Elmer as he was known, was a toddler when his father left to fight in the Civil War, never to return. Elmer was a child when his mother and his siblings left Pennsylvania and moved to Perrysville, Ohio. The family moved from there to West Salem, OH. "Report of West Salem Schools For punctuality in attendance and compliance with the rules and and regulations of the school, the following scholars are entitled to a place upon the Roll of Honor: Grammar School... Elmer Carmack... Eliza V. Sherod, Teacher" (Wooster {OH} Republican, Thursday, April 2, 1874, p. 2) Elmer was living with his mother and siblings in West Salem during the 1880 census.

Elmer traveled quite a bit before he settled down and married, collecting autographs of friends in Ohio and Michigan. Even after he and Lizzie married they moved around quite a bit as witnessed by the birthplaces of their children: 1892 - Dora in Newark (Licking County), 1894 - Laura in Sandusky County; 1896-1900 Ira, Robert, and Art in North Lawrence (Stark County), OH. "Elmer Carmack, wife and children, of Paulding, O., are visiting his mother, Mrs. Mary Carmack." (Wooster {OH} Republican, Wednesday, October 3, 1894, p. 2) The family moved from North Lawrence to Doylestown in 1901 and stayed there until at least 1907. "Trustees Grace Lodge, No. 184, K. of P., to J. E. Carmack, et. al., part lot No 4 in Doylestown, $1,000." (Wayne County Democrat, Wooster, OH, Wednesday, July 29, 1903, p. 10) "Business Block Sold C. S. Landes, of the Landes Realty agency sold the Carmack bakery and building in Doylestown to Rudolph Schmid, of this city. Mr. Schmid will take possession of the business in the near future." (Wooster {OH} Republican, Wednesday, September 4, 1907, p. 3) "J. E. Carmack and wife to Rudolph Schmid, lor 4 in Doylestown, $1,600." (Wooster {OH} Republican, Wednesday, October 30, 1907, p. 6) By 1909 they were in Seville, OH; in Barberton, OH by 1911; and by 1915 in Kenmore (Akron) where Elmer and Lizzie spent the rest of their lives.

John, Lizzie, their 4 children, and Lizzie's brother Lancie Imhoff, were living in Lawrence Township, Stark County, OH during the 1900 census. John was working as a baker. "Elmer Carmack, of North Lawrence, made a business trip here {West Salem} one day last week, and also visited his mother and brother." (Wayne County Democrat, Wooster, OH, Wednesday, April 17, 1901, p. 1) "Mrs. Mary Carmack is spending a few days over New Years with her son, Elmer Carmack, in Doylestown." (Wayne County Democrat, Wooster, OH, Wednesday, December 31, 1902, p. 2) The 1910 census has John, Elizabeth, and their 9 children living in a rented home on Railroad Street in Seville, OH where he worked as a baker in a bakery. The 1920 census has John, Elizabeth, and 7 children living in their own (mortgaged) home on 12th Street in Kenmore (Akron), OH. He was working as a laborer in a match factory (presumably in the O. C. Barber Match Factory in Barberton, OH). Elmer died of a coronary thrombosis due to chronic myocarditis at the age of 60.

"To My Friends,
Come, write a thought,
'Twill be for memory's store.
When the great scroll of life is wrought
With incidents of yore;
Then shall these mystic words reminders be,
Mementoes of the past, that speak of thee."

Elmer Carmack, written in his autograph book