Nathaniel L. Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel L. Carpenter, born November 18, 1805 at Randolph, Vermont
, died December 23, 1892 at Natchez, Mississippi
, was a prominent entrepreneur, builder, owner of a steamboat
line, and successful cotton trader
of antebellum and postbellum Natchez, Mississippi
.
, of the Rehoboth Carpenter family
of English descent. He married in 1837 at Buffalo, New York
to Julia Ann Luce. They were the parents of four children. Descendants still lived in Natchez in the early 1900s. Two of his brothers also settled in the South
: Samuel Carpenter in New Orleans, Louisiana
, and John B. Carpenter in Jefferson County, Mississippi
.
, where they owned extensive property in what is now the city of Buffalo
. He was raised and educated in Lancaster and first went into the stage line
and hotel
business there. In 1833 he went to Natchez, Mississippi
and began working as a builder. He left Natchez in 1834 and went first to St. Louis, Missouri
, then to New Orleans, Louisiana
in 1835. He returned to Natchez about 1838 and settled permanently, becoming owner of a line of steamboat
s, a successful cotton trader
, and active many other private and public concerns. He owned Myrtle Terrace town home in Natchez city, and nearby Dunleith
plantation
, both of which are on the annual Natchez historical pilgrimage tours. He was well traveled, journeying throughout the United States, Europe, and the South Pacific islands. During the American Civil War
, he counseled neutrality, but both of his sons served in the Confederate army—Allen D. Carpenter in the Natchez Rifles and Joseph N. Carpenter in the Breckinridge Guards.
Randolph, Vermont
Randolph is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,853 at the 2000 census, making Randolph the largest town in Orange County. The town is a commercial center for many of the smaller, rural farming communities that surround it....
, died December 23, 1892 at Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, was a prominent entrepreneur, builder, owner of a steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
line, and successful cotton trader
Cotton factor
In the antebellum South, most cotton planters relied on cotton factors to sell their crops for them....
of antebellum and postbellum Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
.
Personal
Nathaniel L. Carpenter was a son of Joseph and Sarah (Buell) Carpenter, natives of ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, of the Rehoboth Carpenter family
Rehoboth Carpenter Family
The Rehoboth Carpenter family is an American family that helped settle the town of Rehoboth, Massachusetts in 1644.The first immigrant and founder of this line was William Carpenter The Rehoboth Carpenter family is an American family that helped settle the town of Rehoboth, Massachusetts in...
of English descent. He married in 1837 at Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
to Julia Ann Luce. They were the parents of four children. Descendants still lived in Natchez in the early 1900s. Two of his brothers also settled in the South
The South
-Geography:* Southern United States* South of England* South of France* South Italy* South Korea* Republic of Ireland* South Province * Global South, the developing nations of the world-Other uses:* The South , by Victor Erice...
: Samuel Carpenter in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, and John B. Carpenter in Jefferson County, Mississippi
Jefferson County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:* Homochitto National Forest * Natchez Trace Parkway -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,740 people, 3,308 households, and 2,338 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile . There were 3,819 housing units at an...
.
Career
In 1809, Nathaniel L. Carpenter's parents moved to Lancaster, New YorkLancaster, New York
Lancaster, New York may refer to the following locations in Erie County, New York:*Lancaster , New York*Lancaster , New York...
, where they owned extensive property in what is now the city of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. He was raised and educated in Lancaster and first went into the stage line
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
business there. In 1833 he went to Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
and began working as a builder. He left Natchez in 1834 and went first to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, then to New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in 1835. He returned to Natchez about 1838 and settled permanently, becoming owner of a line of steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
s, a successful cotton trader
Cotton factor
In the antebellum South, most cotton planters relied on cotton factors to sell their crops for them....
, and active many other private and public concerns. He owned Myrtle Terrace town home in Natchez city, and nearby Dunleith
Dunleith
Dunleith is an antebellum mansion in Natchez, Mississippi. The previous building, Routhland had been built by Job Routh and passed down to his daughter Mary Routh. When it was struck by lightning and burned down in 1855, her husband, General Charles G. Dahlgren rebuilt the home. It was sold for...
plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
, both of which are on the annual Natchez historical pilgrimage tours. He was well traveled, journeying throughout the United States, Europe, and the South Pacific islands. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he counseled neutrality, but both of his sons served in the Confederate army—Allen D. Carpenter in the Natchez Rifles and Joseph N. Carpenter in the Breckinridge Guards.