My Genealogy Hound

P. M. Rains was born April 19, 1851, and is a son of Philip and Sarah (Webb) Rains. The father was born in North Carolina, and when a young man made an overland trip to Tennessee, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1851. The mother was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., and when twelve years old accompanied her parents to Sequatchie Valley, Tenn., living there five years. She then moved across the mountains, and finally came to this section of the country, where she married Mr. Rains. She is now living with her only child, our subject. The grandfather of P. M. Rains was born in North Carolina, and died in that State. The grandmother went to Tennessee at an early date, and after the death of her husband married John Nelson and settled near Batesville, Ark., where she died. The maternal grandfather of our subject was born in North Carolina, and about 1790 removed to Tennessee after a long and dangerous journey in a two-horse wagon. By his first marriage he had two children, Rhoda and Peggy, and his second wife, Sallie Flynn, was born in North Carolina, and was the mother of eight children: Matilda, Thomas, Mattie, Nora, Litt, Benjamin, Lucinda and Sarah A. He was an early settler of Tennessee, had to go eight miles to mill, and the nearest neighbor was about five miles distant. Our subject was born in Hamilton County, N. C., and having lost his father when an infant was obliged to support his mother, and thus was deprived of an education, his knowledge of books being acquired by personal effort. May 1, 1870, he married Martha Campbell, daughter of James Campbell, and the mother of five children, four of whom are living: Electra, Annie, Willie and Harry C. Ora is deceased. After farming two years in Tennessee, subsequent to his marriage, Mr. Rains settled in Independence County, Ark., and a year later came to Crawford County. He rented land for seven years, and then purchased his present farm, which contains 207 acres, 105 being finely cultivated. Mr. Rains always contributes to educational projects and anything which is for the advancement of the county. He is a stanch Democrat, and one of the best citizens of Cedarville Township. Mrs. Rains belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church.