Robert Cain
Click image to enlarge
Robert Cain was born on the Isle of Man, April
11, 1844, a son
of John and Jane (Eads) Cain. The father was also a native of the Isle
of Man, and the mother of England. They were the parents of ten
children and succeeded in keeping their family together on the Isle of
Man for many years.
Necessity and business scattered them for a period and they were not
re-united until 1870, when the parents removed to Warren county,
Illinois. Once more the family drifted apart and Mr. and Mrs. Cain, in
the meantime, removed to Greene county, Iowa, to spend the remainder of
their lives and here again the family enjoyed a re-union. It speaks
volumes for the pleasant home life which they must have enjoyed that a
family of this size could so many times be united.
Robert Cain was educated in the common schools of his native land, but
spent much of his time working in the fields until fourteen years of
age, when he went to London and was employed as page and butler for
eight years. He was industrious and wise enough to know that he must
save his money for future investment. The enterprises across the
Atlantic were so attractive that in 1867 he determined to seek a home
in the new world and on crossing the ocean settled in Warren county,
Illinois, in that year. There he followed agricultural pursuits until
1881. With the capital accumulated during these years he removed to
Greene county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 1,
Willow township, of Jess Worry. The land was partly broken and he
completed this work, erected all of the buildings, put the farm into
first class shape in every particular and followed general farming and
cattle-raising most successfully for years. He tiled most of the land
and planted all of the trees which now make the place so attractive.
Little by little he has added to his original purchase until he is now
the owner of three hundred and thirty-five acres of the best farming
land in this county. His Hereford cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs are well
known for their superior quality and they have brought him large
financial returns.
Mr. Cain was united in marriage, January 31, 1867, at Grays Inn
Road, London, to Charlotte Redgrave, who was born in Essex, England,
December 4, 1843, and passed away May 20, 1903, leaving a husband and
five children to mourn her loss. These children are: Ernest, of North
Dakota; Herbert, on the home farm; Frank, a farmer, of Willow township;
Alfred, of Clear Lake; and Chester, a resident of Des Moines. Mr.
Cain’s second wife, whom he married in September, 1904, bore the maiden
name of Velona Helmick.
In 1900 our subject retired from active agricultural pursuits and
moved to Scranton, where he bought a lot and erected a splendid home,
where he has since been enjoying life. His farm is now conducted by his
son, Herbert who is carrying on the splendid work there which his
father began. Mr. Cain has always exercised his right of franchise in
support of the republican party and was upervisor of the county for ten
years. He
is an active member and a faithful worker in the Methodist church, and
when he and his wife first came to this county they assisted in
organizing a Sunday school in Willow township, which was held in the
schoolhouse there. For some time Mr. Cain was the efficient
superintendent of this Sunday school and his wife was very active in
assisting him to build up the work which has been so permanent in its
effects. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, having joined the
commandery at Jefferson. He has all the hardy staunch characteristics
for which the people of his native land are famous and he has acquired
in America the push and energy which has enabled him to accomplish so
much. He is distinctively a self-made man, his success in life being
due to his own efforts.
|
