My Genealogy Hound

JAMES E. KARNS, carpenter, Tarentum, a son of Charles W. and Mary (Thomson) Karns, was born in what is now Harrison township, Allegheny county, Pa., in 1828. His grandfather, J. E. Karns, located in Westmoreland county, and in 1798 removed to Slippery Rock, where he took up a considerable tract of land; then came to Karns station, East Deer township. He soon experienced the perils of pioneer life, for in going through the woods one day, carrying as his only weapon of defense an ax, he was confronted by a full-grown bear, disposed to dispute his right of way; Mr. Karns, however, succeeded in making his escape. He and his wife both died in 1840. Their children were Charles W.; William, a hatter by trade, and who was for several years postmaster of Allegheny City; Matthew, a tanner by trade, who died when twenty years of age; James E., Francis, Eliza, who married George Hazlett; Margaret, who married James Potts, and died in Johnstown; Wilson, a soldier in the Florida war, and who died in the service; John, a salt-manufacturer at Karns station, and who died in 1872; Samuel D., captain of one of the river boats, later a sutler in the Mexican war, and who died at Parkersburg, W. Va. The birthplace of Charles W., father of James E., was Westmoreland county, Pa. He married and located at what is now Natrona, Allegheny county, followed the river as lumberman, and during the war of 1812 carried freight up the river in canoes for the army. He died at Natrona in 1864; his wife died in 1839. Their children were James E., Elizabeth T., the late Mrs. Edward McKee, of Natrona; Joseph C.; Francis W., who enlisted in the 9th P. R., Co. C, and who died after the seven days’ fight.

The subject of this memoir after his mother’s death moved to Plum township, where he remained until seventeen years of age, and then proceeded to Pittsburgh, where he learned the carpenter’s trade. In 1852 he went to California, leaving Tarentum January 29th; started from Panama on board the bark Ann Smith March 9th, and reached Acapulco after a tedious voyage of fifty-four days, in a shipwrecked condition. He worked in the mines there for six years, then returned home, and during the civil war enlisted in Co. I, 123d P. V. I.; he received a wound at the battle of Fredericksburg, but remained during his term of enlistment, at the expiration of which he returned home again. In 1864 Mr. Karns married Elizabeth, daughter of John L. Randolph, of Harrison township, this county. After marriage they settled in Tarentum, and here Mr. Karns resumed his former business. Mrs. Karns died in 1880. They reared a family of six children, viz.: Anna M., Mary A., Augusta E., Cornelia R., Charles W. (deceased) and Francis M. Mr. Karns is a member of the U. P. Church.