1925 Biography - James & John BAIN
Two of the Bains came to this county very early in its settlement. They were of Irish decent, living in North Carolina and tradition says they were born there. They emigrated to Kentucky and later to Illinois.
James, who came first was born May 4, 1782 and married Elizabeth Pankey who was born Sept. 28, 1792. They were married Sept. 10, 1807. The children were Patterson, born July 21, 1808, W. B. born Mar. 19, 1810, Malinda, born Dec. 27, 1811; John, born Oct. 13, 1813; Margaret, born Sept. 3, 1815; James J., born Mar. 10, 1817, Robert, born Jan. 5, 1819; Bluett, born Dec. 28, 1821; Isaac, born Nov. 22, 1825; Mary born Nov. 1, 1827; Elizabeth, born Jan. 21, 1830; Martha, born Aug. 21, 1833. This was copied from their family Bible now in the possession of Stewart Sutliff, grandson of James Bain. This is the history of the family as far as it could be traced.
Isaac (2) married Elizabeth Mathis. The children were James Robert (3), George (3), John (3). Bluette (2) served in the Mexican and Civil Wars. He married Malinda Hall. The children were Olive (3), Rome (3), Alice (3), Sidney (3), Charles (3), Louzenia (3). Rome (3) married Kiziah Bramlett.
Margaret (2) married Mr. Thacker. Their children were Elizabeth (3), who married Porter Bellemy and lives in Pulaski County.
Elizabeth (2) married Hiram Sutliff. Their children were James Hiram
(3), John Stewart (3). James H. (3) married Mary A. Turner; Fanny (4),
married Pleasant Howell. John Stewart (3) married Zurilda Reed. The
children, Hiram (4), William (4), Bessie (4), Arthur (4). Hiram (4) married
Bertha Arnett. The children were Pauline (5), Haline (5), Eugene (5),
Violine (5). William (4) married Georgia Evers. The children were Elizabeth
(5), Nadine (5), William (5), Bessie (4) married Roscoe Ferguson. The
children were Thomas M. (5), William S. (5), Helen (5), Cretia (5), Bernice
(5). This family resides at Moline, Illinois.
James Bain is given as a "settler," under that chapter. His name is
frequently found on the records as one of the men prominent in the county
and holding responsible positions during its development and must have been
a man of some education and ability.
John Bain, Sr., brother to James came a little later, 1820, from
Hopkinsville, Ky., and settled on what is now known as the Wiley Marberry
farm in Bloomfield township. He operated a horse mill for grinding corn. A
grandson, F. B. Thacker, says he heard him say one time when boasting that
he could grind thirty bushels of corn in a day. John Bain, married Martha
Brooks, they had Margaret (2), born 1805, Chas. Addison (2), Mary A. (2),
born 1812, Sarah (2), born 1814, John Jr. (2) born 1818, Francis (2), born
1819, Elizabeth (2), Mark (2), Margaret (2) married John (see McFatridge).
C. A. (2) married Martha Emmerson, they had Henry (3), who died in the Civil War; Susana (3), John (3), Abner (3), Mary (3), Charles A, (3), Maranda (3), Leeman (3). Susanna (3) married Henry (see McFatridge; John (3) married Lucy Hamilton, removed to Arkansas; Abner (3) married Martha Slater; removed to the State of Washington many years ago. He reared a family in Spokane, that state. Mary (3) married James Rose, had Edward (4), Anna (4) and Effie (4), they died after reaching adult age leaving no issue. No knowledge of Leeman (3); Charles A. (3) settled near Samoth, later removed to Lincoln, Ark., he married Mary Reynolds, they had William (4), Thomas S. (4), Clara (4) and Fannie (4). William (4) moved to Muskogee, Okla. Thomas S. (4) married Mamie Morford, removed to Ottumwa, Iowa. Maranda (3) married Frank English.
John Bain (2) has been mentioned in business and politics but it would be unfair not to emphasize his modest quiet manner, and his habit of most always being on the right side of every question and firm in his convictions. Men of this character may not make a stir in the world but their influence is far reaching. Mr. Bain was a Republican for many years but in his last days was a Prohibitionists. He began the mercantile business near what is known as Pond, east of Vienna on the Simpson road, moving his store to Vienna in 1846. He accumulated quite a little fortune for his time and community. He was a strong supporter and a member of the Methodist Church. He built the brick residence known as the Bain home on South Fifth St., Vienna, in 1861. His first place of business was a log house about where the residence of W. E. Beal now stands, but the location where he did business the longest is now the vacant lot on the corner of West Main and Fifth St., on the square. He married Winnie Harrell, 1841, she was born 1824, of pioneer stock, Elias Harrell, her father coming here in 1820, also from North Carolina. Mrs. Bain lived an exemplary Christian life, her home was the home of the itinerant M. E. minister. She entertained Peter Cartwright on one of his visits to this section of the state. She was thoughtful and very charitable. She was outspoken in her opinions for right living, and believed that every one should earn an honest one. She died at the ripe old age of 85. Mr. Bain died 1886. Their children were Frances (3), Preston (3), Sidney (3), Medora (3), William B. (3), John C. (3).
Frances (3) married Samuel Jackson, who was a native of Tennessee, born 1830, and left an orphan at the age of one year. He was brought to Illinois by his grandparents in 1831, coming in a four horse wagon. They first lived in Sangamon County, later in Union and Pulaski. At the age of 12 he was bound to Dr. Gerry of Vienna with whom he lived until he was 17. He then began business for himself, contracting to ride the mail from Vienna to Shawneetown, a distance of sixty miles and almost impassable roads during some seasons of the year. This was quite an undertaking for a seventeen year old boy. He put in a crop for a Mrs. Vanderbilt of Pulaski County, one year and received $30.00 for it, part cash. He went to Mississippi and worked at anything he could find to do, sometimes receiving 25c per day, when on the farm he would start to mill at three o'clock in the morning and be obliged to wait most all day for his grinding, parching corn for his dinner. On the spreading of cholera in the south, he decided to return to Vienna, Johnson County. He worked as a salesman in Vienna, Jonesboro and Anna was also a traveling salesman for a firm in St. Louis. In 1859 he returned to Vienna with a capital of $2,000 and went into business for himself in the building opposite the Perkins Hatel, on the west, where Caborn's poultry house is now located. He formed a partnership with John Bain in 1861, which continued till Mr. Bain's death. He was a successful business man, a progressive and influential citizen and always ready to contribute to any forward movement for the betterment of the community. He married first Martha Gillespie who died soon after, leaving one son, Samuel, who resides in Los Angeles, Calif. He married second Francis P. Bain. The children were Arthur G. (4), Cora (4), Harry (4), Winnifred (4), John B. (4) Walter (4), William G. (4). Arthur G. (4) married May (see Copeland) and lives in Houston, Texas. Cora (4) married W. C. (see Simpson), Walter (4) married Ethel Gilbert, lives in Pope County. Wm. G. (4) married Edna Balance, they have William (5), Julia (5). Harry and W. G. Jackson are prominent business men of Vienna, having conducted a grocery and hardware store on the corner of Vine and 5th Sts. for a number of years. John B. (4) has been engaged in the banking business for several years in Jonesboro and Anna. Winnifred lives with her mother.
Preston (3) married Helen Burnett. The children were Winnifred (4), Maragret (4), George (4), James (4), John (4). Most of this family reside at Texas City, Ill.
Sidney A. (3) married O. A. Harker. The children were George (4) and attorney of Los Angeles, Calif. Bert (4), business man of Puryer, Tenn. Winnifred (4) married Frances Hewitt, a druggist of Carbondale, Ill., The children were Frances (5), Winnifred (5), Mary Ann (5).
Medora (3) married Walter Warder. The children were Walter (4), Winnifred (4).
W. B. (3) married Charlotte Pancost of Lincoln, Neb. The children were June (4), who is the widow of Lee Hazen and resides in Chicago, Ill. Verner (4) enlisted in the World War and died in 1919 as a result of flu contracted during service. John C. (3) lives in the old home in Vienna.
Sarah (2) married Joel (see Thacker).
Francis (2) married Wesley (see Reynolds).
Elizabeth (2) married Wiley Fairless. The children were James (3), Wiley (3) of this county. Mary (2) married Walton (see Gore),
Mark (2) married Matildah. The children were John (3), Mary (3), Charles (3). John (3) reared a family in Union County. Mary (3) married Mr. Howell, Charles (3) and one other son moved west.
At a family gathering in 1898 at F. B. Thacker's there were four sisters present, members of the Bain family. Mrs. McFatridge, 93, Mrs. Gore, 86, Mrs. Thacker, 84 and Mrs. Reynolds 80. Their parents came to this county in 1820.
Extracted 06 Feb 2017 by Norma Hass from 1925 A History of Johnson County, Illinois, by Mrs. P. T. Chapman, pages 324-327.
