Columbia-Sullivan County PA Archives Biographies.....KARNS, Russell 1842 - living in 1899
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  Author: Biographical Publishing Co.
  
  HON. RUSSELL KARNS, a retired citizen of Benton, Columbia County. Pa., formerly
  of Laporte, Sullivan County, Pa., was for many years one of the leading business
  men of Laporte township and was proprietor of the Laporte Hotel, which was
  recently burned, it being the most popular hotel in the county. He is a son of
  Peter and Mary (Singer) Karns, and was born at Benton, Benton township, Columbia
  County, Pa., March 17, 1842.
  
    John Karns, the grandfather of our subject, was an early settler in Benton
  township, Columbia County, where he purchased a tract of uncultivated land,
  which he cleared. He later disposed of this estate, now owned by Charles Ash,
  Esq., and moved to Steuben County, N. Y., following farming the rest of his
  active life and spending the last few years of his life in retirement with his
  son Peter. He lived to reach an advanced age and was thrice married, having the
  following children: Peter, Jacob, Daniel and John by his first wife; he also
  reared Isaac, Henry, Tunis, William and two daughters by his second wife.
  
    Peter Karns, the father of our subject, was born in Columbia County, Pa., and
  at an early age took to agricultural pursuits. His wife had an uncultivated
  tract of land left to her by her father, which he cleared and then built a
  log-house, in which his family was reared. This land is now owned by Daniel
  Karns, a brother of our subject. Peter Karns married Mary Singer, a daughter of
  William Singer, and they both lived to reach an old age.
  
    Russell Karns, the subject of this review, was reared on a farm and attended
  the public schools, receiving a good education mainly through his individual
  efforts in taking advantage of every opportunity which presented itself for his
  advancement. Starting out for himself he learned the trade of a painter, at
  first confining his work simply to house painting, but he later entered the
  employ of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, at Berwick, as a car
  painter. He next accepted contracts for boat painting at Espytown, Columbia
  County, and while there assisted in recruiting Company E of the 209th Reg., Pa.
  Vol. Inf., enlisting himself as second lieutenant. He served as such to the
  close of the war and was mustered out in June, 1865. He returned to Benton and
  followed his trade in connection with farming, purchasing a farm, which he has
  since owned. He erected a complete set of new buildings and so improved it
  otherwise that it became one of the best farms in Columbia County. In 1879 Mr.
  Karns rented the Benton Hotel, then known as the Ikeler House, and conducted it
  for one year. His success during that time was such as to warrant him in leasing
  the large Laporte Hotel at Laporte, Sullivan County. There his success continued
  and after a period of two years he purchased it and made many improvements. It
  was a handsome structure, three stories high and contained forty-seven large and
  well-furnished bedrooms, and was fitted with every convenience that could be
  arranged for the convenience of his guests. It was a very popular place with
  transients and during terms of court he had more patrons than he could well
  accommodate. His business continued to prosper and he conducted it until 1884
  when, owing to the great strain which his many duties devolving upon him, he
  went to Hot Springs, Ark., to recuperate. The hotel in Laporte was rented, after
  he gave up the business, until it was destroyed by fire on March 25, 1898. He
  then disposed of the lot to F. W. Gallagher, Esq. In private life our subject is
  held in as high esteem as in business circles and has many friends throughout
  Sullivan and Columbia counties.
  
    Our subject was united in matrimonial bonds to Elmira Cole, who was born April
  4, 1848, and is a daughter of William Cole, of Benton township. Their union has
  been blessed by six children: Sedgwick B., an attorney at Benton, born November
  14, 1868, married Carrie Keeler, by whom he has two children, Helen and Ruth;
  Nora Bell, born September 11, 1870, died in infancy; Corene A., born April 22,
  1878, widow of R. M. Stormont; Harry Allen, a student, born September 9, 1874;
  Florence A., deceased, born December 1, 1875; and Hazel P., deceased, born
  January 10, 1887. Politically, Mr. Karns is an enthusiastic Democrat and has
  served as school director of Benton, and as burgess, school director and member
  of the council at Laporte. In 1890 he was honored by a seat in the State
  Legislature and served during 1891 and 1892. Religiously, he is a member of the
  Christian Church, whilst his wife is affiliated with the Episcopal Church.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  Extracted from:
  
  Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
  Published by 
  Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
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