John William Geary Carns and Catherine J. Penrod

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Husband John William Geary Carns ¹

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           Born: 4 Jan 1867 - Bridgeport, Westmoreland Co, PA 2
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         Father: William J. Carns (1835-      ) 2
         Mother: Lydia Scott (1834-      ) 2

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       Marriage: 25 Oct 1887 3

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   Other Spouse: Edith J. Buell (1872-      ) 4 - 22 Oct 1902 3

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Wife Catherine J. Penrod ³

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           Born: Apr 1869 3
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           Died: 2 Sep 1892 3
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         Father: C. H. Penrod (      -      ) 3
         Mother: Lydia Ankney (      -      ) 3

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Children

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1 M William Harrison Carns ³

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           Born: 12 Mar 1889 3
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         Spouse: Minnie Winkers (      -      ) 3

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2 M Edward Russell Carns ³

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           Born: 24 Mar 1892 3
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General Notes: Husband - John William Geary Carns

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He attended the schools of Ligonier township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and in addition to the regular winter sessions was a pupil during two summer terms at the I. M. Graham Academy in Ligonier. After completing these studies he took up the profession of teaching himself and continued thus employed for ten years in all. During that time he taught in the schools at Waterford, Laughlinstown, Willow Grove, Hillside, Fairview, Rife and Oak Grove, and at the last-named of these schools had seventy-two pupils. He determined, however, toward the end of this period to give up this profession and turn his attention to the mercantile world in which he believed large opportunities awaited him. Accordingly he opened a general store at Laughlinstown and was assisted in this enterprise by being appointed postmaster of the place, an office which he held for three years. Not long after the expiration of his term, he sold out his general store building and engaged in the livery business instead. His new venture was undertaken at Ligonier, where he bought out the old livery business and where he remained eighteen months. He then returned to his home town and was once more chosen postmaster and served thus for three years. About the time of the death of his first wife, Mr. Carns turned his attention to the butcher business, which he conducted during the winter seasons for ten or twelve years. One of his chief activities, however, was the agricultural work which he engaged in, and like his father he was the owner of large and valuable farm properties. At one time he possessed the old Virginia Shook farm of one hundred and ninety-eight acres, his father's old mill property of twenty acres, the Perry Knupp farm of one hundred and four acres, the John Horner farm of thirty-six acres, the David Horner farm of ninety-five acres, the Brant farm of seventy-eight acres, and the C. H. Penrod and Fry farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres, which, together with Laughlinstown property which he owned, amounting to forty-one acres, aggregate in all above eight hundred acres of valuable land. Here Mr. Carns was busily engaged in raising sheep and hogs as well as other live stock, and had plans to begin raising cattle for the local markets. It was in the year 1907 that he built his beautiful dwelling, which was modern in every respect, containing all the improvements and consisting of thirteen rooms and a bath and with a cellar extending under the entire building. In addition to his agricultural operations, Mr. Carns was also interested in lumbering and dealt extensively in mine props, most of these articles being shipped by him to the Keystone Coal and Coke Company, and the works of A. N. Renwick.
He was a member of the Republican party and for twenty-one years he served as auditor of the township, having first been appointed to this post when only seventeen years old. He also served on the election board. Mr. Carns was a member of Valley Grange, No. 1411, Patrons of Husbandry, of Ligonier. In his religious belief he was a member of the Christian church, attending the first church of this denomination at Laughlinstown, and serving as a deacon therein.

1 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 533, 782.

2 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 533.

3 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 534.

4 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 534, 782.