Biography - CLARENCE H. CARNAHAN
Clarence
H. Carnahan, one of the leading merchants of
Hindsboro, and a promising business man of the county, was born in Douglas
county, Illinois, March 1, 1876. He was reared on a farm and received his
principal education at Tuscola and Terre Haute. His first business venture
was in partnership with A. J. Parke, in the restaurant business in
Hindsboro, at which they continued successfully for a short time. In 1898
Mr. Carnahan engaged in his present business, and his success has been
remarkable. He carries a full line of dry-goods, notions and groceries and
has the entire confidence of the people in Hindsboro and Bowdre township. In
addition to his mercantile interests he owns forty acres of valuable land
near the village.
Mr. Carnahan is a son of Robert A. Carnahan, who was born September 22,
1839, in Fleming county, Kentucky, and is a son of Jackson and Margaret
(Sousley) Carnahan, with whom he removed from Kentucky to Indiana in 1847.
'In 1857 the family moved to Coles county, where, in 1860, Jackson Carnahan
died, which threw the support of the widowed mother and younger children
upon Robert. who was the eldest child. His business in life was farming,
cattle dealing and trading, in all of which he was very prosperous; having
no capital to start on, he accumulated a good property by industry and good
management. In 1869 he bought eighty acres of the present homestead and
later added eighty acres more. It was unimproved, but later became one of
the fine farms of Bowdre township.
Our subject was twice married. His first wife was Miss Sarah E. Herbert,
daughter of William J. and Martha G. (Arasmith) Herbert, of Coles county.
His second wife was Miss Mahala Herbert, sister of his first wife. By the
last marriage there was born one child, a son, Clarence H. Jackson
Carnahan's death occurred March 8, 1879. Clarence H. Carnahan is one of the
youngest men in successful business in the county, and displays a remarkable
tact and aptitude in handling details. Socially he is popular with his
friends.
Extracted 09 Jun 2019 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, pages 217-218.
