WILLIAM C. CARNAHAN, Crittenden County, son of John and Sarah Carnahan, was born May 18, 1818, in Madisonville, Ky. His grandfather, John Carnahan, was a native of Pennsylvania. His maternal grandfather was William C. Bradburne, a native of Virginia. He moved to Caldwell County, Ky., in 1821, settling about twelve miles from Princeton. He was a silversmith by trade, but, after coming to this State, he engaged in farming, which he followed until his death, in 1828. John Carnahan, subject's father, was born in Pennsylvania, which State he left in early manhood, coming to Kentucky and settling near Lexington, Fayette County. Later he moved to Hopkinsville, Christian County, where he lived for a number of years, working at his trade of gunsmith. He died at Madisonville in 1828, aged fifty-three years. Mrs. Carnahan was born in 1780, and died in Hopkins County in 1833. The family of John and Sarah Carnahan consisted of nine children. At the age of sixteen, W. C. was apprenticed to learn the saddler's trade, and remained with his employer in Madisonville three years and nine months. After serving his apprenticeship he opened a shop of his own working at his trade in Madisonville until 1845, when he came to Marion and carried on a successful business until the breaking out of the war, when he retired from active employment and engaged in trading. In 1864 he was elected sheriff of Crittenden County, the duties of which office he discharged four years, having been re-elected in 1866. Previous to the above years he held the office of constable, and also served as county treasurer several terms, devoting his leisure time to trading in real estate, in which he was very successful. By strict attention to business and skillful management he succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune, owning large tracts of real estate in Crittenden County, besides valuable property in Marion and other towns. He is the largest property-holder in Crittenden County, and in every respect a self-made man. Mr. Carnahan's first marriage took place May 17, 1839, to Miss Emeline, daughter of Reddick and Elizabeth O'Brien, of Hopkins County, by whom he had four children: Worthington B., Electa M., wife of John D. Boaz; Sarah A., deceased; and John R., deceased. Mrs. Carnahan died December 16, 1846, aged twenty four years. Mr. Carnahan was next married March 11, 1849, to Sarah A. Hammond, daughter of Martin and Margaret Hammond, of Crittenden County. Two children have been born to this union, viz.: William G., and Emeline, wife of I. F. Wheeler. Mr. Carnahan takes an active interest in church affairs and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 720-721.