Our Carpenter Family arrived in Butler Co. Nebraska in May of 1873. The family was comprised of one daughter, six sons, and their recently widowed mother. The daughter, Elizabeth, was married to Justin Renwick. Elizabeth Renwick, her husband and daughters may have traveled to Nebraska at a later date than the rest of the family. The two older sons, Robert and Judson, were Civil War veterans. They knew of the land available for homesteading in Nebraska. They had grown up on their parent's dairy farm in the village of West Almond, New York. They saw this as an opportunity for those, like themselves, who did not mind hard work . Their father, David Carpenter, died in 1869, and their mother, Elizabeth Warner Carpenter, was still a vigorous and healthy woman.
Elizabeth's family moved to New York from Pennsylvania when she was a young girl. Like her father and her grandmother, Rachel Ryder Warner, she was a hard working, energetic woman with a delightful sense of humor and a kind word for everyone. Elizabeth was fifty three years of age when she arrived in Butler Co. She lived another twenty one years and died in 1894. She was the first person to be buried in the Carpenter plot, at Bellwood Cemetery, Butler Co. Nebraska.
Elizabeth's children, in order of age were; Elizabeth (Carpenter) Renwick, b. 14 Feb. 1840. Robert Common Carpenter, b. 1845, twice enlisted to serve in the Civil War, age 30 when he arrived in NE. Judson Carpenter, b. 1847, a Civil War Veteran, age 28. Ellison Richard Carpenter, age 26, Charles Howell Carpenter, age 22, Eugene L. Carpenter, age 18 and Aaron Carpenter, age 17. Elizabeth's youngest daughter, Viola Victoria, b. 1858, died at an early age.
They first made their home in Pepperville, NE an active pioneer town, though shortlived. Seven years after they arrived the railroad made its way to Butler Co. Bellwood, NE, a new railroad town was built on land owned by Jesse D. Bell. Pepperville soon wilted away and the Carpenter families built their homes in and around Bellwood.
When the family first arrived in Nebraska, Robert and Judson homesteaded about three miles north of present day Bellwood. Their farms were side by side, Judson's lay to the east of Robert's. To this day, April, 2000, the two farms are still in the family, being farmed by the Hall family, descendants of Judson. Ellison, Charles and Aaron homesteaded on a hill in Summit township, about 4 miles southwest of Bellwood. This area was called Carpenter Hill as there were so many Carpenters there. Eugene helped his brother farm and became a much sought after carpenter in the Platte Valley.NE.
Brief Biographies of the Six
Carpenter Brothers
1. Robert Common Carpenter:
b. 15 Jan. 1843 in West Almond, NY. d. 15 Jan. 1917 (Died on his birthday.) married; 1. Jennie Dougherty, on 8 Oct. 1878 in Butler Co. NE. . 2. Laura Sutton in St. James, MO.
Schooled at Angelica, NY. Civil War Veteran. Served in Company J , 27th Regiment. Mustered in May, 1861 as a private. Also served in the 188th NY volunteers, Company D as a Srg't Major. In attendance at surrender of General Lee. Built, with his brother, Judson, a cheese factory at West Almond, NY in 1868.. Moved west to Nebraska in 1873. Farmed in Butler Co. and practiced law until 1895/6. Moved to St. James where he became the second mayor of that town. Practiced law and was active in community affairs. Buried at St. James, MO
Children:
Robert M. Carpenter; b. 4 Mar. 1880 in Butler Co.
Ralph Carpenter b. 7 Nov. 1885
Read more about Robert C. Carpenter on the
2. Judson Carpenter: b. 27 April 1845 in West Almond, NY. d. 12 December 1922.. Married Lottie Bell Dewey 19 February 1876 in Pepperville, NE., daughter of Edward Dewey and Eliza Shaw. Schooled in Angelica, NY. Civil War Veteran. He served in Company D of the 188th NY Volunteer Infantry,from 13 October 1863 to July 1864. Served in the battles of; Hatcher's Run, Welden Rail, Lewis Farm, Five Forks and was in attendance at the surrender of General Lee. Judson and his brother, Robert (Judd and Robb) returned to West Almond, NYafter the war and built a Cheese factory, known for many years as the Johnson Cheese Factory. In 1873, Judson, his brothers and widowed mother left NY to homestead in Nebraska. Judson homesteaded, beside his brother Robb, in Summit Township, Butler Co. He planted numerous trees, tilled the land, grew corn, oats and wheat and produced cheese and butter. In 1882, when the railroad arrived, the town of Bellwood was built. A hotel was built soon after, which was bought by Judson in 1888. Judson owned the Bellwood hotel until he died in 1922, when it was deeded to his daughter Mabel.in is will.
Children:
Merlon J Carpenter; b 27 July 1877 d. 29 Oct. 1954
Vernon L Carpenter b. May 1880 d. 6 Aug. 1913
Mable M. Carpenter b.1882 d 6 March 1928
Reatha F. Carpenter b. 24 Nov. 1890 d. 1973
3. Ellison R. Carpenter:
b. 9 July 1847 in West Almond, NY d. 30 Nov.1917 in Butler Co.,NY m. Mary Ann Hales on 5 Oct. 1881. Ellison had just turned 26 when he arrived in Nebraska with his brothers. He took a homestead on what became known as Carpenter Hill, in Summit Township, Butler Co. NE. His brother's Charles and Aaron farmed just to the west of his land. Ellison was a productive and well known farmer, who farmed his land for 44 years. He lost the use of a hand due to a farm machinery accident. During his farming years he became a prosperous, well-liked citizen of Butler Co. He retired in David City, NE and is buried in the David City Cemetery .
Children:
William Ray b. 21 July 1882 d. 1971
Lena May b.11 June 1885 d. 1953
Flossie Wyona b. 2 Sept. 1887 d.1969
Myra Elizabeth b. 2 Dec. 1889 d. 1945
Hubert Ellison b. 22 Oct. 1891 d. 1933
Mary Lydia
b. 18 Sept.1893
Helen Esther b. 26 Dec. 1899
5. Aaron Carpenter: b. July 1856 in west Almond, NY d. 7 Feb, 1940. Aaron married Annie Stern on 23 Mar. 1885 in David City, NE. Aaron was the youngest Carpenter brother. He was already farming his own farm by the age of 24. Aaron farmed most of his life in Summt Township, Butler Co. NE. By the age of 26, according to the 1885 census, he owned his farm, clear of any mortgage. In later years Aaron moved to Idaho to live near his daughter, Letta and her husband Herbert Benda.
Children:
Edward Lee b. 1881 d. 1955
Letta Belle b. 1887 d. 1955
Hulbert L. b. 1897 d. 1936
6. Eugene L. Carpenter: b. July 1855 d. Jan. 08, 1940. m. Della Randall on 9 Sept. 1884. Eugene farmed at times in his life but was known as a carpenter who built homes for farmers in the Platte Valley, NE, Eugene was one of the first trustees for the town of Bellwood when it was founded in 1882. He also served as a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent of Sunday School at the M. E. Church in Bellwood. NE. Notes from the Bellwood Methodist Church in 1892. "E.L. Carpenter, a skilled craftsman who operates a carriage shop was chosen as foreman to construct a new wing on the south side of the church......When the church was torn down 70 years later, workmen marvelled that his truss work, which supported a 50 ft. gap in the wall, was so well designed that there was no sag in the wall." In 1894, Eugene bought the Carpenter Family Burial Plot at Bellwood Cemetery. His mother, Elizabeth "Warner" Carpenter who died in 1894, was the first Carpenter to be buried there, In his later years, Eugene also managed the Bellwood Hotel for his brother Judson. Eugene is recorded on the 1920 US Census still managing the hotel. We (as of December, 2002) have received information from one of Eugene's descendant,Tom Dickson, that he and his family left Bellwood, NE, in 1902 to farm in Weyburn, Saskatchwan, Canada. He farmed there for the rest of his life and is buried in Weyburn. He evidently returned for a period of time around 1920 ar he was living at and managing the Bellwood Hotel when the 1920 census was recorded.
Children:
1. Leroy William Carpenter b.1886 2. Cleo M. Carpenter b. 1887 3. Florence S. Carpenter
4. Della Carpenter b. 1895 5. Frank E. Carpenter b. 1898
6. Frances Carpenter b. 1899 / m. 1919 to
Orville Leroy Smith./ d. 1988
Carpenter family and friends, some not yet identified
With thanks to Bob Bell for the photo
The Bellwood Hotel was built in 1883 by C. W. Eubanks. It was first called Bellwood House. George Dittenhaver managed the hotel until 1888, when it was sold to Judson Carpenter. Judson owned the hotel until he died in 1922. Judson deeded the hotel to his daughter Mable Carpenter Judevine. Mabel ran the hotel until 1927, when her daughter, Arnola Judevine Demuth took over. It was sold to W.T. Randolph in 1929.
Reatha Carpenter Hall, Judson's youngest daughter recalled that all the carpenters building the Bellwood High School in 1890 stayed at the hotel. For many years the business people, dealers, salesmen, and families buying farmland in the area came into Bellwood on the twice-daily passenger trains and stayed at the hotel. The hotel did a thriving business until after the 1st. World War. As autos came into common use, the business slowly diminished.
On June 10, 1970 the Bellwood Hotel was bulldozed to the ground.
Source: Members of the Carpenter family and p. 144-145 of Bellwood Centennial, The First 100 Years.
Memory
My name and my place and my tomb all forgotten,
The brief race of time well and patiently run,
So let me pass away, peacefully, silently,
Only remembered by what I have done.
Bonar
William, John, Samuel, Samuel, Joshua, Richard, David, Judson, Merlon, Keith
1. The Carpenter Family
2. Brief Biographies of the Six Carpenter Brothers
3. The Bellwood Hotel 1890
