In 1930 he is listed as a city fireman in Portland, with his wife of 5 yrs, Madeleine G. May (26, OR) and daughter Madeleine M. (4yrs, 2mos, OR), along with his mother-in-law Mary E. May (58, OR).
Served on the battleship Missouri, and worked on the river.
He was later the Fire Chief in Portland, OR.
[Obituary]
Martin R. Karnath
FOUNTAIN CITY, Wis. - Martin R. Karnath, formerly of Fountain City, died Wednesday at 6 p.m. at San Diego, Calif., after a year's illness. He was born Nov. 20, 1899, at Fountain City to Capt. and Mrs. R. J. Karnath. He enlisted in the Army at age 17 by saying he was older and served in World War I as the youngest soldier in the area, After the war he moved to Portland, Ore., joined the city fire department and became department chief. He retired seven years ago and moved to San Diego. Survivors are: his wife, Madeline; one daughter, Mrs. Madeline Fawcett, San Diegd; several grandchildren; three brothers, George, Fayetteville, Ark.; Walter, Winona, and Rudolph, Portland, Ore., and two sisters, Mrs. Beata Loken, Lesueur, Minn,, and Mrs. Byron (Vida) Armstrong, Minneapolis. Funeral arrangements are being made at San Diego.