San Francisco County
Biographies
TOM CARPENTER, V.S.
TOM CARPENTER, V.S., of Oakland, was
born in Dartmouth, England, June 19, 1862, a son of William Henry and Harriet
(Edwards) Carpenter, now of San Francisco, where they first settled in 1869.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the Lincoln Primary and grammar
schools of that city, afterwards receiving instruction in Latin and French from
a private tutor. When the family went to Europe in 1879 he gave up his studies
until the return of the family to San Francisco
in 1881. In 1883 he visited Puget Sound and the Fraser river country, and located
a pre-emption claim in Whatcom county, Washington
Territory. In 1883 he took charge
of his father’s veterinary infirmary as superintendent, and became a student of
veterinary science.
In
1885 he went to Toronto, Canada,
and entered the Ontario Veterinary
College, which institution was
established in that city in 1862, under the direction of the Council of
Agriculture and Arts Association of Ontario, who insure a high standard of
technical education by appointing the examiners. These are selected outside of
the college faculty from among the most eminent of the profession in the United
States and Canada,
and chiefly from the ranks of those actively engaged in practice. By this
means, as well as by the employment, as professors, of men of recognized ability
in their respective lines of study, which comprise anatomy, physiology,
pathology, bacteriology, materia medica,
microscopy and chemistry, with a vast amount of clinical instruction, the
Ontario Veterinary College has attained a high standing, its diploma being
accepted in this country and in Europe as evidence of a thorough education in
veterinary art and science. During his vacations while at college Mr. Carpenter
practiced under the direct supervision of a practical veterinarian at Dayton,
Ohio. In connection with his regular
studies at college he took a special course in veterinary dentistry. On March
30, 1888, he received his diploma from the Ontario
Veterinary College.
The Ontario Veterinary Medical Society, in acknowledgment of valuable contributions
in the line of essays on disease, conferred on Dr. Carpenter their certificate
of Honorary Fellowship.
Returning
to this coast, he settled in Oakland
and conducted a veterinary infirmary for two years, but his practice grew so
rapidly and reached such large and wide-spread dimensions that he could no
longer properly superintend such an institution. Besides his very fine
patronage on this bay, his services are in frequent requisition through the
interior from Shasta to San Diego.
For so short a time his success has been phenomenal. Outside of his
professional labors he is interested in Masonry, Odd Fellowship and the Sons of
St. George, being a member of these respective orders. His chief interest has
been in the work of the Alameda County Humane Society, which he helped to
reorganize in 1890.
Mr. Carpenter was married in St. Paul*s
church, New York city, May 21,
1889, to Miss Annie Elizabeth Hix, of Devonshire,
England.
Transcribed 1-30-06 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, Page 292-293, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
©
2006 Marilyn R. Pankey.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library