Son of Ernest Lionel Carpenter and Ella Virginia Carpenter (née Fricke)

Born on 23rd October 1885 in Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri^[1].

A small notice was published in the October 30th 1885 edition of the Callaway Weekly Gazette stating ‘Born to the wife of Earnest Carpenter, a 9 pound boy’.

1900: 501 Broadway, Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri^[] - at school^[2].

On 11th June 1900 the family were living in a house owned by Jennie^[]. At this time Jennie (a widow, aged 40) had reverted to using the surname of Carpenter and her two children by Samuel Green were also grouped under the Carpenter surname in the household entry^[. The census also shows us that Goldie (20), Eustace (18) and Jessie (16) were working as shoe stitchers, whilst Ernest (14), May (9)  and Eddie (7) were at school.

On 8th October 1904 Ernest enlisted with the U.S. Army at Enid, Oklahoma for a period of three years^[3]. The entry shows that Ernest was a horseman, aged 21 years who was born in Fulton, Missouri. Alfred was 5 foot 9 and a half with blue eyes and a fair complexion. The regiment was given as H.C. Alfred was discharged on 7th October 1907^[4].

Ernest re-enlisted for a further 3 years on 26th February 1908 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri^[5]. The entry shows that Ernest was aged 22 years from Fulton, Missouri (although there is an age disparity we know this is the same individual as we are told that he was discharged from his previous service with the HC on 7th October 1907). An occupation is given but has, so far, proved unreadable. Alfred was 5 foot 9 and a quarter with blue eyes, dark brown hair and a fair complexion. The regiment is given as HC 19 Ret 60 & Cav L. 13 Cav 3. Ernest was discharged on 25th February 1911 at Fort Riley, Kansas^[6].

1910: 1100 North Leonard Avenue, St Louis City, Missouri - Soldier in the U.S. Army^[7]. ^{- ]}

On 16th April 1910 the family were living at  in a house rented by Jennie. At this time Jennie (a widow, aged 50) was living with five of her children (the missing child is Jessie Ernestine^[): Goldie L. Carpenter (30, single) who worked as a milliner in a millinery store; Eustace C. Carpenter (28, single) who was a shoe cutter in a shoe factory; Ernest A. Carpenter (24, single) was a soldier in the U.S. Army; Mae F. Carpenter (18, single) worked as a milliner in a millinery store but was out of work on April 15th 1910 (and had spent 16 weeks out of work in 1909); Kenneth E. Carpenter (17, single) was a shoe cutter in a shoe factory but was out of work on April 15th 1910 (and had spent 12 weeks out of work in 1909).

Ernest re-enlisted for 3 years on 4th March 1911 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri^[8]. The entry shows that Alfred was a 25 years old soldier from Fulton, Missouri. Alfred was 5 foot 9 and a quarter with blue eyes, dark brown hair and a fair complexion. We know this is the same individual as we are told that he was discharged from his previous service with the 13th Cav[alry] on 25th February 1911. Alfred’s regiment on re-enlistment is given as 10 Inf[antry]. Ernest was discharged on 27th July 1913 at Camp [ES, Ohio?].

The Missouri State Archives database of Soldiers' Records shows that an Ernest Carpenter, aged 31 years and 5 months was inducted at Jefferson Barracks on 19th April 1917. the record of his assignments/transfers is given as ‘1 CO US DB GUARD FT LEAVENWOTH,KS TO 16 DEC/17;2 CO US DB FT LEAVENWORTH TO DISC’. The record shows that he was promoted to Sergeant in August 1918. It is possible that this is the same Ernest whose army career we have followed through from 1904 but there is no detail that allows us to confirm this.

1920:

1930:

An Ernest Carpenter who was born on 21st October 1885 in Missouri died in October 1976^[9]. It seems likely that this was Ernest Lionel Carpenter’s son in spite of the small discrepancy in date. This Ernest Carpenter is also listed on another family tree which shows him as the second husband of Nora Christine Kurtz (1881-1963)^[10].