KARNS, Andrew McAllister

KARNS, WOOD, SMITH, CLEMENS, TWAIN

Posted By: Joey Stark - Jefferson Co. Volunteer
Date: 3/21/2006 at 20:58:25

"Fairfield Journal", Thurs., Oct. 16, 1919, Pg. 4, Col. 1

Andrew McAllister KARNS, a maker of Iowa history, died at Mercy Hospital in Burlington Sunday afternoon...

Born in McConnellsville, Morgan County, Ohio, Jan. 5, 1835, and came to Iowa in 1851 (?), landing at Fort Madison. From there the family moved to Fairfield where young Andrew began to learn the printing business in the office of the "Iowa Sentinel" under management of Robert B. Pope, in 1850. He then went to Ottumwa and was manager and publisher of the "Courier" during Lincoln's first campaign, and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago that nominated Abraham Lincoln as candidate for the office of the president of the U.S.... then to Bloomfield.... to Burlington in 1878....

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Evelyn (Lohmiller-Jacobs) Norweb, in "A Branch of the KARNS Family", pub. 1967, quotes from a long obituary in the "Burlington Gazette", Oct. 13 & 14, 1919:

"VETERAN PRINTER DIED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.... Age 84. Andrew McAllister KARNS, perhaps the oldest printer in Iowa, and easily dean of the local craft, at his home, 703 North Third St..... Had spent all but six years of his life in Iowa, coming here in 1841.... On Aug. 6, 1860, at Ottumwa, he was united in marriage to Josephine C. WOOD, and she with one daughter and four sons survive. Children: Mrs. A. A. SMITH of Sioux City, Iowa; Fred F. of Glenwood Springs, Colorado; George of Missouri Valley, Iowa; John A. of Sioux City, Iowa; and Thomas P. now on the U.S.S. "Medford" bound for England; 5 grandchildren and 5 greatgrandchildren.... One of the things that he recalled in later days with no little pride was the fact that he had known Samuel S. CLEMENS (Mark TWAIN) before the world discovered the great humorist, and when TWAIN was learning the printers' trade...."

[Also posted to the Des Moines, Jefferson, and Wapello Counties' Obituaries boards]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s).