The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-03-03
BIOGRAPHICAL.

Matthew Hale Carpenter was born at
Moretown, Vermont, December %, 1924.
He was, at the age of ten years, adopted
by Hon. Paul Dillingham;, who was for
four years governor of Vermont, and by
him fitted for West Point academy, to
which lie was appointed in 1S43. There
he remained two years, but resigned his
position on account Of weakened eye
sight. Subsequently he took up the
study Of law under the direction Of his
foster father, and was admitted to the
bar in Montpelier, Vt, at the age of %.
He then went to Boston and entered as q
student, the Office of Rufus Choate, re-
naming two years. Joining the tide set.
ting westward, he came to Beloit, Wis
in 1848, entered upon the practice Of his
profession, and in 1852 was elected dis
trict attorney of Rock county, and in
1853 moved to Milwaukee, which has
ever since been his permanent home.
He was elected to the United States
senate, as Republican, in 1868, in place
Of James r. Doolittle, his competitors
being G. G. Washburn, 0. 81. Waldo, ey-
Gov. Solomon and Horace Rublee. At
the expiration of his term of Office in 1875
he was a candidate for reelection, but
was defeated through a detection of a
portion of the Republican members OF
the legislature, and Angus Cameron was
elected to succeed him. Upon the ex-
piration Of Senator t. 0. Howe's term in
1879 he vas again candidate for the
senate, and after protraeted struggle,
he was elected over Mr.. Howe and Mr..
Keyes, and resumed his seat in the SEN
ate at the extra session which met on the
18th of March in that year. -Four years
of his term yet remain.
During much of his present term his
health has been too delicate to permit of
very aativae4participation in senatorial
work, but he has made few speeches of
Importance, notably one in opposition to
the restoration of Fitz John Porter to
the army.
The telegram that told of the death of
Senator Carpenter, this morning, cast a
shadow of gloom over the hearts of all
the people of this city. He loved them
as citizens of Milwaukee and they all re-
turned his sincere affection. In this city
the best part of the dead senator's life
was passed and here he numbered as his
friends almost every member OF its So
ciety. Neither here nor elsewhere had
he personal enemies. Men who crossed
swords with him before the bar, in the
political field or in the senatorial arena
might be his opponents; they could not
choose but be his personal friends.
While his rebuke was stern and his sar-
casm bitter, his manner was SO winning
that even the object of the attack forgave
the thrust.
Senator Carpenter came to Milwaukee
and made it his residence in 1858. For
six years before during his life at Beloit
he had occasional cases in the courts of
this city, so that when at last he moved
to the Cream City he was well known rs
bright, rising lawyer.
His first important case IN this city and
the one that made him renown was that
of Cleveland VS.. the La Crosse and Mil
waukee Railway company. This was a
case in which Mr.. Carpenter battled
against large odds and took what seemed
to be desperate chances. Against him
were pitted such old heads as Ryan and
Palmer but the young giant in intellect
argued his case so clearly and handed his
case so perfectly before the jury that be
obtained Judgment for his client in a
large amount. The decision of this case
made Mr.. Carpenter favorite and gave
him a position, among the lawyers OF
the land, that he has never lost.
While this important case was in pro.
gress others of only little less moment
were occupying the mind that was so soon
afterward to electrify the northwest with
its passionate, stirring appeals to the peo-
pie of Wisconsin in behalf of the nations
honor.