NORTHWESTERN IOWA ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION VOLUME II 1804-1926 H. U. Carpenter For practically forty years Hiram U. Carpenter has been identified, in one way or another, with the livestock business at Sioux City, and during this period he has been a witness of and a participant in the wonderful growth of the business from a small beginning to its present mammoth proportions, Sioux City now being one of the chief livestock markets of the world. He is now vice president and general manager of Long & Hansen, one of the old and reliable livestock commission houses of this city, and because of his success and his splendid personality has gained an enviable place in the esteem of all who know him. Mr. Carpenter was born in Chicasaw county, Iowa, on the 27th of May, 1869, and is a son of Alpheus and Sarah (Layton) Carpenter. His father was a native of Montpelier, Vermont, while his mother was born in England, from which country she was brought to the United States in childhood. She became the wife of Alpheus Carpenter in Nashua, Iowa. Mr. Carpenter was a man of progressive and enterprising spirit and established the first steam sawmill in Chickasaw county, operating it a number of years in Bradford. Later he engaged in the livery business. He and his wife are now both deceased. Hiram U. Carpenter secured his educational training in the public schools of Charles City, Iowa, and his first employment was in carrying bricks used in the building of the courthouse at Spencer, Iowa, being sixteen years of age at the time. Later he worked four or five summers at railroad construction work, mostly grading, in Nebraska and South Dakota, and in November, 1887, came to Sioux City, being for some years employed at the stockyards. In 1899 he began his identification with the live stock commission business as yard man for Long & Hansen. Later he was made hog salesman for this firm, which position he held until 1910, when he became a partner. Eight years later he became vice-president of the company and on March 1, 1925, was made the active manager of the business, which position he still fills. In 1893, Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage to Miss Mary Niven, of Hampton, Iowa, and to this union have been born two children, namely: Orpha, who died in 1896; and Harry U., who is connected with his father's company. Mr. Carpenter is a member of Morningside Lodge, No. 615, A. F. & A. M.; Sunrise Chapter, No.l 141, R. A. M.; Sioux City Consistory, No. 5, A. A. S. R.; Abu-Bekr Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.; Isis Chapter, No. 173, O. E. S.; Mispah Shrine, No. 13, Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem; the Knights of the Maccabees, and the Homesteaders. Mrs. Carpenter belongs to the Eastern Star and the White Shrine. Mr. Carpenter is vice-president of the Sioux City Live Stock Exchange, and belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member and director of the Morningside Country Club and of the Morningside planning commission. The family are all members of the Morningside Presbyterian church. Mr. Carpenter is of the highest type of progressive citizen, standing for all that is best in community life and supporting every measure calculated to advance the public interests. Candid and straightforward in all of his relations, he has long held a high place in public esteem and is regarded as one of the representative men of his community. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/