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Charles R. Carpenter

A well known and progressive business man of Fayette and one who has proven himself worthy of the trust reposed in him by his fellow men is Charles R. Carpenter, a descendant of an excellent old family, his birth occurring in Buchanan county, near Buffalo Grove, Iowa, June 16, 1866. He is the son of Lorin D. and Mary (Andrews) Carpenter, the former a native of Trenton Falls, New Jersey, and the latter of Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Carpenter's maternal grandmother was Margaret (Welch) Andrews, a native of Maine. This family goes back to Irish stock on the mother's side, Matthew Andrews, the subject's maternal grandfather, having come to America from Castletown, Ireland, his descendants now being scattered throughout the country and are prominent in their respective communities. Of equally influential New England stock come the Carpenter branch of the family, Loren D. Carpenter being the son of Bradford Carpenter, a native of Vermont. The mother of the former was known in her maidenhood as Laura Jones, also a native of the Green Mountain state; she was descended from Welsh parentage.

Charles R. Carpenter spent his early boyhood days at Buffalo Grove, Iowa, remaining there until 1877, when the family moved to Brush Creek, now Arlington. His father operated a foundry and general machine shop at Brush Creek, he being an expert in this line and he was very successful in the same, building up an extensive business there and turning out first class work. His death occurred in February, 1887; then his son, Charles R., went to Fayette, Iowa, to make his home. In 1888 his mother also came there to live. Mr. Carpenter had received a good education in the local schools, having applied himself very carefully to his text books with the view of entering the business world, and, being both ambitious and capable, he made rapid progress from the first and is now enjoying the large success that always comes to rightly applied effort. When he came to Fayette he took a position as cashier of the Bank of Fayette, which position he retained when it was made a state bank, and still holds to the entire satisfaction of both stockholders and patrons, being well equipped in every respect for the position, observant, well posted on modern business methods and courteous to all, besides bearing a reputation that is above reproach. When he came to this bank in 1887 there was only about twenty thousand dollars on deposit, but the affairs of the institution have been so well managed and its prestige has so rapidly overspread the entire locality that the deposits are now three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars and it is universally regarded as one of the soundest institutions of the state.

Mr. Carpenter's domestic life began in 1892, when he married Gertrude Whitney, the talented daughter of the late William A. Whitney, of West Union, Iowa, where this family has long been prominent and where Mrs. Carpenter grew to maturity and was educated.

Mr. Carpenter is a member and a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fayette, while his wife holds to the Baptist faith. Fraternally, the former is a Mason, belonging to the Pleiades Lodge at Fayette. Politically, he is a Republican, and while he takes an active interest in local party affairs, being usually a conspicuous figure in conventions, he is not himself an aspirant to official honors, preferring to devote his attention exclusively to business affairs; however, his support can always be depended upon in furthering any movement looking to the development of Fayette county. He has held some local offices, such as treasurer of Fayette and also treasurer of Fayette schools. Personally, he is of pleasing address, always friendly and cheerful, but quiet and unassuming, a man whom everybody likes and trusts."


~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Ann Borden