Reverend John Rains

(This information was in a file on Rains at TSLA, many years ago. DOC 2014)
 

 TSLA Manuscript Section, Ac. No. 958; Moore B29, f5. 

Gen. James E. Rains, was born April 10, 1833, and

graduated from Yale Law School at the age of 21 years.  Practiced

law in Nashville and was elected in 1860 District Attorney

General for Davidson, Williamson and Sumner Counties.  Generals

in Gray by Ezra Warner, p. 250.  Apparently was not married at

the time of his death.

     Rev. John Rains was the son of John Rains Of Maysville, Ky

and grandson of Cornelius Rains and Mary Kenton Rains.  (See the

"Fauquier County, Virginia, Genealogy Homepage" web page at

http://www.future1.com/~burgess/fqva.htm), sub site List of 41

persons leaving Fauquier to go to Mason Co. KY.)  Even though his

son, General James E. Rains, was a Confederate, Rev. John Rains

remained loyal to the Union.

     Details of the Cornelius Rains family are found in the

Draper Manuscripts and have been abstracted from a section

dealing with the Simon Kenton family.  TSL&A, Accession No. 29,

Lyman Copeland Draper Papers-Wisconsin Historical Society

Microfilmed Manuscripts, Series: S, Volume: 21, #122, #126, #139,

#142, #143:

Tennesse State Library and Archives

Lyman Draper Papers

Microfilm Accession # 29

Reel 50, Series S, Vol. 19-23

Vol. 21-Frame 122

(This information is not an exact quote.  I just abstracted enough to have a better idea of  Rev. John's family.)

     Mrs. Mary Bennington, daughter (& only surviving child)

     of Cornelius & Mary Kenton Rains was born in Fauquier

     County, Virginia, May 10, 1783 and was brought the same

     year to KY.  Her mother, Mary Rains died in Fleming

     County, KY about 1803 and her father 2 or 3 years later

     at Maysville, KY.

     Vol. 21, #126

     Children of Cornelius Rains:

     1.  John Rains (8 years or more older than my informant

     Mary Bennington).  Lived at Maysville, KY.  Had a son

     John, now aged and long a Methodist preacher near

     Nashville, TN.  His son is Confederate Gen. James E.

     Rains.  Father remained devoted to the Union.

     2.  Wm Rains - his sons were Alex. & John, daughter

     Elizabeth wife of John Anderson of Ohio.  Lived

     adjoining Aberdeen, Ohio

     3.  Benj. never married

     4.  James settled near Danville, Ky

     5.  Simon another son of Cornelius

     6.  Frances married Joh Lucas

     7.  Catherine

     Vol. 21, #139

     Informant John Rains of Aberdeen, Ohio, born 30 October

     1796 near Kenton's Station, Ky.  His father Wm Rains

     was born 22 November 1763 and died adjoining Aberdeen

     Ohio, 30 January 1937.  Wm's wife was Jane Edwards born

     22 Nov 1768 and died 10 July 1859.

     Vol. 21, #142

     Wm Rains (father of John above) served under

     Washington, was at capture of Cornwallis.

     Vol. 21, #143

     Cornelius Rains was a native of Ireland.  (It appears

     John Rains, son of Wm is his informant on this.)

     Per the Nov. 14, 1964 DAR application, Nat. No. 506733, of

Mrs. Juliette Ewing Pressing, born 10/25/1893, The 800, Apt. 304,

800 South Fourth, Louisville, KY her ancestor, James Rains was

born about March 1757, served in the Virginia line as a private

in the company of Capt. Grant of the Regiment commanded by Col.

William Grayson for a term of 3 years, from 1777 -1780, died in

Boyle County on March 20, 1846.  Danville, the county seat of

Boyle County, is about 30 miles southwest of Lexington.  He

married Nancy Owens, born in 1764 in Virginia, in Lincoln County,

KY on 7/14/1784.  Lincoln County is on the southeast side of

Boyle and is pretty much due south from Lexington and its county

seat Stanford is about 35 miles south of Lexington.  He was

living in Mercer County, KY when he was granted a pension on Dec.

20, 1830.  Mercer County is the next county north of Boyle

County, county seat Harrodsburg.  She listed 10 children of James

Rains and Nancy (Owens) Rains including a Cornelius Rains, but

none of them married an Allen.

*******************************

Subj:      Re: Rains query in Davidson Co., Tn

Date:      8/16/1998

To:         VUnruh@Bellsouth dot Net

In a message dated 8/16/1998 5:17:32 PM Central Daylight Time, VUnruh@****dot Net writes:

<< Debie, I am working with a Rev. John Rains, Methodist minister

 (1796-1879).  Unsure of his father, although his mother (Nancy) died in

 1848 in Cincinnati.  Rev. John married Lucinda Cartwright and had a

 large family.  Do you know if he is a descendant of one of the Rains

 brothers you mention?  He was the father of General James E. Rains,

 CSA.  Thank you. >>

As far as I know at this point Rev. John Rains and my Capt. John Rains are not related. 

I have searched through my files on the computer and have come up with a little on Rev. John.  I know I found more in the W. A. Provine papers at the TN State Library and Archives. Just never got around it typing it up.  When I have time I will dig through my Rains stuff and see if I can find more.  This should get you started.

Debie

**********

This website has information on the Rains and or Kenton family:  http://www.rootsweb.com/~daisy/trek.htm

http://www.rootsweb.com/~daisy/kenton.htm

http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/arts/sos/simonkenton.html

http://www.foryou.net/~ccpaohio/simon kenton2.html

See the W.A. Provine papers, TSL&A for more information on this family.  Also see the Lyman Draper papers concerning the Kenton and Rains families in KY. 

Provine states there werefour brothers, James Rains, b. 1757, died 1846 near Danville, Boyle County,  Ky, Will Bk I:58; Simon Kenton Rains; Benjamin Rains and John Rains, who m. Nancy Edwards.

     Rev. John Rains, a Methodist minister, was born in Maysville,

Mason County, Kentucky on May 2, 1796 (May 27 per Provine) and died

on July 4, 1879 at the age of 83 years.  Rev. Rains and his wife,

Lucinda, are both buried in the City Cemetery.  Rev. Rains married

Lucinda Cartwright Sept. 10, 1824.

     Rev. John had an obituary written by David McFerrin in the

Methodist Christian Advocate:  He had 15 children.  Was the son of

John Rains and Nancy Edwards.  His oldest son Capt. John Rains died

in Confederate service.  Another son was Dr. T. B. Rains of

Columbia, Tennessee.  Dr. Rains is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in

Columbia, Tennessee.  His tombstone is labeled:  Dr. T. B. Rains,

Surgeon. 

 John B. McFerrin, a Biography,

(1889) by O. P. Fitzgerald.   The son of Rev. John Rains and Lucinda, James

E. Rains, became the editor of the Republican Banner:  "March 15,

1857, the paper was enlarged, and soon after James E. Raines became

connected with it as editor.  He withdrew March 12, 1858, . . ."

(Clayton's History of Davidson County, (1971 reprint), p. 472).  He

was one of the seven men born in Nashville that gained the rank of

general in the Confederate army.  He fought mostly in East

Tennessee and was killed at the Battle of Murfreesboro on January

_____, 1863. (History of Davidson County, (1971 reprint), p. 172).

His body was taken to the Harding house where General Cheatham saw

it and reportedly "wept openly."  He was buried in the Currin vault

in the Nashville City Cemetery (Nashville Union, January 8, 1863)

and removed to Mt. Olivet in 1888. 

     There is a biographical sketch of Gen. J. E. Rains in

Tennessee, the Volunteer State, Vol. 2, edited by John Trotwood

Moore, page 216:

  James Edward Rains was born in Nashville, Tennessee in

  April, 1833.  He was graduated at Yale in 1854 and then

  studied law.  In 1858 he became city attorney of

  Nashville, and in 1860 Attorney-General for his judicial

 district.  He was a Whig, but when the war began in 1861,

  he was elected Colonel of the Eleventh Tennessee

  Infantry.  The greater part of his service was in East

  Tennessee, where in the winter of 1861-62 he commanded

  the garrison at Cumberland Gap.  The efficient service

  rendered by him in the movements in East Tennessee was

  rewarded by a commission of Brigadier-General on November

  4, 1862.  He took part in the Battle of Murfreesboro

  where he was killed while gallantly leading his men

  against a Federal battery.

Thomas Shaw and family of Robertson County, Tennessee

 Thomas Shaw and family of Robertson County, Tennessee

There is so much unproven and incorrect information on this family online. This is an effort to preserve facts, based on actual records from the courts. Information will be added as it is discovered. You may contact me at debiec@gmail.com if you have questions or details to add.

Thomas Shaw died before March 5, 1824. Recorded in Robertson County Will Book 4 page 250 are the dower rights for his widow Sarah Shaw. The record was recorded in the court minutes at the November Term 1824. The record was dated March 5, 1824 when it was drawn up. It is not known when he was born. He was likely born in Scotland, based on the biographical sketches of his grandchildren in The Goodspeed Histories of Robertson and Cheatham Counties. The next generation of this family is purported to have been born in North Carolina. One source gives Halifax County, NC as a possibility.

A record found in Robertson County Will Book 5, pages 221 and 222, gives the name of the heirs of Thomas Shaw. First named is his widow, Sarah Shaw. Next is his son James, deceased. The property was divided into seven parts after the widow's dower was set aside. The division was lot 1 to William Shaw, lot 2 to Elizabeth Wilson, lot 3 to Sarah Shaw, lot 4 to Thomas Shaw, lot 5 to John Shaw, lot 6 to Patsy Pace (husband William Pace, lot 7 to Nancy Shaw.

Family of Thomas Shaw and wife Sarah as determined from probate records.

1. James Shaw (deceased)

2. William Shaw

3. Elizabeth Wilson

4. Sarah Shaw

5. Thomas Shaw

6. John Shaw

7. Patsy Pace (husband William Pace)

 

The 1812 enumeration of free males of Robertson County has listed in Capt. Fox's Company. Thomas  Shaw, Wm. Shaw and James Shaw. This indicates that William and James were both of age which was most likely 18 years of age. However in Colonial America 16 was considered to be of age for a male. 

 

More will be added on the families of the children of Thomas Shaw soon.

A trip to TSLA to check deeds is in the future.

Mama Oeser's Oyster Dressing

Mama Oeser's Oyster Dressing

by Ann Oeser Kuhns

Ingredients are ready to be mixed together with the Turkey broth to make Mama Oeser's oyster dressing.

Equal parts cornbread, biscuits, and light bread, made a few days ahead so they can get a little stale, to soak up the broth. Crumble the bread and mix it together. Equal parts onions and celery, chopped.

I used 2 big bunches of celery and about 7 or 8 onions) 2 bunches of parsley; at least one dozen eggs and canned oysters. I also add to taste, poultry seasoning; salt; pepper. I boil the chopped veggies in enough broth to cover until tender and then mix bread, veggies, raw eggs, and turkey broth and seasonings. I usually set a little of this aside to bake for people that don't like oysters. Then I open the canned oysters, drain them, and mash with a fork so they will mix well with the other ingredients. Add enough broth to make the mixture a little thicker than a cake batter and bake until firm in the middle and lightly brown all over the top.

I also cook my turkey the way that my Mama and Mama Oeser did. I steam it on top of the stove in a big covered roasting pan, this creates the rich broth for the dressing and giblet gravy. When the turkey is done, cover with butter and brown it in a hot oven.

Delana Lowe and others vs. Gideon A. Lowe and others.

 Metropolitan Government Archives of Nashville and Davidson Co., TN

Davidson County Chancery Court Loose Records

Rule # 1638

Delana Lowe and others vs. Gideon A. Lowe and others.

 

Petioners - bill for partition and distribution of the estate of Gideon H. Lowe, deceased, late of Davidson Co., TN, filed May 10, 1856.

Delana [Delany] Lowe, widow of Gideon H. Lowe.

Richard Redding and Catherine B. his wife,  citizens of Cheatham Co., TN.

Thomas R. Shearon and Mary J. his wife, citizens of  Dyer Co., TN.

Joseph Willis and Tennessee his wife, citizens of Alexandria, Dekalb Co., TN.

Ezekial S. Gleaves and Elizabeth A. his wife, citizens of Dixon [sic] Co., TN.

Leonard J. Lowe of Gainsboro, Jackson Co., TN.

                Against

Gideon H. Lowe

Sarah D. Lowe

Letitia A. Lowe

Anna M. Lowe

And Toney N. Lowe or  Neri T. Lowe

All of whom are citizens of Cheatham Co., TN and under age of twenty-one years, and Alexander Lowe of Robertson Co., TN.

 

Complainant Delana Lowe is the widow of Gideon H. Lowe, deceased, late of Davidson Co., TN and the complainants Catherine B. Redding, Mary J. Shearon, Tennessee Willis, Elizabeth A. Gleaves, Leonard J. Lowe and Louisa E. Lowe; and the defendants Gideon H. Lowe, Sarah D. Lowe, Letitia A. Lowe, Anna M. Lowe and Toney N. Lowe are the children and heirs at law of the aforesaid Gideon H. Lowe, who died intestate at his residence, in the month of September 1853, said residence then being in Davidson Co., but now in Cheatham Co., TN

 

At his death Lowe owned; one tract on the north side of the Cumberland, near the mouth of Marrowbone creek, also one half of another tract called the meeting house tract, containing in all 570 acres.  Another tract owned in common with Alexander Lowe of between 90 and 100 acres in Robertson Co., now occupied by Richard Redding and his wife, on the road that runs from Nashville by Sycamore Mills to Clarksville, about one and a half miles from Sycamore Mills. 

 

List of slaves named in file -

Allen; Clary; Andrew; Peter; Blackstone; Marinda; Green; Daniel; Clayton; Levi; Harriet; Richard; Shepherd; Edney; John; James [Jim]

A good life

I am not formally educated beyond high school, but I have received instruction from some of the best minds of the Nashville history elite. I have been so fortunate to have John Egerton and Paul Clements as trusted mentors and friends. Many people in the local history scene have been friends and advisors. George Zepp, Ann Roberts, Robbie Jones, Tara Mitchell Mielnik, Tim Walker, David Ewing, Pat Nolan, Bobby Lovett, Linda Center, and Ridley Wills are among many who have helped and advised me along the way.

I held a position for about 15 years at Metro Nashville Archives as an archives assistant. For 10 years prior, I had been a volunteer at the archives. Davidson County Historian John Connelly was a wonderful friend during those years. I worked with patrons who became friends. Others were found to be relatives sharing one family line or another. Visitors at the archives came in to discover the family history. Some were researching for their master's thesis or a doctoral dissertation. Some wanted to know more about a house's history or how a street was named. Working with authors who were researching material for a book was special. Dr, Mary Francis Berry was so impressive, and it was an honor to receive a credit mention in one of her books. I had an opportunity to work with researchers from the Kennedy Center Honors program by contributing photographs of a young Oprah from the Metro Archives collection.

Every day I learned something new. I also learned to let go of long-held beliefs when facts proved they were not true. One of the hardest to let go of was Fort Nashborough. It did not exist. Though the settlement was called Nashborough in the beginning, the Fort was named the Bluff Station. When Paul Clements first told me this, I did not believe him. But after several years of research, I had to finally accept that he was right.

My proudest accomplishments are in being married to Jimmy for over 53 years. Our daughters are wonderfully talented people, and our two grandchildren are hard-working and caring. Both worked in grocery and retail operations all through the pandemic. We never know how long how time on earth will be. I am hoping for ours to last for many more years. I have so much more to learn and memories to share. The journey has been a good one so far.

 

P.S. Our granddaughter is now engaged and will be married in 2023, Hope we can stay around long enough to witness the next chapter. 

Debie and Jimmy Cox 2016

A Saturday Morning Memory from Meridian Street

Debie Oeser Cox

  

This memory is from the early summer of 1964 when I was twelve, living at 1017 Meridian Street.  I had awakened before the sun came up, which was unusual for a night owl like me.  Our house was usually full of people. Mama was one of 12 children and Daddy one of ten children, so there always a cousin spending the night, and at times, one or more of Mama's siblings living with us.  

On that morning, all was quiet, just Mama, Daddy, and me at home.  I went out to sit on the front porch steps as the sun came up in the sky.  We had a high, wrap-around porch on our late Queen Ann-style house.  It was suddenly fully daylight, a cloudless blue sky.  The weather was pleasant, not humid, and probably about 70 degrees.   

The street sweeper was coming down the hill from Vaughn towards our house. The huge truck had rotating brushes that swept the street and a water spray to wash the debris into the storm sewer.  The Purity Milk truck pulled up in front of Mrs. White's house, and the milkman hopped out and ran up to her porch to leave her order of milk and juice. There was a bird of some sort high up in hackberry singing a sweet song. I looked up and down the street at all the houses with neat yards and freshly cut grass, which I could smell in the air. Someone was cooking bacon, and it made me hungry.  Across the street, Mrs. Newby came out to sweep her porch.  Next door, my sweet friend, Ophelia Primm, who to a twelve-year-old was ancient, but was probably no more than 70, opened the door to let her little pomeranian out.  

No one seemed to notice me sitting there. I decided that I would always remember that morning. I would keep that memory of that view of my little world forever in my heart.  It is such a quiet, simple moment that it probably doesn't seem memorable, but it a piece of Meridian Street that I always have with me.  I can call up the scene in my mind's eye, and Meridian Street is transformed to 1964.

 

1017 Meridian ca 1970

Shelby Park Memories

We rode through Shelby Park yesterday. It was such a welcome sight after being cooped up all winter because of the weather and the Covid19 pandemic. A beautiful reminder that life is renewed every spring. Blooming trees, flowers, and seven baby ducks following their mother across the lake. Jimmy and I both laughed out loud when we saw them. As we passed the baseball diamond they were filled with people doing what they have done every spring for over 100 years. 

Shelby Park was privately owned from 1892 until 1905. It was an amusement park with a bandstand and a dance pavilion, a flying Jenny, swings, a bowling alley, and more. The owners went bankrupt and the was in limbo until the city purchased it a few years later. Shelby was opened as a city park in 1912.

 

                                       Click to read about The First Shelby Park

Almost every person who lived near the park in the old days spent a lot of time there. Before air conditioning was common in homes, seeking out a cooler environment was a necessity. From my mother I have stories of my great grandfather going to movies in the park, accompanied by a female friend. They courted but he remained a widower. Mama and her siblings grew up there. Running up and down hills and fishing in the lake. The boys would recover golf balls and sell them to golfers. When they were older they would caddie and even later played golf there. 

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Golf Course
House is still standing in East Nashville

The girls went to social gatherings at Sycamore Lodge and spent time at the Mission House being taught crafts by local volunteers.

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Sycamore Lodge

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Mission House

On hot summer days, they would help their mother prepare and pack up supper. Their Dad would meet his family in the park. Blankets were spread on the ground and they would gather under giant trees in the shade for their meal. 

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives

After eating the children would run to the playground. Some would climb the steps to the windmill. The others would go over to the boathouse where they could go up the stairs and look out over the lake. Their parents would nap under the trees and enjoy a peaceful time. 

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Monkey Bars

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Windmill

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Boathouse

As they watched the sunset they would walk home together. My grandparents moved often but they were always in East Nashville and within walking distance of Shelby Park.

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Spring Cave

Metro Nashville Archives- Creighton Collection- Railroad Bridge at Shelby Park

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives Typical Shelter

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives - Shops and Barns

Metro Nashville Archives- Walter Williams Collection- Shelby Park

Metro Nashville Archives- Shelby Park

Metro Nashville Archives- Shelby Park

Metro Nashville Archives- Shelby Park

Metro Nashville Archives- Shelby Park

Metro Nashville Archives- Shelby Park

Remembering

I can close my eyes and drift back home for a few minutes. Many people talk about how much they miss this place or that: one business or another. I miss my Mama and Daddy. My brother and my grandparents. My sister when she was a teen. I miss walking along Meridian Street. I miss walking down the alley to my grandparent's house. It was the kind of place where everyone knew each other. Mothers were always home and watched out for all the kids. At lunchtime, we often ate over at someone's house and then right out to play again. The afternoons were hot, and everyone was outside looking for a cool breeze. It was an inner-city neighborhood that had brick sidewalks and a corner store. 

I miss the front porch swing and hearing Mama sing, You Are My Sunshine. I miss the warmth of the people that I loved and that loved me. I miss the babies, my niece, and nephews, now adults with grown children and grandchildren. I miss my cousins and catching lightning bugs in a jar and playing freeze tag and baseball. 

I miss our neighbors in the 1000 block of Meridian and those behind us in the 1000 block of Pennock. Wilson and Ladye Hurt were next door at 1015 Meridian. Hattie and Robert White lived at 1013. The Newby, Tunstall, Williams, Morrissey, Raymer, Banniza, and many other families lived up and down the block. Living across the alley, on Pennock was my Oeser grandparents, known as Mama and Papa Oeser, to every kid in the neighborhood. Other people on that block were Conquest, Charleton, Bishop, Carey, Crouch, Allen, Birdwell, Denson, and Hackett. 

There are so many things left only to memory. All of the buildings could remain, which would not remove the longing for just a few minutes back with all my people from the past.