 |
| Photo taken 1909 (according to Bishop Post minutes) |
LYMAN ANDREW CARPENTER
The 14th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, "The Old Fourteenth," was the first regiment formed in northwest Ohio for service in the war, and it was the first Northwest Ohio unit to see action at the Battle of Phillipi in West Virginia. Lyman Carpenter answered the call to duty, enlisting as soon as the unit was formed on September 5, 1861, and he was processed into Company H, for for a three year term of duty, according to the official roster of Civil War soldiers.
At some point, he was wounded, probably at Missionary Ridge, the last battle of the year in 1863 before the march on Georgia began in the spring of 1864. On the 1890 veterans census, he reported that his "right arm was shot off near the elbow joint." On February 18, 1864, he was discharged due to his disability, having served 2 years, 4 months, and 10 days.
 |
| The date of discharge does not seem to be correct. He filed for pension after being discharged in Feb, 1864. |
Lyman returned to Defiance County, married his wife, Mary, and settled in Defiance Township. In the 1870 census, his occupation was school teacher, and he was 26, Mary was 18, and they had little Elizabeth, 1 year old. In 1880, he was still working as a teacher and they had added children, Lyman, Myrtle and Anna. In all, Lyman Sr. was the father of ten children.
Lyman knew heartbreak as he lost at least four of those children, his wife, and a brother before his own death. For his son, Leroy, Lyman was in a much publicized trial against the Defiance County commissioners for Leroy's wrongful death. He alleged that the commissioners should have placed guard rails on a raised road leading to a bridge from which Leroy and a friend, George W. Moore, drove off of with horse and buggy and drowned. George's father also sued the county. The boys died "on the 28th of March, 1904, while crossing the raised road leading to the English bridge on the south side, where the high waters of the river submerged portions of the road."
(Defiance Express, October 9, 1905)
The results of the trial would be rather astounding, perhaps, to us today:
The Defiance Crescent-News reported on his funeral on March 16, 1925:
"The funeral of Lyman A. Carpenter, who died Friday, was held yesterday at 1:30 p.m. at the home of his son, Frank Carpenter, 205 Tacoma avenue, at at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist church, Wayne avenue and Third street.
Members of the Grand Army of the Republic to which organization Mr. Carpenter belonged, conducted their services, while Ben B. Morris was in charge of funeral rites. Burial was made in the Taylor cemetery, Defiance township.
Members of the American Legion were the pall bearers: A. B. DeKay, John C. Marlott, M. C. Cullison, Charles H. Hemlein, Ed. C. Duerk, and H. H. Goltzene. Bugler John Bittinger sounded taps at the grave."
Lyman knew heartbreak as he lost at least four of those children, his wife, and a brother before his own death. For his son, Leroy, Lyman was in a much publicized trial against the Defiance County commissioners for Leroy's wrongful death. He alleged that the commissioners should have placed guard rails on a raised road leading to a bridge from which Leroy and a friend, George W. Moore, drove off of with horse and buggy and drowned. George's father also sued the county. The boys died "on the 28th of March, 1904, while crossing the raised road leading to the English bridge on the south side, where the high waters of the river submerged portions of the road."
(Defiance Express, October 9, 1905)
The results of the trial would be rather astounding, perhaps, to us today:
"$200 Verdict Against County
A verdict of $200 was given Lyman Carpenter on a suit against county commissioners for damages sustained in the death of his son who was drowned two years ago in March, while crossing the partially submerged road leading to the English bridge in Defiance Township. The amount asked for was $5,000. Neither parties in the action are satisfied with the verdict, and it is probable it will be appealed." (Defiance Express, November 19, 1906)
Lyman served his community as a land appraiser and was appointed to the relief commission which helped the indigent. By 1920, a widower -(Mary having died on March 4, 1915) - he lived with his son-in-law, Louis H. Fricke, also a widower, and grandson, Clarence H. Fricke, 15.
Lyman A. Carpenter died on March 13, 1925 and was buried in Taylor Cemetery, Defiance County, along with his wife and one of his daughters, Anna M. Carpenter Osmon. His death certificate listed the cause of death as surgical shock and the place of death as Defiance Hospital. He was 82 years old.
The Defiance Crescent-News reported on his funeral on March 16, 1925:
"The funeral of Lyman A. Carpenter, who died Friday, was held yesterday at 1:30 p.m. at the home of his son, Frank Carpenter, 205 Tacoma avenue, at at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist church, Wayne avenue and Third street.
Members of the Grand Army of the Republic to which organization Mr. Carpenter belonged, conducted their services, while Ben B. Morris was in charge of funeral rites. Burial was made in the Taylor cemetery, Defiance township.
Members of the American Legion were the pall bearers: A. B. DeKay, John C. Marlott, M. C. Cullison, Charles H. Hemlein, Ed. C. Duerk, and H. H. Goltzene. Bugler John Bittinger sounded taps at the grave."
The stone was also for Lyman's parents, Samuel Carpenter and Eunice Phelps Carpenter.
 |
| www.findagrave |
Thank you so much for the beautiful written story of my gggg grandfather.
ReplyDelete