George Franklin Carpenter

Sallie Powell Carpenter made about the time she made the quilts.
Quilt Sallie pieced in 1889 while blind.
Sallie’s pipe

         George Franklin Carpenter was born July 21, 1801 in Casey Co., KY.  He married Sarah Powell, born, December 14, 1805.  In 1846, George and Sallie moved from Kentucky to Tennessee.  They stayed one year in Hendersonville, TN.  Due to a defect in the land title, they gave up the land and bought and settled on the Clinton College Farm in New Middleton, TN.  The year was l847.  They kept the school open until 1849.  George and Sallie lived there until 1868 when they moved to Fannin Co., TX.  George F. died February 16, 1875 in Fannin Co., TX and is buried there.  In the fall of 1876 William Henry went to Texas and brought his mother back to New Middleton.¹ She began to make a quilt for each of William Henry’s children.  By 1889, she was blind, but still making quilts.  I now own this quilt that was pieced for my Uncle Powell after she was blind.

         Sallie died February 20, 1893 and is buried in the New Middleton Cemetery near Gordonsville, TN.² George F. and Sallie had thirteen children.  Elizabeth M., Lindsey, Powell, Lucinda Frye, John Frye, Margaret, George Franklin, Leandrah, Edmond Clinton, William Henry Harrison, Sarah, James Winston, Mary, and David Frye.  All but the last four children were born before George F. and Sallie moved from Kentucky to Tennessee in 1846.

     The following article is taken from the newspaper, the Lebanon Democrat, Vo. 2, No 49, January 15, 1891.

     In company with Mr. W. H. Carpenter, I made a short but pleasant visit to New Middleton on Tuesday last.

     Mr. Carpenter is perhaps more largely interested in fine jack and jennet stock, thoroughbred hogs and sheep than any man in Smith County.  I was kindly shown through his herds and flocks, and I must say that he has shown wonderful enterprise and made considerable outlays in order to stock his farm with the best and finest that the country affords.

     He and his most excellent wife know exactly how to make one feel at home.  Sitting around his pleasant fireside in the midst of his gay and happy children was his venerable and aged mother who is perhaps one of the oldest women in that country.  Believing that a short sketch of her live and labors would be of interest to the readers of The Democrat, I gleaned in answer to my queries the following facts, which I submit for the benefit of our readers.

     Mrs. Sallie Powell Carpenter was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Powell³ and was born near Hustonville, Lincoln Co., Kentucky, December 14, 1805.  To enter the 86th year of life is a privilege allotted to the fewest number of people, yet such is the case with our pleasant old friends of whom we write.

     At the time of Gen. Jackson’s war of 1812-15, although but a small girl, she and a younger sister were actively engaged in knitting socks for the soldiers who followed to victory and to fame the name of him whose praises were doubtless sung on the seventy-sixth anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.

     On the 8th of January, 18l5 the proud hosts of England were driven back by “Old Hickory” and his gallant army, several of whom doubtless blessed the friend of whom we write for the socks they wore on that occasion.

     On the 21st of August 1823, the subject of our sketch was happily married to Mr. George F. Carpenter who was also a citizen of the Bluegrass Region where she herself was born and reared.

     For twenty-three years they walked hand in hand through life’s pathway in the good old state of Kentucky, after which time (1846) they bade farewell to the land of their birth and came to Tennessee, stopping for one year near Hendersonville in Sumner Co.  Here, owing to a defect in the title, he gave up his land and purchased the celebrated Clinton College farm in Smith Co.  In the year 1847 he took possession and together they made it their home for twenty-one years.

     Clinton College was at one time a noted institution of learning, but there are few living at this time that received instruction at that place.  Among those known to your readers I will mention the names of Hon. Jordan Stokes, Dr. John D. Owen, and Col. S. T. Mottley, all honored and respected citizens of Lebanon for many years before they were called from the discharge of life’s active duties.

     For two years after Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter took possession of the place, the school was kept up under the supervision of Prof. Peter Hubbard who taught the last school there in the 1849.  The place is at present owned and occupied by the Hon. W. R. Shaver who has a beautiful residence built upon the site occupied by the old college building.

     In September 1868, Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter turned their backs upon their Smith County home, and turning their faces westward found a home in Fannin County, Texas.

     On the 16th of February 1875, after having lived together for fifty-two years, her husband was called from his earthly home and labors to the enjoyment of happiness and rest beyond the mystic river.

     In the fall of the following year she came back to Smith County where she has ever since resided.

     Grandma Carpenter had the benefits in her girlhood of such school advantages as the country at that time afforded.  While her education is limited, it is somewhat above the average of those educated in her day.  Although totally blind, she can yet write her name in a clear and legible hand.

     Her father was the owner of a considerable number of slaves and when a girl she assisted in spinning and weaving cloth out of which the clothing was made for the entire family.  She was an expert in spinning flax and the little wheels on which it was spun are yet to be found in some places though long since stored away in the garrets or old lumber-rooms.

     Before and after her marriage, deer and turkey were so plentiful that their table was often supplied from the inexhaustible supply, which the fields and forests at that time afforded.

     Her husband was the owner of a very fleet greyhound, and on one occasion a deer was chased and caught by the faithful animal.  Mr. Carpenter ran up and was unable to dispatch the deer without the use of a knife.  He called to his wife and she selected and carried to him the dullest case knife, which could find.  She did it in order, as she says, to match him for some of his pranks he was always playing on her.  It was with much difficulty that the animal’s throat was cut and a fresh supply of venison was secured.

     The prevailing religion, she says, at that time where they lived was Methodists and Baptists.  Shortly after marriage, she became a member of the Baptist Church; but then about twelve years afterwards, becoming dissatisfied with her church relationships, she left them and identified herself with the Disciples or Christ with whom she is at present in harmony and fellowship.  She speaks of having often heard Barton W. Stone who was one among the first and ablest ministers in the so-called Reformation.

     She is the mother of twelve children, five daughters and seven sons.  Of this number, all but five have preceded her to the unseen world.  Three sons and two daughters, all living in Smith County near her, are yet left behind to comfort her in the evening of her days.

     Her living descendents, including children, grand children and great grand children, number something near sixty.  Her life has been a busy and active one, and although she has been blind for two years, she is never satisfied save when she is knitting or kindly caring for her little grand children who are constantly hovering around her.

     She seems proud that she is yet able to make her own bed and do other little things not necessary to mention.  Altogether she is wonderfully preserved both mentally and physically for one or her years.  She is kindly and tenderly cared for by her dutiful son and his Christian wife and grand children.

Sallie’s grave in New Middleton Cemetery