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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925
George M. Carney

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[This information is from Vol. III, pp. 765-766 of History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925, edited by Nelson Greene (Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1925). It is in the Schenectady Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at Schdy R 974.7 G81h. This online edition includes lists of portraits, maps and illustrations. As noted by Paul Keesler in his article, "The Much Maligned Mr. Greene," some information in this book has been superseded by later research or was provided incorrectly by local sources.]

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George M. Carney, a well known druggist, whose efforts in a business way have contributed substantially to the development of the commercial life of Ilion, was born here, April 24, 1887, of Irish parentage. His father, Michael Carney, was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, in November, 1841, and came to this country in 1866, settling in Ilion where he was associated with E. Remington & Sons, and later with the Remington Arms until his retirement some years ago. He is now living in Ilion at the advanced age of eighty-three. Michael Carney is the second of three sons born to Patrick Carney by his first wife, Mary (Ward) Carney, the others being John and Peter Carney. Before leaving his native Ireland for America Patrick Carney had married a second time, and this wife, Bridgett (McDounough) Carney accompanied him to the New World. Seven children were born to this second union: Thomas, Eugene, Philip, Patrick, Elizabeth, Catherine and Bridgett. Eugene and Thomas, both deceased, were priests, the former in charge of St. Bernard's church of Cohoes, New York, and the latter stationed in Omaha, Nebraska. One daughter, Elizabeth, has also passed to the great beyond. In the Old Country Patrick Carney was a farmer, but after coming to Ilion he worked for E. Remington & Sons. He died here at the age of eighty-three. Michael Carney, father of George M. Carney, married Bridgett Crosby, an Irish girl, who came to America with her husband's people in 1868, at the age of nineteen, her birth having occurred on March 17, 1849. Their wedding, which was celebrated April 19, 1868, was the first to take place in the old church edifice of the Church of the Annunciation, Ilion. The marriage thus solemnized was destined to be a long and happy one and in 1919 Mr. and Mrs. Carney had the privilege of celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary.

George M. Carney was educated in the Ilion high school and the Buffalo College of Pharmacy, graduating from the latter in 1903. Five years later he received a diploma from the Albany College of Pharmacy. Returning to Ilion he went to work for his sister in the drug store she was conducting under the name of Carney & Company and on January 1, 1909, bought out his sister's interests. Since then Mr. Carney has been the proprietor of the Carney pharmacy, which enjoys an enviable reputation as a drug store of the first rank and commands a liberal patronage from the people of the village.

Mr. Carney was married to Miss Jane Hartford, on July 7, 1909. She was born October 15, 1886, the daughter of Michael and Ann (Donlin) Hartford, both of whom are deceased. Her mother was a Pennsylvanian by birth, but her father was a native of Ilion and at the time of his death was the oldest native resident of the village. Michael Hartford was a veteran of the Civil war, having served as a corporal in the One Hundred and Twenty-first New York Infantry, and was a machinist at the Remington Arms for over fifty years. Mrs. Carney is a member of the Church of the Annunciation and one of the charter members of the Ilion organization of the Catholic Daughters of America. Mr. and Mrs. Carney have two children: John Hartford Carney, born March 20, 1913; and William Carney, born February 20, 1920.

In politics Mr. Carney is a democrat. As a Catholic he is active in the work of that church in Ilion, a member and trustee of Council No. 518, Knights of Columbus. He is also a charter member of Ilion Lodge, No. 1444, B. P. O. E., the Exchange Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the Ilion Fish and Game Club, associations that indicate the range of his interests outside of the strict path of his business. He is very fond of outdoor life and sports and has camps at White Lake, Oneida county and in the Adirondacks where he spends the week-ends in fishing and hunting. Mr. Carney stands at all time for progress and civic advancement and has been willing to devote no inconsiderable amount of his own time and energy to helping maintain those institutions and movements that promote the welfare of the community. In this connection he has served on the board of education and on the board of directors of the Ilion Hospital.

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