From Michael Hodges
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At the outset I should say that my interest in Alonzo Carpenter stems from
his marriage to Elizabeth Waterman, my great grand aunt. Bear with me as I
write this down on the form of a narrative. Ill be sending along
attachments to go along with it. Alonzo Carpenter married Phoebe Jane South
on May 2, 1852 in New York State. According to James South they had about
five children between then and 1860.
The Carpenter family first shows up in Wisconsin on records in 1860 when
they are listed on the Federal Census in Ithica township, Richland Co. At
the time two children are listed with them, Charles and Lottie (Charlotte).
Coincidentally it is at this time that the Waterman family moves to the same
township from Oregon township, Dane Co., WI. I havent looked up the
Carpenters at the Richland County Courthouse yet, but next time Im down
there I will.
Alonzo Carpenter next shows up in 1870. He has moved to Crawford Co., Iowa
where he is listed in Milford township, working as a farmhand. His wife and
children are not listed with him. John South has said that Phoebe died in
1865 in Iowa, but I have found nothing to prove his claim. I think I have
found a listing for Phoebe Carpenter in Wisconsin in the census records of
1870 and later. Im still looking.
In 1878 Alonzo Carpenter is back in Ithica township where on January 28 he
weds Elizabeth Waterman, daughter of Rufus and Hannah Webber Waterman. He
is, at this time, a lumber dealer in Denison, Crawford Co., Iowa. After the
marriage they move back to Denison, IA and take up residence there. In
October of 1879 their son Harry A. is born. In 1880 The listing in the
Federal Census shows Alonzo, a clerk, Elizabeth, keeping house, and two
sons, Harry aged 1 year, born in Iowa, and Benjamin aged 18 years, born in
Wisconsin.
In 1885 Alonzo dies and is buried in Oakland cemetery just outside Denison.
Elizabeth will go on to marry Harrison Crippen on December 29, 1887. After
his death in 1894, she and her son Harry will live together until her death
on March 3, 1913. Shortly after that Harry will marry a person named Myrtle
and they will have two children. The daughter is named Dorothy and the son
is named Harold. One intriguing fact is that in 1988 one Harold Carpenter
died in Story City, IA. His birth date was December 1917. Harry Carpenters
son Harold was two and one half years old when the 1920 census was taken
June.
Charles Carpenter shows up in 1920 in the Federal Census in Baraboo, WI
along with his wife, the former Frances Stone. This is another reason that I
feel that Phoebe Carpenter did not leave Wisconsin. Ill have to take
another trip to Baraboo on of these days to research this thread. There are
other questions that arise. What happened to the other children if Phoebe
and Alonzo were supposed to have five children before they left New York? If
Benjamin was born in 1862 as his age in 1880 suggests, he must have been
another son of Alonzo and Phoebe. What happened to him? According to my
Haskin relatives, Harry left Denison, IA went west and was never heard of
again. What happened to him and his wife? Thats what so exciting and
frustrating about this research. An answer to one question will bring about
two or three new questions. Hope this has been some help for your research.
Cordially,
Mike Hodges
MHODGES(a)new.rr.com
MHODGES(a)new.rr.com
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