The subject of this sketch is well known as an able preacher, educator and writer. He was born March 4, 1834, in Nelson Co., Ky., of German-English parentage. His father was a brother of Judge Samuel Carpenter, of Bardstown, Ky., and his mother a relative of the lamented Abraham Lincoln. Ere George was born his father died, leaving quite an estate, which was afterwards fraudulently wrested from the heirs.
After a widowhood of seven years, his mother married Mr. J. W. Huffaker, of Bureau Co., Ills., where George grew to manhood, amid the privations and hardships common to a new country. But by dint of industry and perseverance, which have characterized his whole life, together with strictly moral habits and manly traits, he made commendable progress in whatever studies he had opportunity to pursue. He received a preparatory course of instruction in the Princeton Academy, then in charge of Prof. James Smith, an able teacher, and a deacon in the celebrated Owen Lovejoy's church. While in this school he supported himself, mainly by labors of various kinds. He boarded the entire time with a Mrs. Wood, doing chores for her, and remembers to have sawed fifteen cords of wood for Mr. Lovejoy's church. His own struggles in preparing himself for usefulness, intensifies his sympathies with young men in like circumstances now. But he has no patience with lazy, aimless and dissipated youth. With him the sweat of honest toil is more honorable than the glitter of inherited wealth.
After leaving the Academy he taught a few terms with marked success, first in Iowa, then in his home district school; when he determined to enter college. He matriculated in Abingdon College in 1855, where, as in the Academy, he made good use of his t me, had but one boarding place, and graduated in 1859. Shortly afterward he took charge of the Academy at Winterset, Iowa, teaching and preaching there for nearly two years.
In September, 1861, he and his brother, J. W., now of College City, Cal., opened the school in Oskaloosa College, under circumstances that would have appalled less determined spirits. In a building only partially inclosed, inconveniently situated, and heavily burdened with debt, these two young men opened school with five students. In the face of such an undertaking, the strong hopefulness and heroic faith of such men, need not be written. To them are due, the subsequent respectability and usefulness of the institution. At Oskaloosa he labored as teacher, preacher and editor for twenty years. In 1873 he retired from the College, and, as he then supposed, from an active educational life, that he might give his time to the Evangelist, of which he had become chief editor. But after three years, at the urgent request of the Board, Teachers and friends of the College, he reluctantly returned, and took the position of President. The school grew in numbers, harmony, and influence excepting the financial condition, for which, of course, the faculty were in no way responsible, until three of the teachers declared themselves "starved out."
At this juncture the project of establishing a Christian University at Des Moines was hopefully inaugurated. And after careful and prayerful consideration, President Carpenter and the other members of the faculty, felt it their duty to identify themselves with the movement. This course was approved by a very large majority of the brethren of the State. And the fact that a majority of the students, with all the faculty, but one, followed him, gave assurance at once of the popularity of the enterprise, and of the subject of this sketch. He had long had a fervent desire to see a strong church school in Iowa, and looks upon Drake University, in the founding, organizing and building up of which he has performed so conspicuous a part, as the great work of his life.
His religious life began in December, 1854, when he was baptized by Elder Daniel Parkinson. Having previously begun the study of law, and possessing some gifts as a speaker, he was urged to exercise them in the church. This led to the abandonment of the law, and a resolution to engage in the work of the ministry. Hence, July 3, 1859, he was set apart to this work, President P. H. Murphy, Prof. J. W. Butler and others of the Abingdon church officiating.
From that time to the present, while not exclusively confined to the ministry, he has been a successful proclaimer of the Word. He has held several fruitful revival meetings, though his labors have been mostly confined to Lord's days, and addresses during his travels. He has also held a number of debates with Infidels, Universalists, and others, with credit to himself, satisfaction to his brethren, and damage to error. No where do his powers appear to better advantage than in discussion. One debate was held with W. F. Jamison, Spiritualist, at Oskaloosa, in 1871, lasting six days. Soon after, the gist of his arguments was published in a little book, entitled "The Bible vs. Spiritualism," which was eagerly sought, and became a sort of text-book among debaters with Spiritualists. His latest debate was with John Hughes, the champion of Universalism in the West. It was reported, and published by the Central Book Concern, and is regarded as one of the ablest debates extant, involving the subject in dispute.
He was married June 21, 1863, to Henrietta T. Drake, daughter of Judge J. A. Drake, of Drakeville, Iowa, who has been to him a true, loving, Christian wife, and a sharer of all his labors and cares. They have one son and three daughters. Few Iowa preachers are strangers to the cordial hospitalities of their home.
He has held positions of trust and honor in religious, fraternal, educational, municipal and national affairs. In 1873, he was appointed an honorary United States Commissioner to the World's Fair at Vienna, Austria. During that summer he made an extended tour through Europe; sketches of which appeared in twenty-six articles, published in the Evangelist. He has since frequently lectured on his travels and observations.
He has long been a radical Prohibitionist, and in 1879 was nominated by the Prohibition Convention at Cedar Rapids, for Governor of the State. But as other duties forbade his making a proper canvass, he declined the honor, and by his suggestion the Central Committee substituted the name of D. R. Dungan. In personal appearance, Chancellor Carpenter is of medium size, well formed, and his once raven locks are now almost white, or giving place to baldness. In disposition, he is companionable, and liberal almost to a fault. As a preacher, he is clear, logical and forcible, and withal possessing some gifts of oratory and pathos.
In mental traits and habits, common sense and energy, rather than abstract profundity and abnormal brilliancy, seem to lead. In short, he may be said to be a well-rounded, all-sided man, who can readily turn his energies into any calling that promises the glory of God and the good of men--a man earnestly striving to live under the approval of God.