarkable feat of engineering skill, and gained him the highest praise of all concerned. Those of our citizens who recall the great skill and vigor he displayed in putting up the Soldiers' Monument can easily understand the high reputation he gained in the outside undertakings. In addition to these outside lines he had the sagacity to see the development possible in the Georgia marble quarries, opened in that State some years ago, and early gained control of what is now widely known as the Piedmont Quarry Co., of which he is president. The great St. Luke's Hospital is now being erected in New York, by the Vanderbilt and other millionaire families, with the beautiful marble of this quarry, and hundreds of workmen have been required to furnish it. It is one of the greates quarries of the country and is a monument to Mr. Carpenter's ability as an organizer. He also developed in connection with one of his sons what promises to be one of the most remarkable quarries of beautiful white dolomite and granite, and of a beautiful green marble, all in St. Lawrence county, New York. In addition to all these granite and marble undertakings he found time and energy to devote to other considerable projects. Among these was the introduction of an electric locomotive headlight, on which he spent a large amount of money and time. Mr. Carpenter had many attractive traits whic made him a general favorite with his associates. He traveled extensively in Europe in pursuing his regular business, and his acute powers of observation enabled him to gain an unusual store of interesting information. This, and his large and intimate aquaintance with prominent men in all parts of the Union, made him almost entertaining. He had the most generous impulses and was ever ready to lend a helping hand and give words of cheer and encouragement. he was for many years a member of the First Presbyterian church of this city, and earnestly and faithfully devoted himself to the duties of church fellowship. He was a reader of the Bible, and, while quite reserved in the expression of his religious convictions, was deeply imbued with Chrisitian principles. Men of such force and general excellence are important factors in the development of our communities, and their loss is always felt.

4.   History of the Raridan Property on Main Street, in Cambridge City Tribune. (Cambridge City, Indiana).

   [JW Carpenter lived in this property on Main street in 1873-1874 which was later known as the Raridan property.]