Mr.&Mrs. Robert B. Raines Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary

RAINES, CURTIS, DAVIES

Posted By: Carol Morrison (email)
Date: 11/2/2001 at 10:19:29

Cedar Rapids Gazette, Tuesday, October 16, 1934:
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"INDEPENDENCE--Robert B. Raines, former bank president here, and Mrs. Raines celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary at their home here Tuesday. A family dinner was given at noon, and the afternoon and evening were to be spent in the reception of friends. Out-of-town members of the family present were their son, the Rev. Richard Campbell Raines, pastor of the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church of Minneapolis, with his wife and four children, and Mrs. Alice Davies, sister of Mr. Raines, of Iowa City.

Mr. Raines has for more than 50 years been identified with the social, musical, financial and religious life of Independence, and Mrs. Raines has also participated in the musical, religious and social affairs of the city.

Mr. Raines was born at Toledo, Iowa August 15, 1859, his parents being the Rev. and Mrs. George Raines. Both his father and grandfather were Methodist ministers. He began teaching school when 16, and afterward studied law for two years. He came here in 1878, worked for a time in a local newspaper office, and worked in a lumber yard at Rowley for two years. He was Buchanan County Deputy Clerk of Court from 1880 to 1882, then went to work in the First National Bank here as bookkeeper, and was successively teller, assistant cashier, cashier and president of that institution. He continued in the bank for 51 years and was president at the time it merged with the People's National Bank in 1928. Prominent in Knights of Pythias circles, he was for two years grand master of exchequer. He was leader of the Methodist church choir for 30 years, and for five years leader of the Presbyterian church choir. He has held every office in the Methodist church and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday School.

Mrs. Raines was Miss Cora Curtis, and was born in Batavia, New York, the only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John L. Curtis. She was graduated from high school at Batavia and from Smith College at Northhampton, Massachusetts, and finished her musical education in New York City. For many years she taught music and elocution here, and was one of the founders of the Ladies Musical Society. Besides their son, they have one daughter at home, Miss Ruth Raines."