Biographies

Leonard D. Carpenter
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        Leonard D. Carpenter was the sixth child and the third son of Paul and Lavinia Lavender Carpenter.  Paul and Vinie lived on the Carpenter/Zimmerman home place in Gaston Co., North Carolina before moving to Habersham Co. Ga. The family had moved from this area before 1799. Prior to that time, the Carpenter/Zimmerman family were living in Pennsylvania.  Hans Zimmerman and his wife Sarah Solome Zimmerman emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1732 from Switzerland via the ship the Pink Plaisance.

          There is a discrepancy about when and where Leonard was born.  However, we know he was born between May, 1852 and March 19, 1854.  The first date was gathered from census records and the last from the tombstone inscription.  If Leonard was born in 1852, his place of birth is probably Gaston Co. N.C.  If the later date is correct the family was in Habersham Co. Ga.

          Leonard Carpenter grew up with his brothers and sisters in Habersham Co.  He probably attended Camp Creek Church where his father was a member.

          In 1860, Leonard was in the Clarkesville District of Habersham Co. with his family which had now grown to include eight children.  The ninth child was born in Feb. 1865.

          Leonard’s brothers and sisters were Sarah Ann, Missouri, Nancy Jane, Lawson, John Franklin, Pinckney, Jonas and Josephine.

          By 1868, Leonard had become an apprentice millwright.  He was probably learning this trade from his Uncle Elijah Carpenter who was a millwright.  Sometime during this period, he met Mary Louise Hulsey daughter of I.B. Hulsey and Nancy Kytle Hulsey.  They married ( I have not found the marriage record as yet)  and on Oct. 27, 1873 Emma Cordelia Carpenter was born.  On Oct. 13, 1875, a son William Hulsey Carpenter was born.  These are the only two documented children of Leonard and Mary L., however, oral family stories that have been passed down has always stated that there were three children.( source: (Leroy Hogan and Eva Skelton Potts Lancaster- Leonard and Ica’s grandchildren))

          In 1880, Mary and the two children were living in the Pole Cat district of Habersham Co. Ga. with Mary’s mother Nancy Hulsey.  Leonard was living with his brother Jonas at Center Hill in Habersham Co. Ga.. 

          Leonard was working as a millwright and traveled into Towns Co. Ga.  While there he met and married Isa Dora Brown, the daughter of Javan and Martha Hooper Brown.  Isa, pronounced, Icie was 11 years 7 months and 29 days old.  Leonard was at least 26.  Icie told her granddaughter Ruth (Ruth Skelton) that her feet did not reach the floorboard in the wagon that she rode in on the way to get married.  Leonard and Icie lived in White Co. Ga.  In the Mossy Creek area, near Center Grove Church in a big two story house with a wrap-around porch.

          On July 25, 1881, Dovie Carpenter was born.  On her birthday, one year later, Dovie died.  It was two more years before Icie had another child, a strong baby boy.  They named him Edward and called him Edd. On Edward’s second birthday, Sept. 22, 1886 a daughter was born Lillian Carpenter.  As beautiful as a flower, she was called Lilly.  The next child came on Dec. 29 1887, a boy Wesley.  Children continued coming about every other year, Coley on April 29, 1887; Bertie Dora on November 29 1891, Eva Lee “Evie” on March 29, 1894; Minnie Belle on Feb. 22, 1896; Leonard on November 25, 1897; Beulah almost ushered in a new century but was a little early, she was born on Dec. 30, 1900.  The children continued with Emory on Jan 2, 1902,  Ernest was born on July 22, 1903 but only lived for four days.  Deemie Nell Carpenter was born on July 23, 1904.  I am sure the family worried having lost two July babies, but Deemie made it.  A couple of months  Lula Mae Carpenter was born on March 6, 1907.  Leonard was 54.  Icie was nearly 39.  The final child was born on Nov. 12, 1910 a son Howard Frank.  

          By the time the last children were born two of the boys Edd and Wesley had already grown up and left home. Edd had married and was working for the railroad ( he had also been at one point a revenue officer) and Wesley had decided to make the Army a career.

 Lilly married in 1906 to Allan Chandler Payne. They made their home in Habersham County.  In 1910, they were on Pea Ridge Rd.  Later, they moved to Cornelia.

The children continued to marry and move away.  Then the depression hit.  The Bank of Cleveland closed.  Leonard never said how much money he lost but it took the life out of him.  My father, Leroy Hogan, said Leonard would sit in a chair on the porch and watch the older grandchildren play in the field and the younger children play in the yard.  Leonard Carpenter went out to the barn on Nov. 28,1932,  When he did not return to the house , Ica sent Willie Mae Skelton, out to look for him.  She found him dead in the barn.

Leonard Carpenter was dead, but he left behind children and grandchildren in the White County area.

1880 Habersham Co. Census in household with his brother Jonas

1900 Mossy Creek. White Co. Ga. Census. with Ica and 9 children from Edward to Beulah. Enumerated June 1900

Carpenter, Leonard, b. May 1857 age 43 NC/NC/NC married 17 farmer

 Ica, b. Mach 1869 age 31 m. 17, 7 children 6 living:

Edward Sept. 1884 age 15 Ga.

Lillian Sept. 1886 age 13 Ga

Wesley Dec. 1887 age 13 Ga

Coley April 1889 age 11

Bertie Nov. 1891 age 8

Evie L. March 1994 age 6

Minnie B. Feb. 1896 age 4

Leonard Nov. 1897 age 2

Ula Dec. 1900 age 5/12 ( Is this possible, the census was in June was Beulah born in 1899)

1910 Mossy Creek: White Co.Ga. Census:

HH#41 Carpenter, Leonard D. age 55 white male married 26 years Ga/NC/NC speaks english Carpenter Millwright,

 Icie, wife age 43

Cosie age 19

Bertie age 17

Evie L. 16

Minnie Bell age 14

Leonard D. age 12

Beulah age 10

Emory age 8

Deemie N. 6

Lula M. age 3

Frank H. 2/12

1920 Mossy Creek White Co.

Leonard D. 64, Isie 50, Deemie 14, Mae 13, Frank 10

1930 Mossy Creek  White Co. GA. Census HH135

 Name  Age in

1930 Estimated

Birth Year Birthplace Relation to

head-of-house Race Home in 1930

Leonard D Carpenter 74 1855 Georgia Head White Mossy Creek, White, GA  

Isia Carpenter 59 1870  Wife  Mossy Creek, White, GA  

Elizabeth Carpenter 12 1917  Adopted Daughter  Mossy Creek, White, GA  

Leonard D age 74 married at age 28, Isia age 59 married at age 14 Elizabeth 12, adopted daughter NC/NC/NC

( this is incorrect, this is a person found in Market Bulletin who stayed with them/ NOT adopted.)