History of Frank & Lucinda Tyler Carpenter by Lucinda, installment #3

About the time that my father and mother settled in Thatcher another family came which was to play a very important part in my life. This was the family of Erastus Snow Carpenter and Julia Van Orden.

Erastus Snow Carpenter was born March 31, 1845, in Centerville, New Castle County, Delaware. His parents were John Steele Carpenter and Margaret McCullough. Erastus’ father, John Steele, died at the age of 30, leaving his wife no means of support and with four small children to care for. After the death of her husband the mother took her children and went to live with her parents. The parents belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Margaret had a great desire to join the saints in Utah, the gathering place of the saints. Through the kindness of an uncle, Joseph Crossgrove, they were able to make the trip and find a new home. After getting settled in Utah, Erastus went to work. At first he could only earn his food and clothes, but later got work at farming, freighting, herding cattle or whatever he could find to do. While he was working in some of these worthwhile projects he met and married Julia Van Orden. Soon after his marriage he obtained a little plot of land somewhere in Utah and started farming it. After a few years he became discouraged as he didn’t seem be getting anywhere. He decided to move south to see if he couldn’t better himself. There were two other families who were planning to move, Samuel Claridge and Hyrum Brinkerhoff, so he joined with them. After months of preparation and travel they landed in the little town of Thatcher, Arizona, on the Gila River. At that time there were only four other families.

Shortly after the arrival in Thatcher of Erastus and family, the fourth child, John was born on March 7, 1884. Two years later another son, Frank was born, May 9, 1886. Frank was to play a very important part in the shaping of my life.

The Gila Valley had plenty of good farm land, but at the time of the arrival of these pioneers it was covered with mesquite and other desert plants. It took a lot of work to get the land ready to plant. Everyone who was old enough had to help. The younger boys, John and Frank, herded the cows until there were fences and corrals for them. They had fun making trails and hideouts in the thick brush as they guided the cows to the best eating places.

When the boys were old enough to drive a team they helped with the farming. They tell of how they had to work on the dam in the Gila River. Every time there was a flood down the river it would wash the dam out. So it seemed to them it was constantly having to be replaced. It was hard work for them (they were not very old nor very big) to have to load and unload the big rocks that were required for the dam.

When Frank was sixteen he rode with a chicken peddler to Bisbee. He was seeking employment. After many days of walking the streets he got the promise of a job in the copper mine. When he was interviewed he had a hard time convincing the boss that he could handle the work because he was so young and not too husky. The boss finally gave him a chance to try it and he did make good. He worked there for several years. He sent most of his money home to help the other members of the family.

After Frank returned from the mine, he and his brother John, rented a farm in Ft. Thomas. After the crops were gathered they bought a well machine and dug wells for different people. They were doing quite well until something went wrong with the machine while they were working in Wilcox. They left the machine and came home to get materials for repairs. While they were gone an accident happened and the well machine was burned. That ended the well digging business.

During the months that followed Frank and I became very good friends. Some times we found ourselves in the wagon groups that went to the dances in Central, Pima and other places. Then we started dating.

That summer my family was on the mountain, and Frank spent the weekends with us. These were pleasant occasions. We took long walks, hunted pine gum and berries. And while resting we sat on a rock by the creek while Frank sang love songs, and we discussed our problems and other interesting things. So it wasn’t long until I was wearing the ring – (which I still have) and planning our future.