Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 943-944

JAMES F. CARNS (deceased), in his day one of the most esteemed residents of Grant county, was born in Ohio, in November, 1811, and was a son of Abram and Catherine CARNS, both of whom were born in Ireland, and came to this country at a very early day. They moved late to Illinois, where their last days were passed.

In 1849 Mr. CARNS came to the State of Wisconsin, with the intention of mining, locating first at Jamestown, and later at the Fairplay mines, remaining there a number of years. While a resident of this place he married, in 1851, Miss Ann LITTON, daughter of Smith and Sarah (GILLAND) LITTON, of Jacksonville, Ill., where they were very prominent residents. For some time Mr. LITTON was mayor of Jacksonville, and he was a man widely known and well remembered. His birth took place in Tennessee, in 1810, and he died in 1848. Mrs. LITTON was born in Kentucky in 1811, and passed away in 1884. They reared fours sons: Burton died in Illinois; James resided in Minneapolis, where he died some years ago; Albert resides in Georgetown, Grant Co., Wis., with his sister (in 1861 he became a volunteer in the 61st Ill. V.I., and served faithfully until the close of the war, losing his health in the service of his country); Charles is a resident of Wood county, Kans., where he lives with his family. Mrs. CARNS was the only daughter.

Mrs. Ann (LITTON) CARNS was born at Jacksonville, Ill., Aug. 12, 1833, and received a superior education in the excellent schools of Jacksonville, becoming a teacher in the public schools for a short time. Her marriage with Mr. CARNS took place in Wisconsin, but they returned to Jacksonville, where they lived during three years of the Civil war. Returning to Fairplay, Wis., Mr. CARNS followed his occupation of lead and zinc mining. In 1872 he purchased a farm in Smelser township, removed his family to it, and there his death took place in May, 1884. While a resident on the farm he made many general improvements, erected new barns, fences, etc, and rendered the place most comfortable and attractive. Mr. CARNS was well known in this section as an honest and upright man, who could count every neighbor a friend. His family of wife and children still survive him: (1) Burton was born in 1856, grew to manhood, engaged in agricultural pursuits, married Samantha VANETTA, and still resides on his farm with four children, Lester, Roy, Harry and Lennis. (2) Edward, born in Wisconsin in 1858, married Glenn VANNETTA, resides on his farm in Smelser, and has two children, Gladys and the baby. (3) Ella, born in Illinois, in 1860, married Rudolph LUCE, who was principal of the Belmont schools at the time of her death, in 1892. She left five children, Elsie, B. W., Frankie, Roscoe and James, these children all making their home with their grandmother, except Roscoe, who resides with his uncle Edward. (4) Lizzie, born in Wisconsin in 1863, is a graduate of the normal school at Platteville, and for eight years was a successful teacher in Grant county, four terms being in Big Patch. She is now the wife of George REIGE, of Big Patch, and has three children, Maud, Guy and Mildred. (5) Frank, born in 1868, was well educated in the Platteville Normal School, and for some time was manager of the home farm and was also a teacher in the district school, teaching some five years in Smelser and Georgetown, Grant county numbers no brighter young man among her many youths. In various ways he comes to the front when some one of brains is needed. His services were required for census enumerator, in 1900, and the duties were performed with accuracy and energy. With his mother he retains the home farm in Smelser township, but with her resides in Georgetown. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Georgetown lodge, and also of the Modern Woodmen. (6) Bertha, born in December, 1875, was a student at the Platteville Normal School, where she was fitted for the position she now holds as a teacher in the graded schools of Belmont, Lafayette county; for several years she was an acceptable teacher in the high schools of Benton, being a cultured and intellectual young lady. In politics Mr. CARNS was a stanch Republican and his sons follow the example of their excellent father. Mrs. CARNS was carefully reared in the doctrines of the Christian Church and there she still holds her membership, although her children are of various denominations. Mr. and Mrs. CARNS well represent the best element of Grant county's pioneers. The family as a whole is a prominent one, and no history of this part of the State would be complete without a record of it.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck