- ALVIN B. CARPENTER, long one of the leading promoters of
Beloit, Wis., was born in
- Stratford, Orange county, Vermont, July 17, 1812, son of
Willard and Polly (BACON) CARPENTER. His first venture in business
life was driving a peddling wagon and selling goods on commission
for his uncles,Willard and John CARPENTER, of Troy, N.Y. This
was in 1831. In six years he had made and saved $10,500. In 1835
he went to Evansville, Ind., and opened up a general store; six
months later, took his brother in partnership and increased the
capital to $40,000. In 1841 they sold out the business and engaged
in milling and wholesale produce, selling through their house
in New Orleans, of which Mr. CARPENTER was the manager. Later
he sold out this line and returned to Evansville, and in company
with Oliver LADD engaged in the wholesale dry goods jobbing,
in which they were successful. His first appearance in Beloit
business circles was in 1845, when he engaged in general merchandising
on a large scale for three years, removing in 1849 to Cambridge,
Dane county, where he again engaged in milling, owning the town
site and several mills; sold out here in 1851 and bought a town
site in Avon township and 3.000 acres of land and opened a large
store and constructed a water power plant, but in 1852 sold out
here and returned to Beloit to establish his permanent home.
Starting with a general store, he continued in this for one year,
then sold out to KEYS & WHITE, and in 1854 engaged in banking
for three years, when he again sold and returned to Evansville,
Ind., and was interested in many different enterprises until
1866, when he again entered into the mercantile trade in Beloit,
opening three different stores under the firm name of CARPENTER
& GREENE. In February, 1869, they were burned out and Mr.
CARPENTER retired from the firm, Mr. GREENE continuing in the
trade. In July, 1870, in company with Cyrus LIBBY, E. H. CHAPMAN
and John FOSTER, they commenced the manufacture of boots and
shoes, the first factory of its kind in Beloit. Three years later
he sold out to Mr. CHAPMAN and engaged in handling real estate
and building.
- He was married on July 5, 1839, to Miss Almira L. DUTCHER,
of Troy, N.Y. They celebrated
- their golden wedding on July 5, 1889, at their Beloit home,
and it was one of the most notable gatherings ever held in Beloit,
from the large number of friends and people of prominence from
all parts of the country who were in attendance. The occasion
was out of the usual order, also, on account of all of their
children being present. They included James M. CARPENTER, Mrs.
Hattie M. SEARING, Mrs. Anna B. LAWRENCE, Mrs. C. B. SALMON,
Mrs. Mary A GREEN and Mrs. F. D. CALDWELL. Mr. Carpenter enjoyed
a hale old age and the full possession of his faculties up to
the very end of a long and active life. He died at his residence
in Beloit, Wis., in his ninety-first year, March 19, 1903. Mrs.
CARPENTER had already passed away February 9, 1891.
-
- Taken from "Rock County, Wisconsin, Vol. II"
by William Fiske Brown, (c)1908, pp. 804-805.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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