The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, April 19, 1906 GEO. F. CARPENTER - - - - - - Knows a good thing when he is in possession of it and has declared his willingness to traffic in marriage licenses and keep tab on court calendars and judicial decrees for two more years after next January to come. As county clerk he has given general satisfaction and his sacrifice of private time is so generously and courteously donated that the dear people feel no reluctance in asking him to remain "subject to the November election." Thus he spans the time without clash of arms or shibboleth of hostility -- not as a noble warrior but merely as a bridge Carpenter. In this connection, it is proper to remark, there are others who would gladly forego the heroism of war for his peaceful pursuit and assurance of a civilian's reward. In youth Geo. F. Carpenter grew to manhood's estate in Chariton. He received the rudiments of a good education in the city schools and after years of cultivation these rudiments ripened into knowledge. This city was then the center of civilizat! ion, commerce and learning. To the south and east was a vast wilderness given up to rank grass through which the buffalo and bull snakes roamed -- and savage men. Young Carpenter saw the needs of growing civilization, equipped a splendid army and to the music of fife and drum marched forth into the state of Benton and laid claim to the land. He met the war chief, Gehominy and his band of fifty, the usual painted warriors, armed with pikes and lances, and made them take to the gopher hills. He planted old glory on Salem Heights, took possession of the country in the name of Ulysses Grant, hired himself to a farmer for $10 per month and made the country what it is. Many years later he returned to Chariton and as building material was high the citizens decided that it would be much cheaper to honor him with the clerk's office than to erect a marble shaft having a martial figure with a drawn sabre on top. Thus a sword has been shaped into pen points and others fallow the ! soil where he earned a competency during his younger days. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 8, 2004 [email protected]