James Madison Carnahan and Mary Wilson

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Husband James Madison Carnahan ¹

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           Born: 3 Dec 1810 - near New Lebanon, Mercer Co, Pa 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 12 Sep 1901 1
         Buried: 

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         Father: Adam Carnahan (1777-1853) 1 2
         Mother: Ruth McElwayne (1781-1853) 1

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       Marriage: 

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   Other Spouse: Mary McElwayne (      -      ) 1 - 1837 1

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   Other Spouse: Permelia Coulson (      -      ) 1

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Wife Mary Wilson ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 F Melvina Carnahan ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Joseph Smith (      -      ) 1

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General Notes: Husband - James Madison Carnahan

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He was born and reared on the home farm near New Lebanon, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, amid the primitive conditions usual in rural districts during the pioneer period. His school privileges were as good as the neighborhood afforded, and we have the authority of his autobiography regarding them. According to his own record his class books were a speller, the New Testament and an arithmetic, and his attendance covered about three months of the year, at a little log building provided with window lights of greased paper. The rest of the year he helped his father in the improvement and cultivation of the homestead place, and when he reached manhood received an unimproved portion of his father's property, covered with timber. There he spent the rest of his life, and not only succeeded in converting this tract into valuable farming land but also bought more adjoining, his farm eventually comprising over two hundred acres. The comfortable home which he erected thereon for his family was built of bricks made from clay found on the farm. He was a man of firm convictions and resolute character, capable in the management of his own affairs and public-spirited in assisting in such matters as he believed would work to the good of the community. He was a very religious man, and an active worker in the Presbyterian Church, which he joined Nov. 16, 1841, at Fairfield, Mercer County, receiving ordination as an elder June 13, 1858. Originally a Democrat in politics, he became a Republican during the Civil war period, later joining the Prohibition Party, for whose success he worked untiringly, being one of its strongest supporters in his vicinity; he was repeatedly a candidate for the legislature on that ticket, accepting the honor of nomination from a sense of loyalty to his party and not from any desire for personal advantage. [HVC 1919, 761]

1 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 761.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 340.