Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Carver J. Mendenhall, D.D.S.
This popular and efficient dentist of Richmond, Indiana, is a son of James and Millicent (Coffin) Mendenhall, and was born in Thorntown, this state, in the county of Boone, on the 28th of August, 1852. He has shown a remarkable adaptation for his profession and enjoys a practice commensurate with his skill, while his ever-increasing popularity is the natural outcome of a genial and benevolent disposition.
The family is descended from Quaker ancestors of the sturdy English type, and the present generation shows the happy effects resulting from the teachings of such pure and strengthening doctrines. Three of the Mendenhall brothers emigrated to this country with that grand colonist, William Penn, and settled in the vicinity of Pennsylvania. One of these brothers in time returned to his native country, while the two remaining here married and reared families, whose members moved south and were among the first settlers of Guilford county, North Carolina, a settlement which became one of the strongest Quaker strongholds in that county. Here the grandfather of our subject was born, married and spent his entire life, becoming a prominent member of the Friends church and holding an enviable place in the esteem of the entire community. He was the father of a large family, to whose training he gave earnest thought, and had the satisfaction of seeing them develop into citizens of ability who filled important places in the communities in which they resided. With the exception of James, the father of our subject, who was engaged in agricultural pursuits, the other members of this family became college professors or devoted their lives to the practice of medicine, in which lines they became well known for their ability and success.
James Mendenhall, the father, was ushered into existence in Guilford county, and there grew to manhood and was united in marriage to Miss Millicent Coffin. With five hundred dollars in his pocket he started westward on his wedding journey, it being the aim of the travelers to seek a suitable home in the far west. He was the owner of a fine horse and wagon, and in this conveyance was the journey made. He was the envy of many of his neighbors, as his capital, for those times, was almost equal to the sum of twenty thousand dollars at the present time. His first stopping-place was Green's Fork, Wayne county, Indiana, where he remained a short time and whence he removed to Thorntown, Indiana, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until February, 1853, when he moved to Richmond. Here he was interested in agriculture and dairying, his being the first dairy operated in Richmond. He was remarkably successful in his business ventures. He died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, after an honorable and useful career, and had retired from active business some thirteen years previous to his death. His union with Miss Millicent Coffin resulted in the birth of three sons and four daughters, of whom he was justly proud and whose education and training was given his most earnest thought. One of the sons, S. C. Mendenhall, was sent to Earlham College, and his was the first trunk carried into the building. Stephen Mendenhall, besides being a man of more than average business ability, was also an inventor whose genius in this line brought him considerable sums of money. On one of his patents alone, which he sold to Greenwood & Company, he realized seventy-five thousand dollars. He dealt largely in real estate and within the corporation of Richmond owned considerable land, which was laid out in town lots and disposed of. In recognition of his executive ability he was chosen president of the first street railway company of the city.
Mrs. James Mendenhall was a daughter of Joseph Coffin, a native of Nantucket, whence he went to North Carolina. He was a pork-packer and gained considerable prominence in that industry as well as for being one of the most successful agriculturists in that part of the state. He was a man of sterling Christian character and was held in high esteem in the Friends church, of which he was a member. He was appointed by that body to travel as a companion to Elizabeth P. Gurney, whose husband was a London banker and who was herself an authoress of some pretensions. His wife, Hannah Coffin, was also prominent in the Friends church. One of his cousins, Levi Coffin, did much to impress the name indelibly on the public mind through his connection as president of the underground railway during the time of slavery. The good accomplished by this band of quiet workers for the cause of humanity can not be estimated, and their names will go down in history as brave, self-sacrificing heroes of those troublous times.
Dr. Carver J. Mendenhall was accorded a thorough education. He attended Hiram Hadley's private school or academy, Earlham College, and the Friends' school at Union Springs, on Cayuga lake, New York. Returning from school, he decided to devote his time to dentistry and took up the study of that profession with Dr. Newton, the leading dentist of Richmond. Subsequently two years was spent in the study of medicine, after which he practiced in various places on the Mississippi river for two years more, when he contracted the ague, so prevalent in those places, and was obliged to return home. It was a year or more before his system was cleared of the chills and fever and he was able to return to his work. He then took a special course in dentistry under Heard Brothers, of Memphis, Tennessee, and in 1875 he went to San Francisco, California. There he engaged in his profession, while at the same time he interested himself in other enterprises, dealing in stocks, serving as inspector of United States customs of the port, and as deputy United States marshal, having been sworn in by Judge Field. After ten years spent on the coast Dr. Mendenhall returned east and took a special course under Dr. Lewis, an expert dentist of Chicago, where he remained as assistant for some time. In 1885 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, intending to locate, but was unable to find a suitable location and returned to Richmond. Here he opened an office and has established an enviable reputation as a dentist of great skill. His office is equipped with all modern appliances for the successful practice of his profession, and he soon became recognized as an expert in his line. In addition to the special courses taken by him under expert dentists, he took a post-graduate course in the School of Dentistry, under Professor Haskell, who has a national reputation, and in a class of two hundred and eight applicants examined by the Indiana state dental board he was one of the eight successful ones, and is fast forging his way to the front as one of the leading practitioners in this part of the state. He figures quite as prominently in social as in professional circles,—is a member of Richmond Lodge, No. 196, F. & A. M. ; King Solomon's Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M.; and Richmond Commandery, No. 8, K. T.
October 7, 1885, the Doctor was united in matrimony to Miss Margarette Scott, daughter of Captain James W. and Rachel E. (Burbank) Scott. Captain James W. Scott served in the civil war as quartermaster and was captured by General Morgan during his celebrated raid. As official papers were found upon his person and as it was also learned that he was a brotherin-law of Governor Morton,—more than ordinarily severe punishment was inflicted upon him, and Morgan ordered a double guard placed around him. Mrs. Mendenhall is a niece of the great war Governor O. P. Morton and also a relative of Lord Nelson, being a lady of unusual refinement and intelligence and one whose personality is strongly felt in the society in which she moves. Dr. and Mrs. Mendenhall have one son, James Robert, twelve years of age.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899