Alameda County
Biographies
TOM CARPENTER, V. S.
A man who has made a comprehensive knowledge of the science of veterinary surgery and a phenomenal success in the practice of this profession the basis of a work of public service broad in extent and far-reaching in purpose is Dr. Tom Carpenter, who for more than nineteen years has been practicing in Alameda, his reputation spreading to all parts of California and his patronage extending throughout all the neighboring sections of the state. Aside from his great professional success he is known also as one of the organizers of the Oakland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the leading spirit in carrying forward its work, this forming one of his chief interests at the present time.
Dr. Carpenter was born in Dartmouth, England, June 19, 1862, and is a son of William Henry and Harriet (Edwards) Carpenter, now deceased, who were former residents of San Francisco, where they settled in 1869. Their son was at that time seven years of age, and he soon afterward entered the public schools of the city, where he acquired his primary and grammar education. Later he received instruction in Latin and French from a private tutor, interrupting his studies in 1879 in order to accompany his parents to Europe. He returned to San Francisco in 1881 and resumed his education, laying aside his books finally in 1883. In that year he went to the northwest, visiting Puget sound and the Fraser river country and locating a pre-emption claim in Whatcom county, Washington. Returning home in the same year, he took charge of his father's veterinary infirmary as superintendent and thus first became a student of veterinary science, a profession in which he has since achieved such remarkable and well-deserved success. As he grew more interested in it, he broadened his studies and, in order to get the advantage of the best facilities offered along this line, went in 1885 to Toronto, Ontario, and entered the Ontario Veterinary College, an institution established in 1862. During his vacations he practiced under the direct supervision of a practical veterinarian at Dayton, Ohio, and in college besides completing the regular general course, took a special course in veterinary dentistry, becoming in this way a master of all the branches of the profession which he intended to make his own. On the 30th of March, 1888, he received his diploma from the Ontario Veterinary College and the great honor of a certificate of Honorary Fellowship from the Ontario Veterinary Medical Society in acknowledgment of valuable contributions in the line of essays on disease.
Being thus thoroughly equipped for the practice of his profession, and having already proved himself possessed of more than ordinary ability along his chosen line, Dr. Carpenter returned to the coast and, settling near Oakland, established a veterinary infirmary. This institution he conducted along with his general practice for two years, but his patronage grew so rapidly and finally reached such extensive proportions that he could not properly superintend the infirmary and was obliged to discontinue it. He has since that time devoted himself to the general practice of his profession, making his home in Alameda, although his practice is drawn not only from this city, but from San Francisco and Oakland also, and his services are in frequent requisition through the interior of the state from Shasta to San Diego. Upon an exhaustive and exact knowledge of the underlying principles of veterinary science, upon his constant study of the new ideas and methods always being introduced into practice, upon his superior attainments in all branches of his profession, Dr. Carpenter has based a signal success, and it places him today among the men of marked ability and substantial worth in his community. He keeps in touch with the most advanced thought of his profession, and his practice, though large, is constantly increasing.
Not content with achieving an enviable degree of individual prosperity Dr. Carpenter has striven always to make his ability and knowledge effective along lines of public benefit, and this he has succeeded in doing in the course of his nineteen years of continuous and able service as city veterinarian and food inspector of Alameda. He was the first veterinarian in California to use Koch's tuberculin when, in 1894, he experimented on the dairy cattle of Alameda, demonstrating its great value as a diagnostic agent in tuberculosis. This is only one of many great and varied services which Dr. Carpenter has performed for Alameda and for California. He gained special distinction during the fire and earthquake of 1906, and after the disaster, when he had charge of the supply wagons of the Masonic state board of relief. When the Elks took up the relief work, he installed an outfit for the purpose of aiding those quartered at the Elks' relief camp and brought hundreds of the refugees to Alameda, where they were cared for at the Elks' camp in this city. Dr. Carpenter went east in 1907 for the purpose of studying the pure food question in all its relations and of mastering the requirements of the new pure food law. He talked with experts in New York and Washington and on his return supplied the merchants of San Francisco with advance information regarding the requirements, aims and purposes of the new enactment, doing a great deal to promote its intelligent acceptance in this section of the state. Making another trip east in 1912 he continued his work of investigation regarding food and dairy products. He has used his professional ability and influence intelligently and with public spirit, recognizing the obligations which his power and position entail upon him. He is at present deeply and keenly interested in the work of the Alameda Humane Society, which he aided in organizing. He is executive officer for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and in this capacity has conducted a vigorous campaign against cock fighting, dog fighting and live-turkey shooting, and he has accomplished some lasting reforms along this line.
In St. Paul's church, New York city, on the 21st of May, 1889, Dr. Carpenter was united in marriage to Miss Annie Elizabeth Hix of Devonshire, England. After the death of his first wife he wedded Miss Helen A. Martin of Healdsburg, California, a daughter of the late John A. Martin and a granddaughter of Clark Foss, one of the earliest settlers of Sonoma county. Fraternally Dr. Carpenter is identified with the Masonic Order, belonging to Oakland Lodge, No. 188, A. F. & A. M., and Alameda Chapter, No. 70, R. A. M. He is affiliated also with Alameda Aerie, No. 1076, F. O. E.; Alameda Council, No. 734, National Union, and Alameda Lodge, No. 101, B. P. O. E. He takes intelligent and active interest in the growth and advancement of Alameda along all lines, and his hearty support is always given to progressive public movements., In 1911-12 he presided over the North Side Improvement Club, which at that time was dealing with the question of harbor improvements in Alameda, and he is today keenly interested in the promotion of the subway between Oakland and Alameda, acting as chairman of the subway committee of the North Side Improvement Club. A man of varied interests, all of which he has made forces in the promotion of the public development, progress and advancement, Dr. Carpenter has thoroughly identified himself with the affairs of the city where he has so long made his home, and in so doing has gained the greatest of all successes—that which lies in the widespread honor and esteem which his character has commanded and in the confidence and trust of many friends.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 393
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler