R. M. CARNS, merchant, Olmsted. Of the young business men who have identified themselves with Pulaski County, we recognize him whose name appears above. He was born April 1, 1846, in this county. His father, John Cams, was a native of Tennessee. He is well remembered by our older citizens, and died in this county. His wife, Eliza J. Smith, is yet living. She is a native of South Carolina and is the mother of nine children — Dorcas Caster, John W. (deceased, a soldier in our late war), Julia A. (deceased), Daniel S., William H., Elizabeth (deceased), Robert M. (our subject), Kate F. Steele and Thomas A. (deceased). Our subject was educated in this county, where he assisted in tilling its bountiful soil till September, 1864, at the age of seventeen, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Regiment, serving till the close of the war, when he clerked for Judge Smith till his election as Constable and his appointment as Deputy Sheriff, in which capacities he served two years. He was also elected County Coroner. In May, 1870, he was married here to Miss Nannie Pearson, born May 19, 1853, in America, Pulaski Co., Ill. She was a daughter of Joseph A. and Nancy (Fields) Pearson, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Kentucky. Mrs. Nannie Carns is the mother of four children, viz.: Erdine, born October 2, 1871; Maud, born February 12, 1873; Allen J., born March 9, 1875, and Claude, born October 4, 1879. Mr. R. M. Cams was a farmer for about ten years after his marriage. In 1882, he came to Olmsted, where he is now engaged in the mercantile business. In 1882, he was elected Justice of the Peace, but resigned the same year. In politics, he has identified himself with the Democratic party.
Extracted 02 Nov 2014 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V - Biographical Sketches, pages 312-313.
| Union | Johnson | |
| Alexander |
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Massac McCracken KY |
| Ballard KY |
