John Carmichael Eve was the third child of John Pritchard Eve and Sarah Davis Carmichael . He was born 25 Feb 1827 in Richmond County, Georgia. He died 16 Nov. 1898 and his buried in the Eve Family Cemetery in Floyd County, Georgia.. He was the older brother of Oswell Bones Eve. John married Mary Elizabeth Miller (1839-1912), daughter of Andrew J. Miller and Martha B. Olive, on 27 May 1868 in Richmond Co, GA. John C and Mary Miller Eve had 5 children: Mary Magruder, Olive Davis, Oswell Battey, Sarah Anna and Willie Miller.

Following his brother Oswell's death (after wounds received at First Manassas), John apparently became a partner in McKown Eve & Co, machinists. This company provided a wide variety of hardware and materials to the Confederate troops. Records in the National Archives include invoices for an assortment of goods including horseshoe nails, buckles, coffeepots and even an ambulance.