For twenty years William H. Carpenter has been engaged in the real estate business on his own account in Racine and is now senior partner in the firm of Carpenter & Rowland with offices at 610 Main Street. He was born in Manteno, Illinois, September 10, 1872, a son of William I. and Eva M. (Shaw) Carpenter, who were natives of New York and of Maine, respectively. In early life they became residents of Illinois, and on the 1st of September, 1874, removed to Racine. The father was a tinsmith by trade and for many years was employed by the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, but both he and his wife have now passed away.
William H. Carpenter obtained a public school education in Racine, to which city he was brought by his parents when a little lad of but two years. He started to work for the Palica Trunk Company, occupying the position of bookkeeper and later he received training along the line of his present work in the employ of C. M. Dietrich, a real estate and insurance agent. He afterward turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business on his own account, opening his office in February, 1896, and since that time has been engaged in the business with good success. Eventually he admitted John D. Rowland to a partnership under the firm style of Carpenter & Rowland, and they are now accorded a liberal clientage, conducting many important real estate transfers annually and also writing a large amount of insurance, so that both departments of their business bring to them good returns.
In September, 1898, Mr. Carpenter was married to Miss Cathryn Asby, of Racine, a daughter of John T. Asby, and they have one child. Cathryn, Politically Mr. Carpenter is a republican and fraternally is connected with the Elks and the Royal Arcanum. He has practically spent his entire life in this city and the fact that many of his staunchest friends are those who have known hint from his boyhood to the present is indicative that his career has been an honorable and upright one, worthy of the regard and esteem of those with whom he has been associated. While he is enterprising in all business affairs, he is also thoroughly reliable, his transactions at all times measuring up to the highest standards.