If I Were a Carpenter

If the Carpenter family was “Pennsylvania Dutch,” as the tradition goes, their name was translated from the German word Zimmermann. 

“Pennsylvania Dutch” is the name given to the families who came from the Palatinate region in Europe that includes portions of Germany, Alsace-Lorraine in France, and Switzerland. They fled religious persecution because they objected to war. Most of them belonged to the so-called “Peace Churches” as the German Dunkers, Quakers and Amish/Mennonites were called.   Pennsylvania in the 1700s became a haven for these mostly German-speaking people.

Jacob Carpenter, who came to Chicago from Logan County, Ohio in 1833, was married to Nancy Pearce. He built a log house on the east side of the Fox River, about a half-mile from the spot now occupied by the village of Montgomery. This was the first house in Aurora Township, and one of the first in Kane County. The Carpenter family occupied it the week before Christmas. Jacob Carpenter’s wife, Nancy, gave birth to a son who they named Elijah Pearce Carpenter, after Nancy's father, on May 25, 1834.

The following April, the adult Elijah Pearce arrived from Logan County, Ohio. He built a cabin on the banks of the Fox River, and it was used as a tavern to shelter overnight travelers. He was able to buy 300 acres of land, most of which is now within the city limits of Aurora, for $7 an acre.

A large stone historical marker to honor these settlers rests on the site where Elliott’s Creek once emptied into the Fox River. The brass plaque can be viewed from the driveway on the north side of Dieterle’s parking lot on Route 25, just south of the Ashland Avenue Bridge.

Then the large Keck family arrived from New York in 1840, bringing 19 adults and numerous children in their party. Soon the Keck family reunion would contain a number of Carpenters. The Keck Cemetery book is filled with burials of Carpenters as well. 

The story of the Cooney family that ran in this series, failed to mention a Carpenter/Cooney marriage. I became aware of that after I received the information from Robert Cooney. The bride was Amanda Melvina Carpenter, who was born just two years after Jacob Carpenter arrived.

One of the saddest stories in Montgomery’s history is that of young Elijah Pearce Carpenter. His wife died in childbirth a year after they married. He was left with a newborn baby who he named Ira. Elijah died six years later, leaving the little boy to be raised by his grandparents Jacob and Nancy Pearce Carpenter.  

Ira’s life was often filled with sadness. His wife Nellie also died young; leaving him with a little girl they named Agnes. He carried on alone until he met a widow named Adelaide Keck. She had four children, and he was thrilled and proud to have a nice family of both daughters and sons. 

Ira worked as a teamster, and while making one of his regular trips hauling grain to Daniel Gray’s mill, he stumbled upon a gruesome scene that would haunt him for the rest of his life.  

One fine May morning in 1892, he arrived at the mill with an unusually large load of grain. Undecided about where to put it, he went into the mill to get his friend Jim Jameson the head miller. He dashed up the first flight of stairs and into the mill, and turned to go up the second flight of stairs. That’s when he saw Jim bending over a machine oiling it. He called to him, but there was no answer. 

The machinery in the mill was so loud that he walked around in front of Jim, to make himself heard. To his horror – he discovered his friend slumped over the machine with blood still dripping into spreading puddle on the floor. He ran for help to shut off the water and stop the machine, but it was too late. Jim’s arm was caught in one of the big gears, and his screams for help could not be heard.

Ira Carpenter survived more tragedies in his lifetime than most. He buried his second wife in 1919, but he was never alone again. His children visited him and cared for him until he died on Christmas Eve of 1934. He was 80 years old.

The Carpenter Clan was well known throughout the area. Meg Carpenter’s store was a fixture on the corner of Lake and Jericho in Aurora. Jess Carpenter and his wife Mabel, had a restaurant on Main Street in Oswego. In one large Carpenter family the boys were all known by nicknames, which is how the community knew them.

“Pug” Carpenter was well known in Oswego. He once said that the largest family of Carpenters was that of Luther C. and Nettie Davis Carpenter, with 16 children.

The Carpenter family has left its mark on the history of Montgomery; not only through those who carry the name, but through the vast number of descendants with different surnames. It is a strong, respectful identity. In Montgomery, any number of people are identified as “one of the Carpenters,” even though it is through the maternal line.