Biography of Martin Carpenter, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.

Martin Carpenter, a farmer and stock raiser, was born in Lawrence
County, Miss., February 9, 1819, and is the third and only living
child in the family of four born to Solomon and Mary (Smith)
Carpenter. Solomon Carpenter was born in Georgia, where he lived until
about 1810, when he removed to Mississippi. He served as orderly-
sergeant under Gen. Jackson in the War of 1812, at the close of which
he returned to Lawrence County, Miss., and engaged in farming. In
later life he removed to Copiah County, Miss., where he died in 1839.
After the death of his first wife Solomon Carpenter married Nancy
Hudnell, who died leaving five children, all now deceased, and Mr.
Carpenter took for his third wife Mary Howell. She became the mother
of two children, and still survives her husband. Martin Carpenter, who
was but two years of age when his mother died, lived with his father
until seventeen years of age, when he had his home with an uncle. In
1840 he immigrated to Arkansas, and located in Franklin County near
where he now lives, which county has since been his home. He served
one year in the Mexican War, under William G. Preston, and
participated in the battle of Buena Vista. At the outbreak of the late
Civil War he enlisted as a private, was made second lieutenant, and
subsequently commissioned captain of his company, serving honorably
and actively until the close of the struggle. In 1844 Mr. Carpenter
married Martha Ann Moffatt, a native of Tennessee, and of the ten
children born to them four are living, viz.: Thomas J., Patterson,
Cosenia and Robert E. Mrs. Carpenter died August 14, 1885. Mr.
Carpenter is a member of Clarksville Lodge No. 5, A. F. & A. M. When
but twenty-three years of age he was elected justice of the peace,
which office he held two years. He has 150 acres of land under
cultivation, and is an enterprising citizen of the county.