This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Wallis, Carpenter, Vasquez, Hunt, Bequette, Boyer, Teague, Moore Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/HY.2ADE/1698 Message Board Post: Tulare, Oct. 23, 1948 John Wallis Carpenter, 82, early day Tulare County cattleman, died here last night after a long illness. Carpenter, who formerly operated a cattle ranch in Eshom Valley, near Badger in eastern Tulare County, was born in the mining community of Coulterville in Mariposa County. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Carpenter, who came to California during the Gold Rush. His mother was the first white woman in the mining camp of Sonora, where his father operated a blacksmith shop. Carpenter spent most of his boyhood on a cattle ranch in Stanislaus County, and saw the transition of the great central valley plains from unfenced cattle range to the highly developed agricultural empire it is today. In his youth he attended college in San Jose and at one time was heavyweight boxing champion of California. When he was a small boy he met the notorious bandit Tiburcio Vasquez and a heavily armed band camped overnight in an isolated section of the Carpenter ranch. (Near Modesto) Carpenter moved to Tulare from Woodlake about six years. He is survived by his widow, Anna and the following children: John W. Carpenter, Earlimart; Mrs. Lucille Hunt, Manteca; Mrs. Elsie Bequette, Tulare; George Carpenter, Miramonte; Mrs. Rose Boyer, Tulare; Mrs. Ellen Teague, Tipton. He also leaves one sister, Mrs. Carrie Moore of San Jose. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 PM Monday in the Goble Chapel. Burial will be in the Reedley Cemetery.