From unknown newspaper, handwritten "died Jan 29-1910"
DEATH TAKES A PIONEER RESIDENT
WILLIAM CARNES PASSED AWAY AT THE HOME OF HIS DAUGHTER, MRS. W. H. MERRIMAN.
William Carnes, aged 81 years, [7 m written in] died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W.
H. Merriman, 203 East Wabash street, at 6:30 o'clock this morning. He had been ill
since December 24, and on account of his advanced years his sickness proved of a fatal
nature.
In the death of Mr. Carnes the county looses (sic) one of its highest respected residents.
He was a pioneer resident, having come to Wells county and settled in Chester township in
1854. Mr. Carnes spent his early manhood in Guernsey county, Ohio, and when he came to
this county, following his marriage in Ohio, he found it necessary to not only clear his
land and build a home, but also to cut roads to his farm that he might get there. He was
elected County commissioner in 1884, and was serving when the bridge over the wWabash
river at North Main street was built. For the past thirteen years, since the death of his
wife in 1895, he has lived with his daughter, Mrs. Merriman.
The deceased was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, June 29, 1828, the son of John and Ann
Bell Carnes. He was married to Hannah Booth in Ohio September 28, 1854. They were the
parents of eleven children of whom are living nine. They are Robert Carnes, of Petroleum;
Mrs. J. G. Merriman, Keystone; John Carnes, of Chester township; Thomas Carnes and Mrs.
Myrtle Harris of Chester township; William and George Carnes of Nottingham and Mrs. Etta
Merriman of Bluffton. The dead are Mrs. Susan Houser and Oscar Carnes. One brother, John
Booth, lives in Guernsey County while the last sister was buried in that county on last
Sunday.
Monday at the Blanche Chapel, the services will be held with interment at Grove cemetery.