LORENZO A. CARPENTER, one of the oldest and most prominent farmers of Plainfield township, Kent county, Mich., is a native of Chautauqua county, N. Y., and was born July 10, 1837, the sixth of twelve children who constituted the family of Timothy and Malinda (Miller) Carpenter, the remaining eleven having been named as follows: Exina, deceased wife of Harvey Butler; Margaret, who was married to William Thompson, and is also deceased; Louisa Jane, wife of George Butler; William Franklin, of Ensley, Newaygo county, Mich.; Benjamin T., of Lockwood, Kent county; David G., a resident of Cedar Springs, same county; Nancy M., wife of Charles Hunter, of Ottawa county; Dennis, deceased; Amanda W., wife of Dennis Lewis, of Cedar Springs; William, deceased, and Reliance, married to Henry Butler, of Big Rapids, Mecosta county, Mich. Timothy Carpenter, father of this family, was a native of Cayuga county, N. Y., was born July 25, I796, was reared a farmer, and after one or more migrations came to, Kent county, Mich., purchased a wild tract in section No. 12, Plainfield, and here passed his remaining years, dying at the age of seventy-two. On this farm L. A. Carpenter now makes his home. Mrs. Malinda Carpenter was also a native of the Empire state, was born August 5, I805, and died in Kent county, Mich., August II, I888, her remains being laid to rest beside those of her husband in Hall cemetery, Plainfield township. Lorenzo A. Carpenter was reared to agriculture on the present farm, received a fair common-school education, and at the age of eighteen years began the battle of business life by laboring for about six months in a saw-mill as a hired hand, and next, for a short time, labored as a farm hand. His next enterprise was the building of a scow, with which for two years he carried lumber and wood down the river, and then traded the scow for 120 acres of wild land in Ottawa county. But he did not retain this property long, as he exchanged it for a hotel in Lyons, Ionia county, and for a short time played the role of landlord, then sold his hostelry and purchased a farm in section No. 13, Plainfield township, Kent county. Soon after this his mother passed from earth, and he fell heir to the homestead, still owning and operating the farm that he had himself improved, and this has since been his permanent home. Both farms are devoted largely to fruit growing. The marriage of Mr. Carpenter took place September i8, I859, to Miss Elizabeth McLean, who was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., January 10, 1841, a daughter of Abner and Loanda (Brayford) McLean, and this marriage has been graced with eight children, viz: Nora, wife of George Baker, a farmer of Pierson township, Montcalm county; Willie E., farmer of Osceola county; Lillie, married to W. W. Simpson, a farmer of Ensley township, Newaygo county; Hosea, a farmer; Mila L., wife C. A. Twitchell, farmer in Ensley township, Newaygo county; Eugene E. and Lorenzo D., at home, and Orpha E., who died in infancy.
 In his politics Mr. Carpenter is a sound republican, and although he and wife are not members of any religious denomination, they lead a true Christian life and willingly contribute to the aid of all churches in the neighborhood and to all movements of a moral character. They enjoy the respect of the entire community, to which their long residence in the township well entitles them, and the name of Mr. Carpenter stands without a spot or blemish.