Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
User Information
Historical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Box and Folder Listing
Cataloging Information
Processed By:
Paul Brockman
19 August 1997
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 2 boxes, 2 oversized folders, daguerreotypes & artifacts
COLLECTION DATES: 1851-1897
PROVENANCE: Mary E. Fowler, West Hartford, CT, 30 April 1997.
RESTRICTIONS: None
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: None
ACCESSION NUMBER: 1997.0484
NOTES:
Homer C. Carpenter (1830-1895) was born in Tolland County, Connecticut and was a civil engineer by trade. He married Mary Dibble around 1850 and they had one daughter. The Carpenters moved from Rochester, New York to Hendricks County, Indiana, around 1859, and in July, 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company "A" of the 4th Indiana Cavalry (77th Regiment). Carpenter was promoted to second lieutenant and named company adjutant in August, 1863. One year later he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. After the war Carpenter returned to Hendricks County where he was elected county surveyor and served from 1866-1867. After his term of office, he returned to work as a railroad surveyor for several lines from 1867-1888 including the St. Louis, Vandalia, Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad; the Terre Haute and Logansport Railroad; the Ohio Valley Railway Company; and the Chicago & Block Coal Railroad. No information was available on Mary Dibble Carpenter.
Sources:
Terrell, Report of the Adjutant General, Indiana, vol. 3, p. 13; vol 6, p. 245.
History of Hendricks County, Indiana, 1914-1976, p. 44.
Information in Collection.
The bulk of the collection consists of approximately 200 letters written by Homer C. Carpenter to his wife, Mary Dibble Carpenter, from July, 1851-November, 1888. These are divided into three series by time periods. The first series of letters were written by Homer Carpenter while working as a civil engineer for railroads in Ohio and Indianapolis and Danville, Indiana to Mary Carpenter living with family in Rochester, New York, 1851-1859. Letters in the second series were from Homer while serving with the 4th Indiana Cavalry in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, to Mary in Danville, Indiana, August, 1862-June, 1865. Letters in the third series were written while Homer was again employed as a railroad civil engineer for railroads in Indiana and were from Terre Haute (Vigo County); Newport, Perrysville and Veedersburg (Vermillion County); Montezuma (Parke County); Attica (Fountain County); Collinsville and Effingham, Illinois; Logansport (Cass County); Kewanna (Fulton County); South Bend and Lakeville (St. Joseph County); and Henderson, Kentucky, to Mary in Danville and Indianapolis, January, 1867-November, 1888 Most of the letters contain personal subjects and a brief mention of his work and everyday life. The letters from the Civil War years were mainly written from the headquarters of the 4th Indiana Cavalry and in addition to the personal items mention his duties and the regiment's movements.
Other items in the collection include Carpenter's military documents and orders as well as some return records for Company "A" of the 4th Indiana Cavalry, 1863-1865, pension records, 1891-1897, and the G.A.R. By-Laws for the Major Robert Anderson Post, 1885. There is also some correspondence and drawings regarding Carpenter's work as a surveyor, 1883, and a Field Book for Railroad Engineers, 1872. Also contained in the papers are letters from Carpenter to his sister, 1858, and his mother, 1864, as well as a document appointing him Hendricks County Surveyor, 1866, a copy of the will and documents relating to the Sidney Dibble estate, 1892, daguerreotype images of Homer and Mary Carpenter n.d., and military artifacts including G.A.R. ribbons and Carpenter's lieutenant's insignia, 1860s-1890s.
BOX 1: Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, July, 1851-June, 1865
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, July, 1851-October, 1853
2 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, February, 1854-August, 1856
3 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, October, 1856-March, 1857
4 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, April, 1857-August, 1858
5 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, Sept., 1858-Sept., 1859
6 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, August, 1862-November, 1862
7 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, December, 1862-May, 1863
8 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, June, 1863-July, 1863
9 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, August, 1863-May, 1864
10 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, June, 1864-August, 1864
11 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, Sept., 1864-Dec., 1864
12 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, January, 1865-June, 1865
BOX 2: Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, January, 1867-November, 1888; Military and Business Papers, 1863-1897
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, January, 1867-November, 1869
2 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, January, 1870-December, 1872
3 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, February, 1873-May, 1877
4 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, January, 1881-January, 1883
5 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, February, 1883-November, 1883
6 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, March, 1884-November, 1884
7 Letters to Mary Dibble Carpenter, July, 1888-November, 1888
8 Letters to Family, 1858, 1864
9 Military Orders & Records, 1863-1865 (also OM 369)
10 G.A.R. By-Laws, Major Robert Anderson Post, 1885
11 Pension Records, 1891-1897
12 Appointment as Hendricks County Surveyor, 1866
13 Railroad Survey Papers, 1883 (also OM 369)
14 Field Book For Railroad Engineers, 1872
15 Sidney Dibble Will, 1892
16 (VC) Photographs (Daguerreotype) of Homer & Mary Carpenter, n.d.
17 (ART) Military Artifacts, 1860s-1890s (R 1816-1822)
R 1816--G.A.R. Post No. 369 Badge, n.d.
R 1817--Badge, "Indiana, Chicago, 1893"
R 1818--G.A.R. Medal, "Veteran 1866-1867"
R 1819--G.A.R. Hat Pin, n.d.
R 1820-1821--Shoulder Marks (2), Lieutenant, 1864?
R 1822 Shoulder Cord, n.d.
MAIN ENTRY: Carpenter, Homer C., 1830-1895
SUBJECT ENTRIES: Carpenter, Homer C., 1830-1895--Photographs
Carpenter, Mary Dibble
United States. Army. Indiana Cavalry Regiment, 4th (1862-1865)
Grand Army of the Republic. Major Robert Anderson Post No. 369 (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Railroad engineers--Indiana
Railroad engineering--Hanbooks, manuals, etc.
Railroads--Indiana--Surveying
Soldiers--Indiana--Hendricks County
Military pensions--Indiana
Indiana--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
ADDED ENTRIES: Henck, John B. (John Benjamin), 1816-1903. Field-book for railroad engineers
Field-book for railroad engineers.
END