James Ambrose Carnes
"Among the educators of Oklahoma, one who has won eminent success at an age when most men are but entering upon their careers is James Ambrose Carnes, superintendent of the city schools of Comanche. A man of fine attainments, it has been his fortune and privilege to work his own way to the forefront, and the position which he now occupies is not the result of fortuitous circumstance, but of well-applied effort and merit. Mr. Carnes was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, September 19, 1882, and is a son of George W. and Jane (BURNETT) Carnes.
The grandfather of James A. Carnes, George Carnes, was the founder of the family in the United States, and was a native of Scotland. He first emigrated to South America, but subsequently came to this country, becoming a pioneer of the State of Iowa and the first man to drive a wagon across the state. He was a hatter by trade, an occupation which he followed for many years at Keokuk, where his death occurred. George W. Carnes was born at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1851, and as a young man adopted agriculture as the field in which to devote his life's labors. He remained in Iowa until 1897, when he removed to DeWitt, Arkansas County, Arkansas, and there has been engaged in farming and stock-raising to the present time. He is a democrat in his political views. A public-spirited citizen and stanch supporter of education, he has for many years served as a member of the school board. He belongs to Keokuk Camp, Woodmen of the World, in which he is very popular, and has numerous friends and well-wishers in his community. Mr. Carnes married Miss Jane BURNETT, who was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1853, and to this union there were born eight children, namely: Alvina, who is the wife of G. C. HOUK, of Des Moines, Iowa, secretary for the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad; Hop, who is a farmer and stockman and resides at DeWitt, Arkansas; George, who is a banker of Winthrop, Minnesota; William, a farmer of DeWitt, Arkansas; James Ambrose, of this notice; Maude, who is the wife of D. W. LEAR, a farmer of DeWitt, Arkansas; Bertha, who is the wife of Mr. FRICK, a telephone man of Warren, Arkansas; and Grover, who is a graduate, class of 1915, of the law department of Leland Stanford University.
The public schools of DeWitt, Arkansas, furnished Mr. Carnes with his early educational training, and he was graduated from the high school there with the class of 1901. He then worked on his father's farm for several years, following which he resumed his preparation for an educational career by attendance at Washita College, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. When he received his degree of Bachelor of Arts there, in 1908, he started teaching school in Arkansas, where he remained one year, coming to Comanche in 1909 as principal of the high school. Two years later, his unusual ability as an instructor having become generally recognized, he was made superintendent of the city schools of Comanche, a position which he has retained for the past five years. Mr. Carnes has two schools under his supervision, thirteen teachers and 525 children as students. He has not ceased his own studies, but is constantly endeavoring to further his knowledge, and has spent three years as a sumer student in the law department of the University of Chicago, viz: 1912, 1913, 1914. The genial urbanity and native politeness of Mr. Carnes' manners engage and captivate the good will and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact, and his pleasing address and gentle suavity draw the affections of his students magnetically toward him, securing their closest attention, easy control and ardent interest in their studies. The untiring energy, unflagging zeal and ceaseless devotion he manifests for the promotion of educational improvements are highly appreciated. As a politician, Mr. Carnes is an active democrat, and at the present time is chairman of the Democratic Club, Comanche. With Mrs. Carnes, he is a member of the Baptist Church.
In June, 1909, at Magazine, Arkansas, Mr. Carnes was married to Miss Alice DANIEL, daughter of the late Dr. T. J. DANIEL, who was for some years a prominent physician and surgeon at Magazine. They have no children.