This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Carnahan, Hanna, Brown
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/WeH.2ACEB/933
Message Board Post:
This is William L. Carnahan (1837-1897) - son of James G. Carnahan and Margaret Brown
married Clara Louise Hanna in 1864.
If you go to the Indiana message board a biography of W. L. Carnahan was posted there on
12 Jan 2005 by Patrick Ormiston.
Take care - Emma
Obit - Fort Wayne Sentinel - Fort Wayne, Allen Co., Indiana - 26 June 1897:
W. L. CARNAHAN DEAD
Demise of a Leading Citizen of Fort Wayne
He Was Prominent in Business and a Force in the City's Progress -- His Life
William L. Carnahan was the son of James G. and Margaret (Brown) Carnahan, both of whom
were natives of Ohio. They removed to Indiana in 1833, becoming pioneers of Tippecanoe
county. settling at Lafayette, the father became engated in merchandise. At that place,
William L. Carnahan was born, march 5, 1837, and growing to manhood there attended the
city schools and prepared himself for entrance to the state university, at which he was
graduated. At the close of the year 1856 he went to Nebraska and remained in that state
three years, the greater part of the time in Dakota county and the city of Omaha, in the
latter place being engaged in merchandise and clerk of the land office. In 1860 Mr.
Carnahan returned to Indiana and extablished himself in business in Delphi, where he ws
occupied two years, after which he removed to Lafayette and embarked in the boot and shoe
trade. Two years later he became a travelng salesman for the firm of Carnahan, Earl &
Co, Lafayette, in wh!
ich capacity he was engaged for eighteen months, at the end of that period becoming a
member of the firm of Carnahan Brothers & Co., wholesale dealers and manufacturers of
boots and shoes. Attending to the wholesale trade, he spent seven years altogether on the
road.
In 1872 Mr. Carnahan came to Fort Wayne to live and established the business which is now
transacted extensively in many states by the W. L. Carnahan company. The firm was first
Carnahan, Skinner & Co. and this was succeeded in 1875 by Carnahan, Hanna & Co.,
and in 1886 became Carnahan & Co., with E. H. Mcdonald in the firm. The establishment
was incorporated in 1894 under the name of The W. L. Carnahan Co., with W. L. Carnahan as
president, Robert H. Carnahan as vice president, and W. E. Hood as secretary and
treasurer.
In 1864 Mr. Carnahan was united in marriage to Clara L., daughter of James Bayliss Hanna,
of this city, and of this union four children were born, Robert H., Misses Louise, Clara,
and Virginia, all of whom, with Mrs. Carnahan, survive the deceased. Mr. Carnahan, was a
high-minded Christian gentleman and a devout communicant of Trinity Episcopal church in
this city. In his private life, as in his business affairs, Mr. Carnahan was controlled
by a stern integrity and a lofty honor. He was extremely devoted to his family and ws of
strong domestic tastes. He was active and liberal in religious and charitable work, but
without ostentation. He had been a steadfast friend of the Young Men's Christian
Association of Fort Wayne and had conferred many benefits upon it. He was esteemed by all
who knew him and in the progress of this city was recognized as a positive force. His
death will be the occasion for general sorrow in the community.
This moring at 9:45, at the family residence, 119 East Wayne street, occurred the death of
William L. Carnahan, president of the W. L. Carnahan Co., wholesale boots and shoes, one
of the oldest and most extensive wholesale establishments in Fort Wayne. His death, while
not unexpected, was none the less a shock to his hosts of friends and acquaintances
throughout the city, for he was a representative man and held a high place in the popular
esteem. For twenty-five years he had been a citizen of this city and had acquired an
importance in its commercial affairs and aprominence in its society that combined to make
him a man whose absence will be deeply felt.
Mr. Carnahan had been an invalid for about three years, suffering with Bright's
disease and heart trouble. For two years his condition had been regarded as serious and
for the past four or five weeks he had been confined most of the time to his bed. Last
week there was some improvement in his condition, but a relapse followed which ended in
his death this morning.
Obit - Fort Wayne Gazette - Fort Wayne, Indiana - 27 June 1897:
Death's Victim
William L. Carnahan Expires After A Long Illness
He Was One Of The Leading Citizens Of Fort Wayne - Born And Reared In Indiana
W. L. Carnahan, one of the oldest citizens and one of the most prominent business men of
this city died yesterday morning at 9:45 o'clock at the family residence, 119 East
Wayne street. The cause of death was Bright's disease and heart trouble. Mr.
Carnahan had been a sufferer from those maladie for three years, and for two years his
condition was regarded as serious. For the past three weeks he was confined to his bed
almost all the time. His condition changed considerably during the last few days so that
hs end was expected almost at any time.
William L. Carnahan was the president of the Carnahan company, wholesale dealers in Boots
and shoes. He was the son of James G. and Margaret Carnahan, and was born in Lafayette,
on March 5, 1837. He remained there until after he had attained manhood. He graduated at
the state university. After graduating he went west, where he remained for several years.
He then came back to his native state and after spending some time as a member of the
Carnahan Shoe & Boot company, of Lafayette, he came to this city and established the
business of which he was the head when he died. The style of the firm has changed several
times and the present company was incorporated in 1894.
He was a member of company G. 67th Regiment, Infantry, Indiana volunteers.
Mr. Carnahan was married to Miss Clara L. Hanna in 1864. Four children, Robert H.,
Louise, Clara, and Virginia were born of this union, and these, with Mrs. Carnahan,
survive the father and husband.
Mr. Carnahan was a member of Trinity Episcopal church and was a warm friend of the
Y.M.C.A., which institutions fared well at his hands in a financial way, as did other
public institutions.
In business life he was an honest and upright man. All his dealings were those of a
conscientious and honorable business man. He gave his untiring efforts toward making the
public enterprises of Fort Wayne successful.
Note: Indiana message board by Patrick Ormiston - 12 Jan 2005:
Carnahan & Co., wholesale dealers in boots, shoes, and rubbers, is the title of a Fort
Wayne house which has an extensive trade throughout four states. The house was
established in 1872 by Carnahan, Skinner & Co., and this was succeeded in 1875 by
Carnahan, Hanna & Co. In 1886, the present firm Carnahan & Co., composted of
William L. Carnahan and Emmet H. McDonald, succeeded to the business.
The establishment is located at Nos. 76, 78, and 80 Clinton Street, a four story brick
bruilding 60x60, and is stocked with a complete assortment of all grades of footwear,
including boots, shoes, and India rubber goods. The purchases of the firm are made with
such business acumen that the prices it offers are daily recommending it to dealers
throughout the vast territory the salesmen of the firm are traversing. With annual sales
of from $400,000 to $500,000, and a steady incresing patronage, the future of the firm is
a very bright one.
William L. Carnahan is the son of James G. and Margaret (Brown) Carnahan, both of whom
were natives of Ohio. They removed to Indiana in 1833, becoming pioneers of Tippecanoe
county. Settling at Lafayette, the father engaged there in merchandise. At that place
William L. Carnahan was born March 5, 1837, and growing to manhood there, attended the
city schools and prepared himself for entrance to the state university, at which he was
graduated. At the close of 1856, he went to Nebraska, and remained in that state for
three years, the greater part of the time in Dakota county, and the city of Omaha, in the
latter place being engaged in merchandise, and as a clerk in the land office. Mr.
Carnahan returned to Indiana in 1860, and established himself in business at Delphi, where
he was occupied for two years, after which he removed to Lafayette and embarked in the
boot and shoe trade. Two years later he became a traveling salesman for the firm of
Carnahan, Earl, & Co., of Laf!
ayette, in which capacity he acted for eighteen months, at the end of that period
becoming a member of the firm, which did business under the title of Carnahan Brothers
& Co., wholesale dealers and manufacturers of boots and shoes. Attending to the
wholesale trade, he spent seven years altogether on the road. In January, 1872, Mr.
Carnahan made his home at Fort Wayne and established the business above referred to Mr.
Carnahan's long and successful business career gives him a high rank among the
prominent men of the city.
He was married in 1864, to Clara L., daughter of James Bayliss Hanna, of Allen county, and
to this union four children have been born.