George T. Carpenter - An Early Settler of Defiance County

Any ancestors of George T. Carpenter would qualify for Defiance County Genealogical Society's First Families status.  According to his obituary, George T. Carpenter was in Defiance by March 1846, clearing out land for a farm. He is first found on the 1850 Federal Census for Noble Township, and he remained a farmer in Noble Township until his death in 1886.  He appeared in all the censuses through 1880 with his wife Harriet, nee' Williams, whom he married on January 2, 1845, and various children. He and his family are buried in Brunersburg Cemetery.  Although the stones of Harriet and George are missing, many of his children are buried together there with existing stones.

His obituary is one that all of us hope to find for our ancestor, as it gives a detailed account of his life and puts it into historical perspective.  It appeared in the Defiance Democrat on February 18, 1886, on page 3.  

"DEATH OF GEORGE T. CARPENTER

From the fact he was one of the pioneers of Defiance county, many of his old friends and acquaintances will be interested in the following brief summary of his genealogy and history.

He was born in Butler township, Knox county, Ohio, October 12th, 1810, and died at his farm, January 18th 1886, of Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), aged 75 yrs., 3 mon. and 6 da.

He was the son of Thomas Carpenter who so far as is reliably known, was the first white male person born in the State of Ohio, his birth being in a rude cabin (rail pen) on the banks of the Ohio river opposite Wellsburg, Va.  His grandfather and three brothers came from England to America while the United States were yet British colonies, thus making his paternal descent English, while on the other hand, his maternal parentage was German.

His grandfather, John Carpenter, come from Virginia to Ohio in May 1786 (one hundred years ago); Ohio at that time forming a part of the Northwest Territory, which was composed of the present states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.  At the place of his settlement on the Ohio river (opposite Wellsburg, Va.), he built a block house and had several engagements with the Indians and was one wounded by them, and also once captured and taken nearly to what is now Norwalk, O. where he made his escape.

His father, Thomas Carpenter, following the advancing frontier, came and settled in Knox county, O. and at which place, as above stated, George T. Carpenter was born, and at the age of four years, moved with his father to Holmes county, at which place he lived until he came to Defiance county.

Squire Carpenter first came to the farm on which he ever since lived on the 5th of March 1846, cutting a wagon road through the woods the last few miles of the way, there being no roads in that part of Defiance county at that tie; showing that he possessed a taste of his ancestors by still advancing with the tide of emigrants to a new country.  At the time of his coming to this place, the red man yet lingered here, although peaceable and subdued; an encampment of them being located at what is familiarly known as the 'Sulphur Hollow,' and he knew the well known character at Defiance known as 'Indian Jake.'  The wolf and few bear, plenty of deer, turkeys and other wild game abounded at the time of his location here.

At the time of his coming here, the only farm occupied near him being the one adjoining his on the west, and that fact being so prominent at Defiance that a guide board was erected there with this inscription: 'To the Bixby Farm 3 mi."  He was in Defiance the day on which its first bridge across the Maumee river floated down stream from high water. 

Noble Township, sections 1 and 12.  The Noble -Richland County line is on the right.

To fully understand the length of a long span of life, it can best be done by comparing it to some of the contemporaneous events of its time.  At the time of his birth, Washington had been dead less than eleven years having lived under all the Presidents up to Cleveland, save three, Gen. Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.  James Madison was president at that time, serving his first term.  Since his birth, the United States has been engaged in its second war with England, several Indian wars, war with Mexico and the great Rebellion.

Two presidents during this time have been assassinated, Lincoln and Garfield.  Ohio had been admitted to the Union but seven years.  General Wayne had but seventeen years previous conquered the Indians at Defiance.  Fulton had but three years previously made his first trial trip with his steamboat the Clermont on the Hudson River from New York City to Albany.  He was eligible to vote for President the first time when Gen. Jackson and Henry clay were opposing candidates (Jackson for second candidacy).

The population of the United States at that time (1810) was 7,239,881.  The invention of the lithograph had not been made for nearly thirty-four years.  Thus his life has reached from the infancy of this country up to its present magnificent standing and development of its industries, government, and not least its mighty prowess.

He was married to Miss Harriett Williams, who survives him as a widow; they have had a family of eleven children, six of whom are dead, and five surviving, the eldest being Dr. T. J. Carpenter.  He was twice consecutively elected real estate appraiser of this township (Noble), was several times elected assessor of private property of the same, and through the years consecutively held the office of Justice of the Peace, and was holding the office for a fourth term at the time of his death.  A trial was being held before him the day on which he was taken sick, so that it was necessary for him to dismiss the same before its conclusion.

He was director of his school district several years, nearly always being clerk of the same in which he always took a keen interest, and was one of its first organizers.  He as also a trustee of the township several years, and was also a candidate for County Treasurer.

In his death, his family have lost a kind parent and husband and the community a worthy citizen, whose loss is scarcely realized until that void is which can never be abridged..."