The dictionary says the definition of a carpenter is "a person who makes wooden objects and structures... to make something by shaping wood." This is a story about a young man who didn’t go to school past the sixth grade, and even then, never learned to read or write, but became what many considered a master of his trade. He was a carpenter. But prior to perfecting his skills as a carpenter, he also helped make cup cakes. Born November 4, 1904, Frank Gentry Linder was the fourth in a family of seven children whose parents were John Sherman Linder (known by everyone as Sherman) and wife Ollie Ledbetter Linder. Frank’s siblings were Wesley; Annie; Clurie; Eunice; Daisy, and Richard. In the very early years of Frank Linder’s life, his family owned and lived on a 750 acre farm appropriately named Linder Mountain. Sherman Linder, who paid .50 cents an acre for the farm on Linder Mountain, was described as a really big man with the strength to lift and carry a barrel of salt quite easily. In the later years of his life, he lost his eyesight. During the time the family lived on Linder Mountain, young Frank often walked from Monroe to Alpine to drive the cattle home. Eventually, the family moved to the Taylors Crossroads Community where Frank met and married Eva Clark when they were both quite young. Before too many years passed, Frank and Eva headed north where they hoped to find good jobs. For the next 21 years, they made a home in Detroit, Michigan. Frank found a job in the Hostess Cake Company working nights mixing cake batter. For a short time, Eva worked in a tool and die company. While working for the Hostess Cake Company, Frank and his co-workers were called on to design and bake a very special birthday cake for Rudy Vallee, a well-known celebrity during the 1930's and ‘40's, who will be remembered for songs such as "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries," and another one entitled, "As Time Goes By." When the final touches were completed, Mr. Vallee’s cake weighed a whopping 1,400 pounds.

After putting in his time during the night-time hours at the bakery, Frank didn’t come home and sleep the day away as he might have been expected to do. Instead, he put to use the carpentry skills he had already begun to develop very early in life. Houses he crafted while working in Michigan sold practically before the last nail had been driven or the paint had barely dried. Even though he couldn’t read or write, taking a blueprint and turning out whatever type building that plan called for was second nature to him. But after a total of 21 years of life in the north, Frank and Eva decided it was time to come home. Around 1944, they bought what was known then as the Jim Reynolds place on Rock Crusher Mountain. That farm consisted of approximately 145 acres. It was there Frank built his family a home, much of which was finished with woodwork called tongue and groove. Frank quickly became known in this area for his superior skill and ability when it came to the carpentry trade. Along with the help of his work crew, several buildings around Livingston including the Livingston Shirt Factory, the VFW building, and the old Farmer Co-op building were built by his skillful hands. Many homes in Livingston and the surrounding areas still stand today as a testament to his fine workmanship as a carpenter.