Otsego Center, Indiana

George II. Carpenter, son of Harlow J. and Fanny (Merry) Carpenter, was born in Erie County, Ohio, Oct. 23, 1841, and was nearly ten years of age when his parents moved to Steuben County. At the age of nineteen years he went to Dewitt County, 111., and taught two terms of school, being absent a little more than a year. Since his marriage he has lived in Montgomery, Hillsdale Co., Mich., engaged in the drug business. With these exceptions he has been identified with Steuben County since first coming here, and the most of the time has lived on the old homestead, his present residence. In 1881 he erected a building for the purpose, and became established in the general mercantile business at Otsego Center, where by his genial, courteous manners he has built up a good trade which is constantly increasing. He is also Postmaster of Oufa postoffice, appointed in 1881. He was married July 4, 1863, to Lydia Griffith, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, a daughter of John and Jemima Griffith. To them have been born five children; but three are living - Bert, Sylvia and Lena. Their eldest, Leman, died aged nine years, and their third, Harlow J., aged fourteen months. In politics Mr. Carpenter is a Democrat.

Passage source: History of Steuben County, Indiana, Together with... Biographies of Representative Citizens, published 1885.

Rarlow J. Carjpentev was born in Chittenden County, Vt., June 27, 1813. When twenty-one years of age he drove a team through to Pennsylvania for an elder brother, Joseph, and a few months later rode a horse to Erie County, Ohio. He was married in Erie County, Sept. 29, 1836, to Eanny Merry, daughter of Hosmer and Sally Merry. She was born in Milan, Ohio, Dec. 2, 1813, where her parents were pioneer sctttlers. In 1849 Mr. Carpenter became identified with Steuben County, buying and improving 120 acres of land on section 22, Otsego Township. Of his six children five were born in Ohio and one in Steuben County - Jesse H, lives in Angola; Sarah is the widow of Robert H. Humphreys; George H. lives on the old homestead; Emma died in Ohio at the age of three years; Betsey M. is the wife of Lewis Griffith; Julia is the wife of B. F. Griffith, and Carrie S. is the wife of L. W. Brown. Mr. Carpenter was an energetic, public-spirited, thrifty man; was active in the promotion of every good cause. The day he was twenty-one years old he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and from the first was an intelligent, active worker in the Master's vineyard. He was for many years a local preacher and was everywhere known as Elder Carpenter, a title he worthily earned and wore. He was always ready to give religious instruction and his purse was always open to assist the poor and needy. After coming to Steuben County Mr. Carpenter officiated at 612 funerals, and it is not known how many marriages he solemnized. He was called to his reward April 30, 1883. Soon after his death the Methodist Episcopal church at Otsego Center, and to which in life he was much attached, was rededicated and named, as a tribute to honor his memory, Carpenter's Chapel. His worthy life companion survives and is living with her widowed daughter, Mrs. Sarah E. Humphreys.

Passage source: History of Steuben County, Indiana, Together with... Biographies of Representative Citizens, published 1885.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Otsego Township.