Carnahan, Nellie Jones
Nellie Jones Carnahan was one of the “movers and shakers” of her time in Lexington, Illinois. She was a savvy and energetic businesswoman whose career was one born of necessity. Not only did she own and operate her own business for 15 years, but she was considered a leader in the business community, and religious and social life in Lexington. She sponsored every good cause and worked untiringly for every movement which was in the best interest of Lexington.
Nellie Jane Jones was born in Wales, Great Britain on November 6, 1875, to Robert and Rebecca (Hughes) Jones. When Nellie was a baby, her parents brought her and her siblings (Morris, Elizabeth, and Richard) to the United States and settled on a farm about four miles east of Lexington. Her childhood was spent on the farm, where she attended the Prairie Hall district school and finished her education at Lexington High School. On December 8, 1894, Nellie married Louie O. Carnahan. They had one son, Charles, who was born on November 6, 1896. However, their marriage was short lived. Louie contracted tuberculosis and died on December 20, 1897, at the age of 24. Nellie, who was only 22 years old at the time, had to find a way to support herself and their infant son.
Prior to opening her own store, she began working for other firms in Lexington. Three years before opening “N.J. Carnahan & Co.,” she gained “much experience in the business as a saleswoman” working for Miss E.G. Knotts. It was reported that during her employment with Miss Knotts, “she mastered every detail of the trade, which well qualified her to assume the responsibility” as a manager and buyer for her own store. In March 1912, Nellie, in partnership with Clara Farner, purchased the business of Miss Knotts and operated their own store in the same location on Main Street.
“N.J. Carnahan & Co.” was the only exclusive woman’s store in Lexington. Nellie and Clara kept a large and well-selected stock of items such as dry goods, ladies and children’s clothing, aprons, table linens, jackets and cloaks, fancy furs, silks for dress making, dry goods, yarn, and more. They employed competent trimmers and all of the latest fashions were on display and for sale in their store. “N. J. Carnahan & Co.” was immensely popular with the ladies of Lexington and the surrounding area. To make sure she had the most up-to-date items and newest fashions for her female customers, Nellie made frequent trips to Chicago to purchase new stock for her store. And she also attended the annual State Retail Merchants’ Association convention regularly as well. The Lexington Unit Journal dubbed her as “one of the most progressive and energetic business women of this section of the state.”
Nellie’s success was attributed to her dauntless spirit, native ability, rare judgment of human nature and her disposition to make herself agreeable to those with whom she has business dealings. Her success in the business world drew attention from outside of the community as well. On January 24, 1919, she and her sister, Orah Jones, were invited to attend a banquet given by the Young Men’s Business Club of Bloomington at the Illinois Hotel.
In April 1922, it appeared that Nellie was planning to close her store after 11 years in business. An article in the Lexington Unit Journal noted that “she has been obliged” to go out of business due to illness in her family. For several months her store held large sales to liquidate all their inventory. However, in August that same year, it appears that Nellie re-opened her store across the street in the Ricketts’ Building. She continued to successfully operate “N.J. Carnahan & Co.” for another five years when she made the decision to close her store for good in June 1927.
Nellie was very popular in social circles. It was said she had a cheerful, optimistic, temperament and magnetic personality, which won her many friends. She was also an active member of the Lexington community. On February 3, 1920, Nellie and thirty-four “enterprising businesswomen of Lexington” formed the Women’s Community Welfare Association, which was created with the goal of “doing something worthwhile” for Lexington. The women saw a need to “promote local business, civic, and social life in the community.” Nellie was elected president of the organization, a position which she held for several years. Some of the activities they engaged with included: holding socials and banquets for group members, bringing speakers to the area, giving money for summer band concerts, discussing issues related to city improvement, organizing community clean ups, helping maintain the Home Bureau’s community restrooms for people traveling through Lexington, and raising funds for community causes (such as collecting $100 that was put towards an ornamental light system and raising $10 towards the Soldiers Monument that was being erected in the city park in 1924).
Outside of her activities with the W.C.W.A., Nellie was actively engaged with politics, attending meetings of Republican women of the 19th Congressional District and the Florence Fifer Bohrer Club in Bloomington (which was the precursor to the League of Women Voters), and serving as a Republican precinct committeewoman. She was also a member of the Lexington Music Club (serving as the chairman of the program committee and treasurer of the organization), Order of the Eastern Star, the Mother’s Club, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and served on the grade school board for several years.
As aging and health issues set in, she went to live with her sister, Mae Nettleship, in Detroit, Michigan where she passed away on June 20, 1943. Her body was brought back to Lexington for burial and she is buried in Lexington Cemetery. Her obituary described her as having "an abundant and beautiful life. She teemed with the joy of living, loved people intensely, and was interested in the welfare of everyone." Quite a compliment indeed for one of Lexington's former businesswomen - one who helped make the town thrive!
By Susan McGuire and Candace Summers