Jacob Preston Carnahan

CARNAHAN, J.P. –(from The Fayetteville Sentinel) Capt. J.P. Carnahan died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Rogers, one and a half miles north of Prairie Grove at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning after a lingering illness. A few weeks ago he went to Kansas City and was operated on for gallstone and seemed to be doing nicely for awhile but later became worse and continued so to the end. Deceased was 80 years of age and was born at Cane Hill, this county. He was a graduate of Lebanon, Tennessee College, the best and most widely known institution of learning in Tennessee. Capt. Carnahan fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War and was as brave a soldier as ever shouldered a musket. [The Springdale News 7/26/1912]
James Preston Carnahan departed this life July 16th, 1912. He was made a Master Mason of Cane Hill Lodge No. 57 on Dec. 22, 1866. In this Lodge he lived according to the principles inculcated by the Order until his death. He was a consistent Christian Character and was loved and honored by all who knew him. Whereas it has pleased the almighty Father of the universe to remove from our midst to his Celestial home above, our greatly honored and revered and beloved brother, James Preston Carnahan; Therefore be it Resolved, That while we deeply deplore his death, we cannot but feel that our loss is his gain, and that he has gone to his reward in that Celestial Empire and that he siteth on the right hand of God in the Temple not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens. Be it resolved that the church has lost a faithful servant, the community a useful, honest, upright citizen. A man whom to know is but to honor and that the sympathies and condolence of this Lodge be extended to the family of our deceased brother with the assurance that though his loss to us is great, we know the loss of a father is tenfold greater; that while we cherish his memory and pleasant face and pleasant associations we will remember the family and assure them of brotherly love and Christian affection. Be it further resolved that a copy of these resolutions be presented to the bereaved family, also a copy of the same to be published and that they also be spread upon the pages of our minutes as a memorial. Respectfully submitted, T.W. Blackburn, G.W. Drummond, J.H. Pyeatt; Committee [Prairie Grove Herald 8/12/1912]
“Stay Where You Are.” The following good story on one of the best men in Arkansas has never, we believe, been in print:
During the misunderstanding between the North and the South, Capt. J.P. Carnahan, now professor of mathematics at Cane Hill College in Washington County, commanded Co. G, 16th Regiment Arkansas Volunteers, C.S.A., and was loved by his men as but few officers were. At the battle of Elkhorn Tavern, Arkansas, the regiment was ordered into the thickest of the fight, and stood their ground in the face of superior numbers on the Federal side. But finally, the battle raged so furiously and the regiment pressed so closely that the line was broken and the men began to waiver and fall back. Capt. Carnahan, like the true and brave soldier he was, comprehended the situation at a glance, and, taking his stand in front of his company, shouted in tones that gave his men to understand that he was in earnest: “Stay where you are, Company G, stay right where you are! Let the balance of the regiment go to the devil if they want to, but Company G, you will stay right where you are!”
It is unnecessary to state that Company G stayed and did a gallant part in the remainder of the stirring scenes of the battle. There is not a man in Arkansas today who is more beloved by all who know him than Captain, now Professor Carnahan, and he is as true a man in the paths of peace as he was in serving his country on the field of battle. Russellville Democrat [Fayetteville Democrat 4/6/1882]
Claims of Old Resident Challenged – Here is another: Capt. J.P. Carnahan, brother of Mrs. Crawford, was born of Cane Hill, September 2nd, 1832, and, while he has not resided continually on the hill, yet he has never resided outside the confines of Washington County. So it will be seen that both the above parties outstrip Rev. Edmonson in point of long residence in this State. Captain Carnahan and Mrs. Crawford are brother and sister respectively of H.P. and Rev. P. Carnahan of this city, and we are indebted to H.P. Carnahan for the information herein contained. It might also be added that the parents of the family referred to came to Arkansas in 1811. – Bentonville Democrat [Fayetteville Democrat 12/1/1910]
Death of Capt. J.P. Carnahan – Capt. J.P. Carnahan died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Rogers, one and a half miles north of Prairie Grove at 10 o’clock this morning after a lingering illness. A few weeks ago he went to Kansas City and was operated on for gall stones and seemed to do nicely for a while but later became worse and continued so to the end. Deceased was 80 years of age and was born at Cane Hill, this county, and was probably the oldest native citizen. He came of the best pioneer stock that settled this county. He was a graduate of Lebanon, Tennessee Collage and for many years after the war he taught in Cane Hill College, then the best and most widely known institution of learning in Arkansas. Capt. Carnahan fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War and was as brave a soldier who ever shouldered a musket. He was one of nature’s noblemen. He was a man of strong mind and possessed the courage to defend the right as he saw it. He was a man of gentle disposition and was unassuming in his manners. He was a model husband and father and one of the most charitable and accommodating of men, He was devoutly religious and no man stood higher in the esteem of his neighbors. He leaves five children: Mrs. Clem Moore and Mrs. Quaile of this city, Mrs. John Rogers of Prairie Grove, Rev. Alfred E. Carnahan of Cane Hill and James Carnahan, who arrived two days before his father’s death, after having been absent in the West for many years. The interment will take place tomorrow at Cane Hill. [Fayetteville Democrat 7/18/1912] CARNAHAN, James Preston - Captain Carnahan returned this morning to his home near Viney Grove. The Captain has many friends in Fayetteville. He has been famous as a teacher, soldier and an advocate of pure politics. He is one man who has been known to sacrifice the last hope of political preferment before he would give up a principle or recant a doctrine that he honestly believed was right. Captain Carnahan was never defeated by a man who could lay claim to intellectual or moral superiority to him. [Fayatteville Democrat 3/25/1905]
From Mrs. Mary Carnahan's "Recollections of Early Times": Soldier's pocket testament inscribed: "Captain J.P. Carnahan, from James Y. Blagg, 1st Lieut. 19th Virginia Infantry, Point Lookout, Maryland, April 25, 1864." A printed paper on back inside reads: "From the cargo of the Angels, Rebel blockade runner Minna, captured Dec. 6, 1863, off Wilmington, by the Government Dispatch ship Circassion, Captain W.B. Eaton."
Two Confederate bank notes ($20 and $100), with this notation: "This money was brought home when my father returned from the war in May 1865. It was paid to him from the Confederate Treasury in Virginia. He had just been exchanged and landed in Virginia. One meal cost $150, one pistol $500, other things in proportion," [The Pyeatts and the Carnahans of Old Cane Hill - Washington County Historical Society No. 8 of the Bulletin Series]