My Genealogy Hound

JOHN S. CAIN, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, and one of the best known and most popular of all the county officials, was born near Madison, Jefferson County, Ind., September 11, 1827, and is a son of John and Catharine (Frankham) Cain, the former a native of Spottsylvania County, Va., and the latter of Shenandoah County, Va. The subject of this sketch was early thrown upon his own resources, but with boundless energy, and an indomitable will he fought his way step by step; he managed, by strong perseverance, to attain a good, practical education. He came to Louisville in 1835, and the first business he engaged in after becoming of an age to work, was as an accountant, and by practice and experience he became an expert book-keeper. In 1842 he went to Madison, Wis., where he was engaged in numerous pursuits, and turned his hand to anything by which he could make a living. Among other things, he read law for a time. He returned to Louisville in 1848, and engaged for a short period in keeping books. He was elected city auditor in 1850, the first under the new charter, but resigned in about a year, when he was elected cashier of the Louisville Gas Company. This position he held for seventeen years, resigning in 1868, to make the race for circuit clerk. He was elected in August of that year, entered upon the duties in September following, and he is there yet. He was re-elected in 1874, again in 1880 and in 1886. His uniform courtesy and accommodating nature has invested him with a popularity which renders him invincible in a political contest. He was married in 1854 to Miss Amanda Pepper, of Henry County, Ky. They have six children. Mr. Cain is a man of unblemished integrity, and a most estimable and popular citizen, as well as model official.