FRANK L. CARPENTER, of Grand Rapids city, was born in Washtenaw Co., Mich.,
in the town of Sharon, Nov. 26, 1852. His father, Benjamin Carpenter, was a
native of Saratoga Co., N.Y., and a farmer by occupation. He came to
Michigan in the year 1848 and settled in Lansing, Mich., where he dealt in
real estate. He had three sons and two daughters; Frank L. was the youngest.
He received his early schooling in the public schools of Lansing, and in
1870 entered the State Agricultural College and graduated from that
institution in 1873. He then taught several terms of school in Ottawa
county, and in 1875 came to Grand Rapids and studied law with Champlain &
Fitzgerald. He continued with them one year. In 1876 he entered the County
Clerk's office under Clerk Chipman, where he spent one year, and at the same
time continued his study of law. He was admitted to the bar of Kent county
in the spring of 1877, and in the fall of that year entered the law school
of the Michigan University, and in the fall of 1878 graduated from that
institution. He then returned to Grand Rapids and commenced the practice of
his profession. His office is in Court block on Lyon street.