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Submitted: 8/20/10 • Approved: 6/23/18 • Last Updated: 6/26/18 • R363088-G0-S3
ADJUTANT
Company B 24 Arkansas Infantry
Civil War Confederate
October 9, 1838 - November 9, 1926
Son of Samuel & Mary Pyeatte Carnahan
Born Cane Hill AR
Died
*Obituary
Benton County Herald
Thursday, November 11, 1926
CARNAHAN, Peter - Rev. Peter Carnahan, widely known Confederate Veteran and pioneer Presbyterian minister, died at his home here on Tuesday afternoon, November 9th, 1926 at 3:30 o'clock, aged 88 years and one month, his death following an illness of several weeks. Possibly no man ever lived who was more generally loved and respected, nor who had ministered to the spiritual and other needs of more people in an unusually long and useful life than had this veteran of the Southern army and of the ministry of the gospel. Probably no minister ever performed more marriage ceremonies nor conducted more funeral services than he. Sixty years ago he was ordained a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Prior to that time even he began his life-work of ministering to the spiritual needs of those around him and as a lieutenant and later an adjutant in the Confederate army he regularly conducted religious services for his comrades. For more than sixty years he rejoiced with his people in the wholesome pleasures and the most sublime joys of the countryside; brought aid and comfort when trouble and sickness came and at the open grave, consolation to those who grieved. He was an essential part of the community; occupied a niche none other could fill. While he lived he unconsciously builded in the minds of all who knew him a monument to his own memory to be handed down from generation to generation. His life was a benediction upon those with whom he came in touch. He was born at Cane Hill, Washington County, Arkansas in 1838, a son of Samuel Carnahan and Mary {Pyeatte} Carnahan, and grandson of the Rev. John Carnahan, who was a South Carolinian, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister and an immigrant to Tennessee in 1800, and is said to have been the first Protestant minister in Arkansas when he moved to Arkansas post in 1811. Later he moved to Cane Hill where he died. Rev. Peter Carnahan's father was also born in South Carolina, in 1794. He located at Cane Hill, Arkansas in 1827, living there until his death, which occurred in 1867. His wife was of French descent, born in South Carolina in 1797, and died in 1879. She was a daughter of Jacob Pyeatte. To this union were born 12 children of whom Peter Carnahan was the eleventh. Mr. Carnahan was reared on his father's farm and was attending Cane Hill College at the outbreak of the War Between the States. He immediately espoused the cause of the Southern Confederacy, serving as a third lieutenant in Captain Buchanan's company. In 1862 he re-enlisted in the Confederate army in Company B, Thirty-fourth Arkansas Infantry and was elected second lieutenant. After the battle of Prairie Grove he was promoted to adjutant and served as such until the close of the war. Among the major engagements in which he fought were the battles of Oak Hill, Prairie Grove and Jenkins Ferry. After the war he returned home and farmed on the old homestead until 1870. He had been ordained a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1866 and while he farmed he also was pastor of the churches at Pleasant Hill and Cincinnati, Ark. In 1870 he was called by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Bentonville and served as its pastor for 14 years. During this time he was also in charge of the Mount Vernon congregation at a church some two miles east of Bentonville. This church became known as "the Carnahan church," and is so designated to this day. In June 1862, while serving in the Confederate army, he was married to Miss Martha J. Buchanan, a daughter of the Rev. John Buchanan, who was one of the pioneer Cumberland Presbyterian ministers of Washington County. Mrs. Carnahan died here a few years ago. Of their seven children, six are living, one son, Otho, having died several years ago. The children surviving their father are: Mrs. D.C. Lewis, Portland, Oregon; Edgar, Bentonville; John H., Fort Smith, Ark.; Harry P., Joplin, Mo.; Earle, Tulsa, Okla. and Wilford, Bentonville. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Bentonville Presbyterian Church, conducted by the pastor, the Rev. A.W. Henderson, and interment was made in the Bentonville cemetery.
*Obituary
Benton County Democrat
Tuesday, November 9, 1926
The Rev. Peter Carnahan passed away at his home in this city at 3:30 this Tuesday afternoon. The funeral will be held from the Presbyterian church Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Mr. Carnahan suffered an attack of influenza two weeks ago and his physical condition was not strong enough to rally from the illness. He was about 83 years of age.
Contributed on 8/20/10 by nailgal123
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Record #: 363088