Transcribed by Mary Ann Kaylor
Page 1110
CARNES, ALEXANDER L., a well-known and reliable citizen of Chatham, Ill., and a veteran of the Civil War, is now living retired from active life. He was born in Ross County, Ohio, September 24, 1844, son of Alexander W. and Mary (Shoemaker) Carnes, the former born in Germany in 1814, and the latter born in Ohio in 1812. The father was a preacher in the Methodist Church. He came to the United States as a young man and settled in Pennsylvania, going thence to Ohio, where he was married. He died at Lafayette, Ind., in 1868, having moved there that year and his widow died there in 1871. He served in the Eighteenth Ohio Battery two years during the Civil War and was mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio. His parents were native of Germany and his wife's parents of Kentucky.
Alexander L. Carnes received his education in Chillicothe, Ohio, and spent his boyhood and youth on a farm. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Seventy-third Ohio Infantry, at Chillicothe, under Thomas Beach, and was mustered out at Lookout Valley, Tenn., January 1, 1864. He re-enlisted in the same company the day he was mustered out, under Captain Downing, and received his final discharge at Camp Dennison, in August, 1865, having served his country faithfully and well for four long years. He participated in the Battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, second Battle of Bull Run, Cedar Mountain, Lookout Valley, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Atlanta, Buzzard's Roost, Savannah and Bentonville, besides many less important skirmishes. He served under Sherman on his progress to the sea, also served under Joe Hooker, and held the rank of Sergeant and later Lieutenant of his company. He has a record of which he may well be proud and is a member of the G. A. R.
In 1872 Mr. Carnes moved from Ohio to Illinois, and some years afterwards moved to Kentucky, but four years later (1899) returned to Illinois. He has served four years as Constable while living in Ohio and has always been an active member of the Republican party. For thirty years he has been a faithful member of the Methodist Church and has always been willing to promote the cause of education and religion. He taught school in Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois, and is well informed on subjects of public interest. He is held in high esteem by all who know him. He has spent the greater part of his life in agricultural pursuits, in which he has been very successful. He receives a good pension and is in comfortable circumstances financially.
Mr. Carnes was married at Paris, Ill., September 1, 1872, to Miss Nancy Jane Dyke, a native of Ross County, Ohio, born in 1845, daughter of William and Mary (Daily) Dyke, the former born in England and the latter in Ohio. William Dyke came to Illinois in 1864 and died in Chatham, in 1890, his wife having died in Ohio. Two children were born to Mr. Carnes and his wife: Mabro L., born at Sidney, Ill., September 12, 1873; and Ambro D., born at Williamsville, Ill., October 10, 1876. Ambro is deceased, but his daughter married W. G. Hatten, lives at Chatham, Ill., and has had seven children, three of whom survive. Mr. Carnes was married (second) to Miss Hannah R. Donathan, who was born in Indiana, daughter of Martin V. and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Donathan, both of whom were born in Kentucky, and they moved to Indiana, where they lived but a short time. One child was born to Mr. Carnes by his second marriage, Magnus May, born at Carrollton, Ky., February 12, 1908.