Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 907 - 908

ELIAS L. CARNAHAN, a man who has been useful in his community and ever taken a prominent place in the enterprises tending to the enlightenment of the people, the friend of education, and active in all good works, has nearly all his life been a tiller of the soil, and still finds therein his greatest pleasure. The old idea that the farmer requires little beyond his muscle to enable him to battle successfully with the elements of the soil is fast passing away, and the fact is now everywhere recognized by intelligent men that experience and education go hand in hand in achieving the best results in this as well as other employments of life.

             Mr. Carnahan is one of the leading men of his community, and the quarter-section of land which he has cultivated for the last ten years gives ample evidence of his good judgment, taste and skill. He made his advent here in the spring of 1877, and selected the land which he now occupies, which is located on section 18, Grant Township. Upon it was a small frame house, and thirty acres had been broken. Cheered by the companionship and assistance of his young wife, he set in earnest about the building up of a home, and has been richly rewarded for his efforts. In due time the farm was enclosed with substantial fencing, and one building after another was put up as his means accumulated and his needs multiplied. After bringing the soil to a good state of cultivation, planting an orchard and getting a good growth of hedge fence under way, he turned his attention to the finer grades of live stock, and has now a choice assortment of high-grade Short-horn cattle, Poland-China hogs and Clydesdale horses. He is not content with mediocrity, but aims for the highest, and is rapidly attaining an enviable reputation both as a farmer and stock-grower.

             Mr. Carnahan is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born in Darke County, May 3, 1844. His parents, Elias L., Sr., and Catherine (Martin) Carnahan, natives of the same State, were the parents of ten children, of whom our subject was the seventh in order of birth. His paternal grandparents, William and Frances (Riggle) Carnahan, of American ancestry, were also born in Ohio, and the great-grandfather had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The maternal grandparents were Christopher and Mary (Elizabeth) Martin, who spent their entire lives in their native State of Ohio.

             The father of our subject, about 1854, moved to Illinois and located in Logan County. He was one of the pioneers of that section and assisted in the development of the soil, continuing there until resting from his earthly labors. His death occurred at the old homestead in 1875. The faithful wife and mother is still living, and a resident of Logan County.

             The subject of this history received the education common to farmers' sons, and after the removal of the family to Illinois made his home there until coming to this State. In the meantime, after the outbreak of the late Rebellion, he enlisted as a Union soldier in Company F, 106th Illinois Infantry, for three years, or during the war. He was mustered into service at Lincoln, Ill., Aug. 9, 1862, and participated in many of the important battles of the war, being at the siege of Vicksburg and the battle at Little Rock, and meeting the enemy in various other engagements in the States of Tennessee and Arkansas. He fortunately escaped wounds and capture, and after the surrender of the Confederate army returned to Springfield, Ill., and was mustered out on the 28th of July, 1865.

             Mr. Carnahan, upon retiring from the service, took up his residence again in Logan County, Ill., and the following year, June 13, 1866, was married to Miss Marietta Perry, who was born in Darke County, Ohio, Aug. 27, 1844. Her parents, Joseph C. and Elizabeth (Dunn) Perry, were also natives of the Buckeye State, to which Grandfather Perry had removed from Virginia at an early day. He settled among the woods of Darke County, where he cleared a good farm and lived and labored to a ripe old age. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Carnahan, Isaac and Julia (McGraw) Dunn, were from Alabama, and Grandfather Dunn was of English ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Perry continued in Ohio after their marriage, and the father died there in 1846, when comparatively a young man. His excellent wife is still living, making her home with the subject of our sketch.

             Mr. and Mrs. Carnahan, after their marriage, settled on a farm in Logan County, Mr. C. having purchased eighty acres in Orville Township. He followed farming there about eleven years, until selling out for the purpose of removing across the Mississippi. He has for many years been prominent in the affairs of Grant Township, serving as School Director for a period of seven years, and also officiating as Trustee. Socially, he belongs to Stephenson Post No. 335, G. A. R., at Sedgwick City. Both our subject and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Christian Church, at Valley Center.

             Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Carnahan, the record is as follows: Maggie I. is the wife of Joseph Adamson, a resident of Hodgeman County, this State; Estella I., Robert G., Mary Frances, Henry C. and Edna are at home with their parents. The elder children are attending school, and it is the determination of Mr. Carnahan that all of them shall have the best advantages in the way of an education which he can give them. He has taken particular interest in the schools of his township, and assisted in the organization of the district in which he resides, and in the selection of suitable and competent teachers.

             Mr. Carnahan, in 1880, invested a part of his surplus capital in additional live stock, and made his headquarters in Valley Center, where for two years he was engaged exclusively in buying and shipping to Eastern markets. At the same time he superintended the operations of his farm, which is situated about three miles from the village. The premises are kept up in good order, and invariably attract the attention of the traveler through that region as the home of thrift, industry and plenty.

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