Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-31
COL.CARPENTER
SUCCUMBEO N
M0NTRFA FAL,CAN.
Father of Ottumwans, and
Builder of Railroads and
Other Utilities, and War
Veteran, Answers Call.
THREE DAUGHTERS
AT HIS BEDSIDE

Brief Illness in Canadian
Hospital Terminated in
Death Yesterday Of Well
known Ottumwan.
Col. Seymour David Carpenter,
father OF Mrs. A. G.. Harrow, Mrs. w.
y. Elliott and Mrs. Catherine Taylor,
died yesterday morning at 11:3O
o'clock In Royal Victoria hospital In
Montreal, Can, where he had been
under treatment for Bright's disease
since Monday. At his bedside when
death came were his three daughters.
and Mrs. Carpenter. The body Will
arrive In Ottumwa Sunday morning
on Burlington No. g. The funeral ar.
rangements will be announced later,
The death of Mr.. Carpenter closes
the career Of pioneer Iowan build
er Of railroads and public utilities, and
warrior who was twice honored
with commissions from Presidents
Abraham Lincoln and Andrew John.
son. He had lived in Ottumwa from
1866 to 1881, and in those early days
of this community, he was one OF the
foremost men OF the city. He wau
active in building the Burlington and
Missouri river railroad from this city
to the western terminal and the st.
Louis and Cedar Rapids railroad fIom
the south line Of this city. Later Aia
attention was directed to the building
OF gas and water plants. being identi-
ned with the construction and man.
agement OF the plants In Marshall.
town, Ia. Streator, ILL.,. and Appleton.
Wis. Mr.. Carpenter responded to thi
call OF his country when the rebellion
broke out by taking an active part In
raising the first company [ Linn
county, where he resided at the time,
and In the service he served first aa
surgeon and later as medical director.
When mustered out, for faithful and
meritorious service he was given the
commission Of lieutenant colonel.
Came to Iowa In 1849.
Seymour David Carpenter was de-
scendant OF Swiss family, which
emigrated from the canton OF Berne
in 1706, and settled in Lancaster cour,
ty, Penn A part of the family, In.
cluding the grandfather left Pennsyl.
vania and settled in and named Ian.
caster. Ohio, in 1902. The decedent
was born near that place April 20.
1925. He was educated at Granville
college, Ohio. and when nineteen
years OF age he went as teacher to
Holly Springs, Miss. Returning In
1S47 to Lancaster he commenced the
study of medicine in the Office OF two
well known physicians, and in 1849 he
was graduated as doctor OF medicine
from the University Of Pennsylvania.
During that same year he removed to
Cedar Rapids, then town OF 200 In
habitants. He practiced for Ave years
and In 1854 engaged in real estate
transactions. He was married to Miss
Sarah Weare in 1850, and in 1858 with
John Weare and Henry Stubbs, he
opened banking business, which con-
tinued until the establishment OF the
First National bank OF Cedar Rapids.
Notable Civil War Record.
When the rebellion broke out, Mr..
Carpenter took an active part In rails.
ing the first company enlisted in Linn
county, and by order of Governor,
Kirkwood he clothed, subsisted and
transported 1t to Keokuk where the
first regiment was organized. In 1861
Mr. Carpenter received the appoint.
ment of assistant surgeon in the army
and joined the United States forces
on the Potomac. From there he was
ordered to Benton barracks, st. Louis,
and In few weeks to Fayetteville,
Ark, where he had charge of the
general hospital. While there FL.
yetteville was attacked by the enemy
and with 900 patients and nurses fell
into the hands Of the confederates.
Mr.. Carpenter was taken out OF the
rebel lines under flag of truce and
ordered for duty at Memphis, where
after few months of hospital serv.
ice he was made medical director Of
the district OF the border with head
quarters at Kansas City, Later he
was made medical director Of the Inn
portant district Of ST. Louis. He
again fell into the enemy's hands at
Pilot Knob, but was released under .
flag of truce. He was mustered out Of
the service in July, 1865, and for faith.
full and meritorious service rendered.
the commission Of lieutenant colonel
was conferred upon him.
Came to Ottumwa In 1856.
Col. Carpenter removed to Ottumwa
In 1856, and for several years after
ward be was active in building the b
and M. r. road from this city to the
Missouri river, and the st. l.. and q
r. route from the south line Of the
state to Ottumwa. The balance Of hts
residence in the state, UP to 1881, was
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