- JAMES MADISON CARPENTER, dry-goods merchant. Financial ability
and mercantile
- success have seldom been shown more conspicuously than in
the successful career of James M. CARPENTER. No city in the
country can claim a citizen whose mind more thoroughly comprehends
the business of merchandising, and whose daily life is more conscientiously
devoted to his business. James M. CARPENTER was born in Evansville,
Ind., Nov. 3, 1840, and came with his father, A. B. CARPENTER,
to Beloit, Wis., in 1844. While a lad, he attended the public
school at Beloit, and took a preparatory and scientific course
of study at Beloit College. He graduated from Byrant & Stratton's
Commercial College in Chicago, receiving his diploma for a thorough
knowledge of commercial law and book-keeping. In 1860 he entered,
when quite young, then but 20 years of age, into mercantile business
with his father. They were in business some three years, when
J. M. C. purchased his father's interest and conducted the dry-goods
business alone. In 1863, J. M. C. took Mr. Ira M. WHITE in as
partner, under the firm name of CARPENTER & WHITE. They
continued the business successfully in Beloit until 1865, when
A.B. CARPENTER sold out his interest in the firm to Converse
CLEMENT in 1866, and in 1869, J. M. C. sold out his interest
in the firm at Evansville, and returned to Beloit, Wis., again
engaging with his father, in the dry-goods business which continued
for one year, when J. M. C. purchased A. B. CARPENTER's interest.
On Jan. 1, 1873, Mr. CARPENTER took into partnership William
H. BAUMES, under the firm name of CARPENTER & BAUMES. Two
years later, Edson S. CURTIS, was admitted as a partner, and
remained a partner to the time of his death, Nov. 28, 1875.
For six years, Messrs. CARPENTER & BAUMES did a successful
dry-goods business in Beloit, their annual sales having reached
$100,000 a year. On Feb. 1, 1879, CARPENTER & BAUMES separated
and divided their large stock, Mr. CARPENTER remaining in his
elegant block at the east end of the bridge of which he is the
owner, this being the finest block in the city, and his store
one of the finest in the State, with all conveniences for doing
a large business. Mr. CARPENTER married, Oct. 6, 1864, at Mohawk,
N.Y., Miss Hattie G. ROOT, daughter of Hon. H. G. ROOT, of that
place; she died at Beloit, Wis., Aug. 27, 1865. He married Miss
Louise INGLE, only daughter of John INGLE, Jr., President of
the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad, Dec. 23, 1869;
their children are Alvin B. CARPENTER, born Dec. 23, 1870; Ingle
CARPENTER, April 17, 1872; Isabella CARPENTER, July 19, 1879.
-
- Taken from "The History of Rock County, Wis."
(c)1879, pp. 739-740.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|