Carpenter, Charles W

Carpenter, Charles W., a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born in New York, Dec. 16 1792, where his parents were members of the John Street Church. He entered Columbia College, but was compelled by ill health to quit before graduation. He was converted in his eighteenth year, and was licensed by Freeborn Garretson to preach in 1812. He entered the itinerant ministry in the New York Conference in 1814, but in 1816 he was obliged, by the weakness of his health, to go to Savannah, where he was engaged in business for ten years. During this time he labored as a local preacher, and was ordained deacon in 1820, and elder in 1826. In 1828 he returned to the North, and was readmitted into the New York Conference, in which he filled important appointments, as pastor and presiding elder, until 1850, when he was compelled by ill health to become supernumerary. He died May, 1853, at Plattekill, N. Y. He was of very uniform character, good literary acquirements and great loveliness of disposition. As a minister he was able and sound, and his influence was great and durable. He was several times delegate to the General Conference, and as presiding elder his administrative talent was remarkable. He was secretary of the New York Conference for several years, and in all posts he was efficient and successful. His death was joyful. — Minutes of Conferences, 5:194; Sprague, Annals, 7:553; Wightman, Life of Bishop Capers, p. 211.