Powell Carpenter, a native of Orion Township, in which he lives, was born Feb 8, 1837. His father, Thomas J. Carpenter, as born in New York in 1807, and his grandfather, for whom he was named, was a native of the old Bay State, being born there Feb 1, 1771. He was a farmer by occupation and came to Oakland County, Mich.,in 1824, and entered a half-section of land in Orion Township. He also planed a caused to be built what is now known as Rudd's Mill, which for more than three-score years has stood in the southeast corner of section 12, Orion Township. He never located permanently here but returned to Monroe County, N. Y., where he died in 1853 at the age of eighty-four years. He was a man of considerable prominence and served as an Associate Judge for some time in Monroe County and also filled other minor offices. His father was a Revolutionary soldier whose eldest son served in the War of 1812. His wife was Lucy Killam, who was born in Pennsy;vania in 1779, and whose death occurred in 1863. She was the mother of eleven children, only two of whom are living.

Thomas J. Carpenter, the father of our subject, came to Oakland County, Mich., in 1831 and became one of the earliest settlers in Orion Township. He made his home on land which his father had previosly entered from the Government He suffered some of the trials and vicissitudes incident to the first settlers of a new country. In 1860 he removed to Midland where he still lives in his eighty-fifth year. He has been twice married, his first companion being Juliette Clarke, who was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., in 1803 and qho passed fromearth in Sep 1854. Both were charter members of the first Methodist Episcolpal Church organized in Orion Township. In 1856 he married CatherineY. Casamer, his present companion. Five of the seven children borne by his first wife are still living.

The subject of this biographical sketch eceived his preliminary education in the district school. In the fall of 1858 he entered the State Agricultural College at Lansing, where he spentthree terms. Among the friends whom he made while in this institution are Judge Morse of the Michigan Supreme Court and Prof. Cook, of the Agricultural College. Afte leaving college he taught one term and then entered upon the pursuit of farming which he has since followed. He purchased the old homestead but sold it before long and in the spring of 1864 he purchased the farm on which he now resides.

In 1863, Mr. Carpenter formed a life union with Lucinda Welch, of Orion Township, who was born Oct 19, 1836. She is a daughter of Eli and Polly (Owen) Welch, who came to Michigan in 1836 and made their first home in Auburn. Mr Welch was a tanner and followed his trade for a short time but subsequently removed to Orion Township and located on a farm. He died April 1,1882, having been bereaced of his wife in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are the parents of three children. Their eldest daughter, Altha J., is now the wife of Walter R. Houxwell. The other daughters Lucy L. and Florence P. are at home.

This gentleman is a Republication and is often a delegate to county and state conventions. He is a man with a large store of information and a broad and strong influence in his township. His one hundred and sixty acres of fine land are in an excellent condition. He is carrying out quietly in his life the traits which he inhertited from his ancestry,faithfulness to duty and patriotic intrest in the welfare of his country. His maternal grandfather, Samuel Clark, of Connecticut was a Revolutionary soldier, whose noble wife did her share in the conflict by building signal fires upon the hills for the warning of Washington's army.