Windham

CARPENTER, Orrin H.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, part III, 
pages 5-6 of 20 unpaginated leaves (portrait p 6)

Orrin H. CARPENTER, of Malden [Middlesex County], Massachusetts, was born 17 
January 1861 in Grafton [Windham County, Vermont], son of Henry Bradford and 
Lucy Ann (REED) CARPENTER. He was named after his grandfather, who was a 
well known and conspicuous resident of Kirby [Caledonia County], Vermont. 
The family is descended from William CARPENTER, who came to this country in 
1638 from Wherwell, England. During his early youth young CARPENTER worked 
on a farm and attended the village school until old enough to enter the high 
school at Bellows Falls [Windham County, Vermont], from which he graduated, 
finishing his education at Phillips Exeter Academy; then read law with Hon. 
C. B. EDDY, at Bellows Falls; admitted to the Vermont bar when just past his 
twenty-first year.

During his law studies at Bellows Falls he became engaged in newspaper work 
as correspondent for the "Boston Globe" and as local reporter for several 
weekly papers. Through his newspaper work he became acquainted with the late 
E. C. CARRIGAN, who induced him to go to Boston for the purpose of greater 
opportunity for study, and during a course at the Boston University Law 
School, he taught in the evening high school for three years. After a year 
in he office of ex-Gov. GASTON, he was admitted, in 1884, to practice in the 
Supreme Judicial court of Massachusetts, and in 1893 in the United States 
Circuit Court. Since his admission to the bar, he has been in constant 
practice and is associated with William Warren TOWLE, with offices at 10 
Tremont Street, Boston.

His practice has been mostly devoted to corporation law and insolvency cases. 
Since March 1892 he has been city solicitor for Malden, the place of his 
residence. As corporation counsel he has had to defend a great many accident 
cases and he has been remarkably successful in he defense of these. In two 
years he lost but one accident suit where he has defended the city. He was 
elected chairman of the board of assessors of Malden in 1885, and held the 
position until he resigned to take the more important office of city 
solicitor. He was one of the organizers of the Massachusetts Assessors' 
Association, and held the office of chairman of its executive committee.

Mr. CARPENTER is popular personally, professionally and socially and has a 
host of friends. He is a member of the local clubs in Malden, and a member 
of Converse Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter of Masons, Melrose Council Royal 
& Select Masons, Beauseant Commandery Knights Templar, Lodge of the East Star 
of Malden, Aleppo Temple and Massachusetts Consistory of Boston. He was made 
a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret 32nd degree at Boston, 22 April 1894. 
He is also a member of he Vermont Association of Boston.

In 1883 he [Orrin H. CARPENTER] was married to Mary L., daughter of Alfred 
and Lydia DOW of Bellows Falls [Windham County, Vermont], and they have three 
children. Mr. CARPENTER has a beautiful home on one of the finest streets in 
Malden. He has always been a Democrat, though a nonpartisan in municipal 
affairs. He has been a member of the Democratic city committee of Malden, 
and also a member and secretary of the citizens' committee for the city. In 
1887 he was the Democratic candidate for representative to the general court 
and received a very flattering vote running ahead of his ticket in every ward 
in the city.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly