Facets of Fannin -? A History of Fannin County Georgia? page 229- CARPENTER FAMILY F90 ? Emanuel Morton Carpenter ran away from his father's North Carolina plantation at age fourteen, never returning, because of punishment or threatened punishment for a wrong committed by a slave, so he said. In his Bible he wrote, "Age not known." The 1850 Gilmer County, Georgia census listed his age as 20, born in North Carolina, a farmer, in the household of Letty Rawlston and her five children. He married September 22, 1852, Elizabeth Elvira, daughter of Henry and Anna (Bandy) Wikle of Gilmer. Children of E.M. and Elizabeth were William Henry Emanuel, Jesse Houston (b. 1854), and Loucratus Galveston (b. July 9, 1858), called "Crate." They lived nearby and attended the Carte cay Methodist Church. ? In the History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas, his son, Jesse, stated that the Union sentiments held by his father made him an enemy. He was forced into the Confederate Army and was unable to escape for fourteen months. He was enlisted May 16, 1862, as a private in Company D, 6th Regiment, Georgia Cavalry, and remained for three years of the war. After escaping, he quickly disposed of his property and refugeed behind Federal lines. ? In Fannin County by 1880 were Emanuel Morton, wife Elizabeth, and sons Jesse and Crate. Crate was married January 1, 1880, to Sarah Jane (b. December 22, 1860), daughter of Joseph O. Lewis, who enlisted in the Confederate Army on the same day, place, company, length of service and enlisting official as E.M. Carpenter. Joseph was captured in Gilmer County October 24, 1864, and sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois, where he died April 23, 1865. His parents were John and Anna (Nancy Oliver) Lewis of Gilmer County. ? Emanuel sold his two tracts of 80 and 160 acres in Fannin County, and in 1886 left by train for Wise County, Texas. Making the trip were Elizabeth, E.M., Sarah Jane, Crate, Martha Amanda (b. November 6, 1880), Samuel Morgan, and Flora Isibel (b. September 3, 1884). Children born in Texas were Morton Lewis, Nora Elizabeth and Tempie Jane (b. November 6,1890). Shortly after her birth, their low-lying farm and home were flooded by heavy rains for miles up the creek. In caring for two children ill with typhoid fever, a new infant, and in a weakened condition, Sarah became ill and died February 2, 1891. Following her in death were E.M., on January 11, 1892, then Tempie Jane on September 24, 1893. Leaving his five children with family, Crate took his team of mules and worked three years for the Rock Island Railroad. He and Jesse bought 300 acres east of Bridge 0 t where they cleared 25 acres, planted corn, built a 14' x 14' one-room house, with dirt floor and a pole kitchen on the! back. Crate built beds, a table with legs fastened with pegs, cow-hide seat chairs, a meat box, and shelves between the beds for their scant supply of clothing. ? In 1894 Crate went to Oklahoma in a covered wagon to "fetch" Betty K. Franklin, widow with one child, who became his second wife. She gave birth March 3, 1895, to twin daughters, assisted by Crate in the absence of the late-arriving doctor. Years of exposure on the railroad led to a cough. Crate died of tuberculosis and pneumonia on January 11, 1896. ? Betty had three children and four stepchildren to care for as they continued to farm, clear more land, and dig stumps out by hand. They raised a spring and fall garden, killed and cured their meat supply. Flora, age twelve, plowed by working the plow around stumps. She helped to clean their crops then hoed for neighbors for forty cents a day where grass was taller than crops. Sacked corn was carried on horseback to a nearby mill for grinding into meal. ? Betty's mother went to visit and persuaded her to return to Oklahoma. First, Betty placed her step-children with family and neighbors. Amanda and Nora went to neighbors and later married into the family. Samuel Morgan later went to Montana and died there a bachelor in 1935. Lewis married, fathered four children before the death of his wife and infant in 1919. He married Minnie Mowery in 1926 and they had seven children. They owned a farm near the New Mexico line where they started a church in their home. Lewis celebrated his 100th birthday on December 10, 1986. ? Flora lived part time with her Uncle Jesse, caring for his children and home and attending school as work allowed. She also lived with Grandmother Carpenter who died January 13, 1901. She, Samuel and Lewis were living together when she married Hugh 1. Hartsell on August 6, 1905. They soon bought a farm, which they paid for in three years. Born there were their five children: Amy Mae (b. December 4, 1906), Opal Lavenia (b. August 26, 1911), Claude Lewis (b. June 19, 1915), Aleta Joyce (b. January 3, 1920) and Charles Franklin (b. December 31, 1925). They sold the farm and bought one in Floyd County, making the trip in the family Model T Ford. Household goods, farm equipment and animals were moved by train. The family lived there until 1960, again selling their farm and buying a ranch in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. Moving there were Flora, Hugh L., Charles and family. Flora died there on December 19, 1970, followed by Hugh L. July 22, 1972. Surviving are the five children, ele! ven grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, and two great great granddchildren scattered over several states. ? Flora said she often heard her grandfather Emanuel Morton Carpenter preach in Wise County, although she did not know if he were ordained. He talked about his war experiences. Some soldiers were without shoes, had one thin blanket, which was, spread over brush and half of it used for covering. At times the falling snow furnished the warmth. ? Submitted by Joyce Taylor ?