Ira P. Carnes
Ira P. Carnes, vice-president of The Lima Locomotive & Machine Company and vice-president of the Lima Pork Packing Company, is one of the city's representative business men. He was born at East Barre, Washington County, Vermont, in 1850, and is the eldest son of John and Mary (Baldwin) Carnes.
Mr. Carnes was a child of three years when his parents moved to Sycamore, Ohio, and shortly after to Upper Sandusky, where his father was the owner of a foundry and machine shop. He attended school in both these cities, always being considered a very apt student, especially in mathematics. Like his father and grandfather, he early showed a mechanical talent and from boyhood took an interest in machinery; after 1869, when his parents settled at Lima, he was constantly employed in the shop of Carnes, Agerter & Company. The father, as related in a sketch which will be found in this volume, was the founder of the Lima Locomotive Works, which succeeded the firm of Carnes, Agerter & Company. When this reorganization took place, Ira P. Carnes became a member of the firm and since then he has been one of the important factors in shaping the addition to the important duties pertaining to this office, he has other interest, one of these being the vice-presidency of the Lima Pork Packing Company, another institution of which Lima is justly proud. He has also been connected with the Lima Home & Savings Association since its organization. In all that concerns the welfare of the city he takes an intelligent and public spirited interest and is numbered with the most progressive as well as most popular men of the city. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
In 1880 Mr. Carnes was married to Louisa Wuichet, of Dayton, Ohio, and to them were born two children Sabine and Walter. Mrs. Carnes died in January, 1885. Mr. Carnes was again married, in 1889, to Anna Robb, sister of Hon. Theodore D. Robb, mayor of Lima. They have one child, John, who is named for his grandfather, John Carnes.