Carpenter Family Papers

Carpenter Family Papers, 1813-1947. 1 linear foot.

The collection seems to have been assembled by Harriet Isham Carpenter, wife of George A. Carpenter, and contains genealogical research into her background, including the Isham, Manierre, and Snow families. Other materials include genealogical information on the Carpenter family, a book of notes on corporate legal cases kept by George A. Carpenter, letters from Abigail and Benjamin Carpenter, a written reminiscence of the arrivals of the Williams and Snow families in early Chicago, and photographs.

The Carpenter’s were a prominent Chicago business family who arrived early in Chicago’s history. Benjamin Carpenter was born in Manlius, Onondaga County, New York in 1809. He came to Chicago in 1850 and joined Sylvester Marsh in the packing business, establishing the house of Marsh & Carpenter on North State Street. He married Abigail Hayes, daughter of Col. Richard Hayes, in 1832. They had six children, including George Benjamin. George B. Carpenter was born in Ohio in 1834. He was first a merchant and ship chandler, and eventually joined his father in business at Marsh & Carpenter. He married Elizabeth Curtis Greene in 1861 and they had four sons, Benjamin, George A., Hubbard, and John. George Albert Carpenter was born in Chicago in 1867. He studied law and was elected judge, Circuit Court of Cook County in 1906, and was eventually appointed U. S. District Court judge in 1910 where he served for 23 years until his retirement in 1933. He married Harriet Isham in 1894 and they had three children.

Call Number: Midwest MS CarpenterF
Finding Aids: Online Inventory

The contents of the Carpenter Family Papers cover many Chicago locations across many decades. This collection is plotted at 945 N. Dearborn Street. It is plotted there because Judge George Albert Carpenter and his wife Harriet Isham Carpenter lived at this address in the 1920s while he was a District Court judge. His wife Harriet is an important figure because she in fact is the compiler of this collection.