John L. Carpenter
The Sad Death of a Former Mansfield Young Man, at Holdrege, Nebraska -- Mr. George Carpenter, of this city, received a telegram on Saturday last announcing the death of his third son, John L. Carpenter, at Holdrege, Nebraska, at eleven o'clock on that morning. Full particulars have not yet arrived, and all that ca be gathered in from the various telegrams received by the family. From them it seems that on the 22d. inst. the deceased started to go into the country on business. Just as he was leaving the town the horse got his tail over the lines and began to kick violently. Mr. Carpenter at once jumped from the carriage, thinking to catch the horse, but in alighting, he broke his leg between the knee and the ankle. Kind friends were present at the time and these carried him into town and an efficient surgeon set the leg. At this time the wound was not considered at all dangerous. That same afternoon, Mr. Carpenter wrote home to his father, using a pencil, saying that he had broken his leg but that there was not danger; that he could get along very well and that none of the family need come out to take care of him. He said he expected to be home by the middle of August, and that he had plenty of friends and the best of treatment. This letter was received Friday morning. The following mail brought a letter of the same purport, from his friend, Mr. J.W. Ferguson, a banker of an adjoining town. Before these letters reached Mansfield, on Thursday afternoon, came a telegram from Mr. Ferguson, saying that though there was no danger, some one of the family had best come out. On the receipt of it, Mr. Reid Carpenter came at once from Cleveland and on Friday took the first fast train for the West. At this time nothing dangerous was apprehended. Friday afternoon, however, other dispatches came saying that John's condition was very serious indeed, and that he could not live. From this time on up until two P.M. Saturday, telegrams of the same nature were received at short intervals, and at that hour came the sad news "John died peacefully and quietly at five minutes past eleven this morning." The family, up to this time, had hoped against hope, and the news was a terrible blow.
Mr. Reid Carpenter arrived in Holdrege Sunday night, and he will bring the remains, which were at once properly embalmed, here for burial. They will reach here on Thursday and the funeral will probably take place Friday. Few men have started life with brighter prospects than did John L. Carpenter. He was, at the time of his death, almost 27 years of age. He was the embodiment of health and full of energy, industry and life. Nine years ago he graduated at the public schools of Mansfield, the first man in his class, taking the valedictory oration. Four years later he had finished his collegiate course at Wooster University, where he also ranked among the highest. He was a popular student at college; he took a leading place in literary society as a debater and he was one of the chief officers of the Beta Theta Pi College Fraternity, which has chapters in nearly every college in the United States. At the time of his graduation, with no application on his part, the Aultman & Taylor Manufacturing Company, voluntarily offered him the charge of their collections in Kansas and Nebraska. He accepted the position, and for four years gave them efficient and satisfactory service. Last year he decided to leave them and to strike out for himself. Giving them due notice he did so, and chose Holdrege, Nebraska, as his field. Holdrege is a fast growing town in Western Nebraska, almost 1,300 miles from Mansfield. In November last, when Mr. Carpenter settled there and opened as a loan broker, it had only two houses. Now it has from 800 to 1,000 population, and does as much business as any town of 2,500 in the State of Ohio. It has two big elevators, several banks, plenty of stores of various kinds and promises to become the county seat of the county. It is now on the main line of a great railroad, and it has a population of active, thrifty, young western business men. Of this town, John L. Carpenter was one of the leading factors, and like the town, was doing well. He had a fair amount of capital, part of which was his own savings and the remainder the gift of his father, and he had the brains and experience to know how to use it. He was well fitted to make a good fight in life anywhere, and especially fitted for the West. He was a good-looking, bright eyed, sociable fellow, full of pluck, energy and honesty, allied to good business judgment and a strong will. Had he lived there is no doubt that he would have been one of the leading men of his State, and as it was he had already strong friends among the business men all over it. At the time of his death a number of his friends were present, some of them coming long distances by rail to see that he was well taken care of. He died in a house which he had built for himself in the center of the town, and his family have no doubt but that he had the best of care and attention. It is a great regret to them that they could not have gotten to him after he was hurt. But the time between the accident and his death was so short that it was impossible. No one but those who have such losses can appreciate them, and John Carpenter's many friends in Mansfield and throughout Northern Ohio will unite with them in their grief.
From OHIO LIBERAL: July 30, 1884, Vol. 12, No. 16