John E. Carnahan

    John E. Carnahan, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Gibson County, Tennessee, February 18, 1838, and is one of six children born to James P. and Martha (Bell) Carnahan, who were natives of Virginia and North Carolina. He secured only a limited education in youth, and in 1842 removed with his parents to Hart Township, in this county, remaining with them until eighteen years old, when he was employed as Superintendent of the James Patterson farm for two years. He then began going to school, but his boarding-house burned, after being there a short time, and with it his clothing and $140. This compelled him to give up the project of schooling for the time being. In 1859 he cultivated the farm of his aunt, Jane Erwin, and this cleared him $250, which gave him his second start in life. The winter of that year he worked for his uncle, G. W. Mitchell, as inspector, buyer and receiver of tobacco. The fall of 1860 he made his first purchase of land, paying part cash and giving a half interest in a threshing machine for the remainder.

    October 15, 1861, he married Miss L. J. Francis, by whom he became the father of six children, these four yet living: Andy McC., Coleman C., Gilbert B. and Eliza A. Mr. Carnahan served his country faithfully in the late war as a member of Company K., Forty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was six times wounded in one battle. He was honorably mustered out of service in December, 1862. Since then Mr. Carnahan has farmed, merchandised and carried on livering, being at present engaged in the former occupation. He, emphatically, is a self-made man, and is the owner of 269 acres of good land. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities.

Source: History of Warrick, Spencer, and Perry Counties, Indiana, By: Goodspeed Bros. & Co., 1885.