- EDWIN F. CARPENTER, attorney at law of Janesville, Wis.,
was born in Moretown,
- Washington Co., Vt., May 12, 1845, and is a son of Ira and
Rhoda (SPAFFORD) CARPENTER. His father was born in the same town
in 1798, and was descended from English Puritan ancestry, while
his mother, who was a native of Vermont, was of English descent.
Our subject came to Wisconsin in 1863, and graduated from Beloit
College in the class of 1870, after which he entered upon the
study of law in the office of CASSODAY & MERRILL, both eminent
lawyers of Janesville, being admitted to the bar in 1871. Two
years later he formed a partnership with Judge CASSODAY, which
connection continued until the judge was called to the bench
of the Supreme Court of the State, in 1880. Next, he was associated
in practice with S. J. TODD, of Beloit, for one year, the firm
having a branch office at that place. On the 1st of July, 1883,
he formed a partnership with E. D. McGOWAN, the present clerk
of the court, with whom he was associated until January 1886,
when his partner retired to enter upon the duties of his present
office. Since that time Mr. CARPENTER has been alone in practice.
His office is situated on the second floor of Lappin's block
and is composed of the suite of rooms at the corner of Milwaukee
and Main streets. From a large window which is placed transversely
at the corner, a splendid view is obtained of the most important
business center of the city, while the general advantages of
location and arrangement of the rooms make it one of the most
desirable law offices in town.
- Mr. CARPENTER was married at Janesville, on the 18th day
of December, 1873, his union
- being with Miss Emma A. LAPPIN, who was born in this city,
and is a daughter of Thomas and Mary J. (JACKMAN) LAPPIN, who
are among the earliest pioneers of this county, and whose sketch
appears elsewhere in this work. Two children have been born to
Mr. and Mrs. CARPENTER - Edwin Lappin, Sept. 2, 1875, and Henry
Fayette, Oct. 3, 1879. The mother attends the Episcopal Church.
Some years since Mr. CARPENTER erected a fine building situated
on the south side of Milwaukee street and on the east side of
Rock River, or rather over the river. The title to the site was
obtained by a quit claim deed from Thomas LAPPIN, owner of the
adjoining property to the eastward; and the erection of the building
mentioned led to extended litigation as it was claimed that the
site being in the river, the title did not rest in the purchaser
of the original claimant, Mr. LAPPIN. After Mr. CARPENTER had
given notice of his intention of building over the river, an
injunction was issued to restrain him from carrying out his purpose.
The case was won by him in the lower court, to which it had been
taken on a change of venue, Judge A. Scott SLOAN presiding. It
was then appealed to the Supreme Court of the State, where the
decision of the lower court was sustained. The second injunction
was granted on the grounds of obstructing the river under a law
passed on purpose to cover the disputed point. Mr. CARPENTER
made such a strong show of defense that the plaintiffs in the
case offered to withdraw the injunction, which was done. For
over seventeen years, Mr. CARPENTER has been actively engaged
in his profession at Janesville, has won a foremost place at
the bar of Rock County, and has built up an extensive and lucrative
practice.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 473-474.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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