William Carpenter was born in Oxford, Chenango county, NY, July 26, 1827, second of 
a family of ten children born to James and Elizabeth (Dodge) Carpenter. James 
was born in OTSEGO county in 1800, and Mrs Carpenter was born in Preston, 
Chenango county in 1802. The grandfather, Joseph Carpenter, spent his life in 
OTSEGO county where he died in 1808. The maternal grandfather, Peter Dodge, was 
born in Chenango county, and died in East Troupsburg (Steuben Co, NY-AC). James 
Carpenter was a farmer and came to East Troupsburg in 1831, where he died at the 
age of eighty-two years. His wife died at the age of thirty-nine years. William 
was reared on the farm and was educated in the district schools. He remained at 
home until he reached his majority, when he with his brother Willis, took up a 
farm of 100 acres in Troupsburg, which he soon sold and purchased another farm 
of 100 acres, where he lived for twelve years. He then bought and sold various 
farms until coming to Woodhull, where he owns a fine farm of 300 acres. The year 
1876 was spent in Tioga county, PA. Mr. Caprenter lived on his farm at Woodhull 
until 1885, when he came to the village and now lives a retired life. In 1853 he 
was the poormaster in Troupsburg, 1858-59, highway commissioner, and in 1862, 
supervisor. He was supervisor of Woodhull in 1873, '74, '75, road commissioner 
in 1869, and justice of the peace for eight consecutive years. He has been 
trustee of the academy for nine years. November 19, 1856, he married Miriam 
Pease, by whom he had six daughters and one son; Susan, wife of J. Edwards; 
Huldah, wife of R. I. Symonds; Delphian, wife of E. Bats (Bates?-AC); Jennie, 
wife of William Cook; Lydia, wife of J. C. Husted; Jessie and W. G. Carpenter. 
On the 4th day of July, 1894, William Carpenter was chosen president of the day, 
and here is his opening speech. "Friends, we have met here today to celebrate 
the day that was created 117 years ago today. On the 4th of July, in the year 
1776, my friends, we must ever revere. Our fathers took their muskets then to 
fight for freedom dear. We had Green, Gates and Putnam to manage in the field, a 
gallant train of heroes, who rather die than yield. Then you remember the 
battles which were fought; The battle of Bunker Hill, the battle of Lexington, 
the battle of Trenton, and finally the battle of Yorktown, where the American 
Independence was gained. 'Twas then and there the brave old soldiers said, "King 
George, we do not fear the rattling of your thunder nor lightning of your 
spear.' In a few months after that peace was declared, and we became a great 
nation. Friends, what do we see? Then we see the emigrants coming to our shores; 
they come from every nation; they come from every way; they come to the 'Land of 
the free and the home of the brave.' Then these emigrants; some go to the 
northward, some go to the southward, but the great majority go westward, 
westward the star of the Empire, the star of Liberty, until we have sixty-five 
millions of free and happy people. Friends, lest I weary you, in conclusion 
would say, I am proud of our country; I am proud of these old soldiers sitting 
here; I am proud of these gentlemen sitting at my right; and above all I am 
proud of that old flag; long may it wave. 'Long may it wave over the land of the 
free and the home of the brave.' We are a great nation, indeed who has a better 
right to celebrate?"---Com.

From "Landmarks of Steuben County" by Hon. Harlo Hakes, 1896
Migration Biographies Index


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