Washington

CARPENTER, George N.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, part III, 
page 5 of 20 unpaginated leaves

George N. CARPENTER, of Brookline [Norfolk County], Massachusetts, was born 
26 November 1840 in Northfield [Washington County, Vermont], his father being 
Judge CARPENTER, one of the prominent men of Washington County in his time 
and for several years judge of probate. Col. CARPENTER was educated at the 
Northfield and Phillips Andover Academies and at the University of Vermont, 
from which he graduated in 1861. At college he was class president in his 
senior year, secretary and vice president of the Phi Sigma Nu society and a 
member of the Delta Psi fraternity. At the breaking out of the war he 
enlisted in the Eighth Vermont Regiment, rising to the rank of captain, 
receiving later a commission as captain of U. S. Volunteers from President 
Lincoln. His title of colonel came through the appointment of aid-de-camp on 
the staff of Governor DILLLINGHAM of Vermont.

In 1866 Col. CARPENTER left Vermont and became a resident of Milwaukee 
[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin], where for a year he filled an editorial 
position on the "Daily Wisconsin," at the same time serving the "New York 
Tribune" as its Western correspondent. Giving up journalism in 1867, he 
entered the insurance business, remaining in the West until 1874, when he 
returned East, locating in New York. Three years later he went to Boston 
[Suffolk County] and has since been conspicuously identified with the 
insurance interests of Boston and Massachusetts. He is widely known as the 
manager of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and also as an 
entertaining and thoroughly posted speaker on insurance topics. He has held 
many positions of honor and trust; has been, in turn, secretary, vice 
president and president of the Boston Life Underwriters' Association; first 
president of the National Association of Life Underwriters (was one of the 
founders and now a life member of the executive committee); was interested in 
the formation of the Vermont Association of Boston (was a member of the 
Executive committee and its treasurer for six years); has been vice president 
and president of the Vermont Veteran Association of Boston; and is a member 
of the military order of the Loyal Legion and Grand Army of the Republic.

On 27 April 1866 at Amherst [Hampshire County], Massachusetts, Col. [George 
N.] CARPENTER was married to [Miss?] Agnes WILLIAMS, and three children are 
the result of the union: Edward H., a graduate of Harvard in 1893; and two 
daughters. Col. CARPENTER is a Republican; has been chairman, Brookline 
Republican town committee and president, Republican club of Brookline; now a 
member of the election committee of the Republican Club of Massachusetts; 
has been a member of the Republican state committee (treasurer of the 
committee in 1893 and 1894); represented Brooline in the Massachusetts 
Legislature 1887-1891; was on committees on insurance (chairman) and federal 
relations; is president of Brookline Civil Service Association; for many years 
was a trustee of Norwich University, Northfield; now a member of the school 
committee of Brookline.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly