From unknown newspaper, dated June 29, 1908 (handwritten date)
WILLIAM CARNES EIGHTY.
Birthday Was Properly Celebrated in This City Today.
Today at the home of W. H. Merriman and wife, on North Scott street, was celebrated the
eightieth birthday of Mrs. Merriman's father, William Carnes. The children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren to the number of about fifty, met at the noon hour
the father with all the children, excepting one, Mrs. Susie Houser, surrounded the table
and partook of a sumptuous dinner. To the children this was an enjoyable hour to be
privileged to sit with him at the able (sic) as in the years gone by, even at this
advanced age of the father. The children are R. F. Carnes, Mrs. J. V. Merriman, J. W.
Carnes, Thomas Carnes, W. H. Carnes, G. W. Carnes, Ettie Merriman and Myrtle Harris.
These with their families and a few other friends, were the number who ate dinner. Mr.
Carnes was one of the pioneer settlers of Chester township and resided there until a
little over a year ago when he came with M. H. Merriman from Keystone to Bluffton.