Individual Details
Ephraim Keyes Carpenter
(29 Dec 1799 - 9 Feb 1869)
"A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio"
by George Frederick Wright
Ephraim Keyes Carpenter, On other pages is published an interesting record concerning the prominent early settlers of Avon Township, a.s reproduced from an article written and read at the centennial anniversary of the first settlement of Avon, this celebration having been held in 1914. In this article, written by Horace J. Gaboon of Elyria, a descendant of one of the old-time families of that township, mention was made of E. K. Carpenter and wife as a pioneer couple who made their influence definitely count in this new country. Keyes Carpenter, as he was always known, was in fact a man whose industry, wholesome character, and private and public activities would comprise a valuable influence in any locality. It is only a matter of just due that some permanent record should be made of his life, especially as it affects Lorain County.
Born in Lee Township, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, December 29, 1799, Ephraim Keyes Carpenter was a son of Levi and Hannah (Keyes) Carpenter. The sources of his early training and education are not a matter of record, but the facts of his later life show ample evidence of a wholesome development of character and a considerable knowledge of books and the world. About the time he attained his majority he set out with a boy companion, Hosea Harris, for the new country of Northern Ohio. These two young men walked practically all the way to Lorain county. The only exception was one day when they were supposed to ride on a stage, but as a matter of fact they carried stakes most of the day and helped pry the coach out of the mud. The destination of Keyes Carpenter was his uncle's home in Lorain County. It was in honor of his uncle that Mr. Carpenter was named. Arriving in Avon, he worked for his uncle and gradually paid for the fifty acres of new land which he secured as the nucleus of the old Carpenter homestead in Avon Township.
It was in 1819 that Keyes Carpenter came to Ohio. He was then not quite twenty-one, and had bought his time from his father on leaving home, and his entire capital on reaching Ohio was $20. For the fifty acres above mentioned the purchase price was $5 per acre, and it took considerable time to pay for this liuid. He possessed great industry, was very enterprising and successful as a farmer and he gradually increased his holdings in Avon from 50 acres to 150 acres. In 1832 he built the old frame house on the farm in Avon, and that house, now one of the oldest and most interesting landmarks of the early days, is still standing and in good repair, and is the home of John B. Dechant, who now owns a part of what was the old Carpenter farm.
After a residence in Lorain County of more than forty years E. K. Carpenter sold his farm in Avon Township to Bartel Thome. Record of the sale and deed was dated April 23, 1863. The old farm is located on Stony Ridge Road in Avon, not far from French Creek. After disposing of his property in Lorain County, Mr, Carpenter moved with his family to East Gilead in Branch County, Michigan. He bought 120 acres of good land in that picturesque and attractive section of one of Southern Michigan's finest counties. The old house on the Michigan farm had been built a number of years before, and still stands today in good condition.
Mr. Carpenter once served as township trustee in Avon Township, and for a long time was road supervisor. For a number of years he steadily supported the whig candidates in politics, and became a republican upon the organization of that party. Outside of his work as a farmer and home maker, he was probably best known for his activities as a churchman. He was a charter member of the Avon Methodist Episcopal Church, was a class leader from its beginning for fully forty years, and was also a licensed exhorter and local preacher. He was one of the men who helped to build up churches and extend religious influences in the old Western Reserve of Ohio. In the absence of regular preachers or missionaries be frequently held meetings in his neighborhood, and the Carpenter home was often the scene of gatherings for prayer and Bible reading. After moving to Michigan he became a member and active worker in the Evangelical Church at East Gilead. He was a good man through and through, highly respected in any community where he resided, and members of the present generation who enjoy an unexampled prosperity which the sacrifices of such pioneers made possible may well pay a tribute of gratitude to such early settlers as Keyes Carpenter.
E. K. Carpenter died at East Gilead, Branch County, Michigan, February 9, 1869. In Avon Township, Lorain County, Ohio, he met and married Miss Lavina Carly Cooper, a daughter of David and Polly Cooper, all of whom were born in New York State. David Cooper, her father, died at Troy, Ashland County, Ohio, and is buried there. His wife, Polly Cooper, died in Steuben County, Indiana, and is buried at Lake Gage, Indiana. Mrs. E. K. Carpenter died September 29, 1863, shortly after the family arrived in Michigan. Both she and her husband now rest in the cemetery at East Gilead. Their children were named Orin Gilmore, Julia Etta, Sarepta Cordelia, Tressa Melissa, Theodore Jasper, Luke Johnson, Charles Norton, all of whom grew to maturity.
These children were all born in the old house which is still standing on the farm in Avon Township. The four who are still living are: Tressa Melissa Warriner, of Steuben County, Indiana; Theodore Jasper Carpenter, of East Gilead, Branch County, Michigan ; Luke Johnson Carpenter, of East Gilead, Branch County, Michigan; and Charles Norton Carpenter, of Jonesville, Michigan.
He was a charter member of the Avon Methodist Episcopal Church was a class leader from its beginning for forty years. He was also a licensed exhorter and local preacher. He was one of the men who helped to build up churches and extend religious influences in the old Western Reserve of Ohio. In the absence of regular preachers or missionaries he frequently held meetings in his neighborhood and the Carpenter home was often the scene of gatherings for prayer and Bible reading. After moving to Michigan he became a member and active worker in the Evangelical Church at East Gilead. He was married to Lavina Carly Cooper, daughter of David Cooper and Polly Atwell. They had nine children. Ephraim Keyes Carpenter's uncle was likely Ephraim Keyes, brother to his mother Hannah Keyes.
CHILD NOTES: Ephraim Keyes CARPENTER Birth(10,11): Barbour collection indicates Ephraim Keyes, s. Levi & Hannah, b. Oct.1, [ ], vol 4, page 7.The History of Lorain County [MA] indicates he was "born in Lee Township, Berkshire County, MA, December 29, 1799; Ephraim Keyes Carpenter was a son of Levi and Hannah (Keyes) Carpenter. Residence(14): Shortly after moving to MI with his family, he apparently bought a home and 120 acres of land in East Gilead after selling his land in Avon, Lorain County, Ohio. General(17): Ephraim Keyes Carpenter (known as Keyes) apparently walked to Northern Ohio with a friend Hosea Harris arriving in 1819. Their destination was his uncle's home in Loraine Co. It was in honor of his uncle that Mr. Carpenter was named. Arriving in Avon he worked for his uncle and gradually paid for the 50 acres of new land which he secured as the nucleus of the old Carpenter homestead in Avon Township.
Ephraim K. CARPENTER and Levi CARPENTER were living Avon, Lorain, OH in 1830.
by George Frederick Wright
Ephraim Keyes Carpenter, On other pages is published an interesting record concerning the prominent early settlers of Avon Township, a.s reproduced from an article written and read at the centennial anniversary of the first settlement of Avon, this celebration having been held in 1914. In this article, written by Horace J. Gaboon of Elyria, a descendant of one of the old-time families of that township, mention was made of E. K. Carpenter and wife as a pioneer couple who made their influence definitely count in this new country. Keyes Carpenter, as he was always known, was in fact a man whose industry, wholesome character, and private and public activities would comprise a valuable influence in any locality. It is only a matter of just due that some permanent record should be made of his life, especially as it affects Lorain County.
Born in Lee Township, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, December 29, 1799, Ephraim Keyes Carpenter was a son of Levi and Hannah (Keyes) Carpenter. The sources of his early training and education are not a matter of record, but the facts of his later life show ample evidence of a wholesome development of character and a considerable knowledge of books and the world. About the time he attained his majority he set out with a boy companion, Hosea Harris, for the new country of Northern Ohio. These two young men walked practically all the way to Lorain county. The only exception was one day when they were supposed to ride on a stage, but as a matter of fact they carried stakes most of the day and helped pry the coach out of the mud. The destination of Keyes Carpenter was his uncle's home in Lorain County. It was in honor of his uncle that Mr. Carpenter was named. Arriving in Avon, he worked for his uncle and gradually paid for the fifty acres of new land which he secured as the nucleus of the old Carpenter homestead in Avon Township.
It was in 1819 that Keyes Carpenter came to Ohio. He was then not quite twenty-one, and had bought his time from his father on leaving home, and his entire capital on reaching Ohio was $20. For the fifty acres above mentioned the purchase price was $5 per acre, and it took considerable time to pay for this liuid. He possessed great industry, was very enterprising and successful as a farmer and he gradually increased his holdings in Avon from 50 acres to 150 acres. In 1832 he built the old frame house on the farm in Avon, and that house, now one of the oldest and most interesting landmarks of the early days, is still standing and in good repair, and is the home of John B. Dechant, who now owns a part of what was the old Carpenter farm.
After a residence in Lorain County of more than forty years E. K. Carpenter sold his farm in Avon Township to Bartel Thome. Record of the sale and deed was dated April 23, 1863. The old farm is located on Stony Ridge Road in Avon, not far from French Creek. After disposing of his property in Lorain County, Mr, Carpenter moved with his family to East Gilead in Branch County, Michigan. He bought 120 acres of good land in that picturesque and attractive section of one of Southern Michigan's finest counties. The old house on the Michigan farm had been built a number of years before, and still stands today in good condition.
Mr. Carpenter once served as township trustee in Avon Township, and for a long time was road supervisor. For a number of years he steadily supported the whig candidates in politics, and became a republican upon the organization of that party. Outside of his work as a farmer and home maker, he was probably best known for his activities as a churchman. He was a charter member of the Avon Methodist Episcopal Church, was a class leader from its beginning for fully forty years, and was also a licensed exhorter and local preacher. He was one of the men who helped to build up churches and extend religious influences in the old Western Reserve of Ohio. In the absence of regular preachers or missionaries be frequently held meetings in his neighborhood, and the Carpenter home was often the scene of gatherings for prayer and Bible reading. After moving to Michigan he became a member and active worker in the Evangelical Church at East Gilead. He was a good man through and through, highly respected in any community where he resided, and members of the present generation who enjoy an unexampled prosperity which the sacrifices of such pioneers made possible may well pay a tribute of gratitude to such early settlers as Keyes Carpenter.
E. K. Carpenter died at East Gilead, Branch County, Michigan, February 9, 1869. In Avon Township, Lorain County, Ohio, he met and married Miss Lavina Carly Cooper, a daughter of David and Polly Cooper, all of whom were born in New York State. David Cooper, her father, died at Troy, Ashland County, Ohio, and is buried there. His wife, Polly Cooper, died in Steuben County, Indiana, and is buried at Lake Gage, Indiana. Mrs. E. K. Carpenter died September 29, 1863, shortly after the family arrived in Michigan. Both she and her husband now rest in the cemetery at East Gilead. Their children were named Orin Gilmore, Julia Etta, Sarepta Cordelia, Tressa Melissa, Theodore Jasper, Luke Johnson, Charles Norton, all of whom grew to maturity.
These children were all born in the old house which is still standing on the farm in Avon Township. The four who are still living are: Tressa Melissa Warriner, of Steuben County, Indiana; Theodore Jasper Carpenter, of East Gilead, Branch County, Michigan ; Luke Johnson Carpenter, of East Gilead, Branch County, Michigan; and Charles Norton Carpenter, of Jonesville, Michigan.
He was a charter member of the Avon Methodist Episcopal Church was a class leader from its beginning for forty years. He was also a licensed exhorter and local preacher. He was one of the men who helped to build up churches and extend religious influences in the old Western Reserve of Ohio. In the absence of regular preachers or missionaries he frequently held meetings in his neighborhood and the Carpenter home was often the scene of gatherings for prayer and Bible reading. After moving to Michigan he became a member and active worker in the Evangelical Church at East Gilead. He was married to Lavina Carly Cooper, daughter of David Cooper and Polly Atwell. They had nine children. Ephraim Keyes Carpenter's uncle was likely Ephraim Keyes, brother to his mother Hannah Keyes.
CHILD NOTES: Ephraim Keyes CARPENTER Birth(10,11): Barbour collection indicates Ephraim Keyes, s. Levi & Hannah, b. Oct.1, [ ], vol 4, page 7.The History of Lorain County [MA] indicates he was "born in Lee Township, Berkshire County, MA, December 29, 1799; Ephraim Keyes Carpenter was a son of Levi and Hannah (Keyes) Carpenter. Residence(14): Shortly after moving to MI with his family, he apparently bought a home and 120 acres of land in East Gilead after selling his land in Avon, Lorain County, Ohio. General(17): Ephraim Keyes Carpenter (known as Keyes) apparently walked to Northern Ohio with a friend Hosea Harris arriving in 1819. Their destination was his uncle's home in Loraine Co. It was in honor of his uncle that Mr. Carpenter was named. Arriving in Avon he worked for his uncle and gradually paid for the 50 acres of new land which he secured as the nucleus of the old Carpenter homestead in Avon Township.
Ephraim K. CARPENTER and Levi CARPENTER were living Avon, Lorain, OH in 1830.
Events
| Birth | 29 Dec 1799 | Lee Township, Berkshire County, Massachusetts |  | ||
| Census (family)-shared | 1800 | (Levi Carpenter and Hannah Keyes) Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut | |  | |
| Marriage | 4 Feb 1821 | Cuyahoga County, Ohio - Livina Carly Cooper | | | |
| Census | 1830 | Avon, Lorain County, Ohio | | | |
| Census (family) | 25 Sep 1850 | Avon, Lorain County, Ohio - Livina Carly Cooper | | | |
| Marriage License-shared | 2 Jun 1851 | (William Slater Wilson and Sarepta Cordelia Carpenter) Lorain County, Ohio | | | |
| Census (family) | 1 Jun 1860 | Avon, Lorain County, Ohio - Livina Carly Cooper | | | |
| Property | 23 Apr 1863 | Sold his house on Stony Ridge Road, Avon, Lorain County, Ohio | |||
| Death | 9 Feb 1869 | East Gilead, Branch County, Michigan | |||
| Burial | East Gilead Cemetery, Branch County, Michigan | |
Families
| Spouse | Livina Carly Cooper (1804 - 1863) |
| Child | Orrin Gilmore Carpenter (1822 - 1882) |
| Child | Elijah Carpenter (1825 - 1840) |
| Child | Sally M. Carpenter (1828 - 1839) |
| Child | Juliette Carpenter (1829 - 1908) |
| Child | Sarepta Cordelia Carpenter (1833 - 1884) |
| Child | Melissa Teresa Carpenter (1836 - 1926) |
| Child | Theodore Jasper Carpenter (1836 - 1918) |
| Child | Luke Johnson Carpenter (1841 - 1918) |
| Child | Charles Norton Carpenter (1846 - 1919) |
| Father | Levi Carpenter (1772 - 1830) |
| Mother | Hannah Keyes (1774 - ) |
| Sibling | Roxsa Carpenter (1796 - 1864) |
| Sibling | Sally Carpenter (1809 - 1810) |
| Sibling | Sally Mariah Carpenter (1810 - 1891) |
| Sibling | Armenia Carpenter (1811 - 1838) |
Notes
Birth
Source: "A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio" by George Frederick Wright, page 705.Census (family)-shared
Levi CarpenterAshford, Windham, Connecticut
Page Number: 838
1 M 10< [Ephraim Keyes Carpenter]
1 M 26-44 [Levi Carpenter]
1 F 10< [Roxy Carpenter]
1 F 26-44 [Hannah Keyes]
1 F 45+ [possibly Abigail Chaffee, mother-in-law]
Marriage
Ephraim K. CarpenterEvent Type: Marriage
Event Date: 04 Feb 1821
Event Place: Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
Spouse's Name: Lavinia Cooper
Census
Ephraim K CarpenterAvon, Lorain, Ohio
2M5-10 [Orin Gilmore & Elijah]
1M30-40 [Ephraim Keyes]
2F0-5 [Sally M. & Juliette]
1F20-30 [Livina Carly Cooper]
Census (family)
Ephriam A [K] Carpenter M 51Josina [Lovinia] C Carpenter F 46 New York
[Sarepta] C Carpenter F 17 New York
Hudson [Theressa] M Carpenter F 14 New York
Theodore Carpenter M 11 New York
Lucas Carpenter M 9 New York
Senior [Charles] Carpenter M 11 Ohio
The handwriting is unclear.
Marriage License-shared
Wm S. WillsonSex Male
Marital Status Unknown
Spouse's Name Sarepta C. Carpenter
Spouse's Sex Female
Spouse's Marital Status Unknown
Marriage License Date 02 Jun 1851
Marriage Place Lorain, Ohio, United States
Marriage Place (Original) Lorain, Ohio, United States
Event Type Marriage
Source Details p 469
Source County Lorain
Sarepta C. Carpenter is 17 years old, so her father, E. K. Carpenter, signed the marriage license application for her.
Census (family)
Ephriam Carpenter M 61 ConnecticutLovina Carpenter F 56 New York
Charles Carpenter M 14 Ohio
Endnotes
1. "United States Census, 1800," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHRS-CH5 : accessed 25 Mar 2014), Levi Carpenter, Ashford, Windham, Connecticut; citing "1800 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 838, NARA microfilm publication M32, roll 2, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 205619..
2. "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X886-7BW : accessed 29 Oct 2014), Ephraim K. Carpenter and Lavinia Cooper, 04 Feb 1821; citing Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, reference P 153; FHL microfilm 877912..
3. "Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1958," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XDFR-3YV : accessed 29 Oct 2014), Ephraim K. Carpenter and Lavinia Cooper, 04 Feb 1821; citing Cuyahoga,Ohio, reference ; FHL microfilm 0877912 V. 1-3..
4. "United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XH5D-YJV : accessed 25 Mar 2014), Ephraim K Carpenter, Avon, Lorain, Ohio; citing "1830 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 6, NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 135, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0337946..
5. "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXQ2-CRK : accessed 25 Mar 2014), Ephriam A Carpenter, Avon, Lorain, Ohio, United States; citing family 1160, NARA microfilm publication M432..
6. "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8PS-21Q : accessed 24 Aug 2013), Wm S. Willson and Sarepta C. Carpenter, 1851..
7. Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8PS-217?treeref=LD5G-BCS.
8. "United States Census, 1860," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCLL-T6S : accessed 25 Mar 2014), Ephriam Carpenter, Avon, Lorain, Ohio, United States; citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," Fold3.com; p. 64, household ID 495, NARA microfilm publication M653; FHL microfilm 805001..
9. Find A Grave Memorial# 177528956.