John Carnes
John Carnes, founder of the Lima Locomotive Works, is one of the city's prominent and representative men, and is connected with one of the largest manufacturing plants in this section of the State. Mr. Carnes was born in 1822 at Barre, Vermont, and is the son of James Carnes of that city.
John Carnes doubtless inherited mechanical skill from his father, who in his day was a carpenter and joiner of considerable reputation, and this natural leaning was developed from boyhood. He relates with pardonable pride that he had made a pair of shoes and a fine door panel before he was 12 years old. He learned his trade with his father and extended his knowledge to mill construction and, prior to coming to Lima, followed the trade of building sash mills. His mechanical skill covered other lines and after he came to Lima he made the first pattern for the first locomotive that was ever built here, in the infancy of an industry which has made Lima famous. Mr. Carnes had become acquainted, through a business transaction, with a Mr. Shay, a capitalist, who desired to enter into engine building. The plans and designs made by Mr. Carnes were accepted and the ultimate result was the building of the Shay engines, which are known all over the world.
Prior to coming to Lima, Mr. Carnes owned a water-mill at Sycamore and a machine shop at Upper Sandusky. In February 1869, he came to Lima and in association with George Disman, Jesse M. Coe and Frederick Agerter, bought out the establishment of Chatman, Donnelly & Company, and started what is now the great Lima Locomotive Works. The first line of manufactures was threshing machines, then the sawmill machinery, but since 1885 the output has been locomotives. This industry is one of the most important of Northwestern Ohio, giving employment to an army of workmen and having a weekly pay roll which reaches into thousands of dollars.
Mr. Carnes was married in 1847 to Mary Baldwin, a daughter of Samuel Baldwin, and they have three children, viz: Ira P.; Emma, widow of Charles Garrison; and Homer, who is a skilled pattern maker. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Carnes is a zealous member of the Prohibition party and to its advancement he has contributed time and effort.
Although now 83 years of age, Mr. Carnes has by no means retired into the background, his physical strength having been preserved and his mental outlook being as clear as it was years ago. During the past year, when many of his contemporaries sought the rest and retirement of the fireside, he was looking after the erection of a fine three-story brick building on his property on the corner of Spring and Central streets. His energy and talents have made his life a busy one and he can look back over many years filled with notable achievements. His portrait accompanies this sketch.
From History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 1, Edited & Compiled by Charles C. Miller, Ph. D.; Richmond & Arnold, Publishers, Chicago, 1906