William (B. or H.) CRAIN and Rachael (-) were born in NC, about 1780.
Their chidren were Mahala, Lucinda (Beasley), Hannah, Dollie, Mary,
James B. (b. KY, c. 1808), Hiram, William B., Leroy M. (b. TN, 1826), John
S. (b. TN, 1826), and Samuel. The couple and younger sons appear on the 1840
Stoddard Co., MO Census. In the decade between 1840 and 1850, the family
moved to Taylor Township, Greene Co. and Galloway on the James, they then moved to Newton
County where William died. The family returned to Greene Co. to the same
area they had lived in earlier. Then back to Newton County in time to appear on the 1850 Census.
Rachael is listed as a Head of Household, and the two of the three grandchildren they raised , Hiram and Kizziah, are living with her. James B. is married to Charlotte
and they are shown with 9 children; William, age 14 (b. TN), James, age 13
(b. TN), Elizabeth, age 11 (b. TN), John, age 9 (b. TN), George, age 4, (b.
MO), Missouri and Tennessee both 5, (b. MO), Martha and Margaret both 1/12
(b. MO). Leroy is married to Nancy b. 1827 Illinois and two sons; William
age 2 and Francis age 6 months are listed. John is married to Rebecca
(Brown) b. Illinois with William age 3 and Rachael age 5/12.
Previous to
this, William and Rachael's son, William B. Jr., and his wife, Alice (Ford),
died in Stoddard County in 1839 and 1840 respectively. They left 3 young
children, whom William and Rachael raised; Arthur Charles (A. C.) born in
Franklin Co. TN Oct. 1833, Hiram H. and Kizziah. A. C. CRAIN was sheriff of
Christian Co., Missouri in the 1870's. He was also elected first mayor of Sparta after
incorporation. A.C. Crain was assassinated by a former "Baldknobber", Bud Ray, who rode down the street in Sparta by the hotel owned by A.C. and Martha in July of 1995. A.C. was sitting on the porch with several grandchildren present. Bud Ray fired a shotgun at A.C., hitting him in the head and killing him instantly. Martha ran to his side from the dining room where she had been serving supper to their guests. The entire community was outraged at this cowardly act. His funeral was largely attended by all who knew him. He and Martha are buried in the IOOF Cemetery just outside Sparta. His son, Thomas CRAIN, was a Missouri state representative in the
1930's. Several other members of the family were in politics, serving in
various capacities. Many descendants still reside in Christian county, MO.
Hiram and Mary Crain were in Texas by 1848, as their oldest son, William H. Crain, was born in Texas. Hiram lived in Leon, McColloch, Burleson and Kendall counties. He was living in Kendall County in 1870, married to Susanah (age 36 b TN), with the following children; William, age 20, Renaldo, age 17, Mary age 12, Martha age 8, Noton age 3 and Anna age 2. All the children were born in Texas.
James B. CRAIN and his immediate family relocated to
Lamar County, Texas after the Civil War. His sons; James Henderson(Pony)and
John K. (both of whom served in the 3rd Missouri Calvary CSA Co D) settled in
nearby Red River County. Three of James B. and Charlotte's children married Whiteman's of Red River County, Texas. Their daughter, Martha married Squire Whiteman. John K. CRAIN married Susanah Whiteman.
James Henderson CRAIN married Permelia Jane Whiteman and they were the parents
of William Henry, Sarah Charotte, and James Amos. The two younger children
and their mother died in 1871. James Henderson CRAIN died the following
year.
Leroy McCraven CRAIN is
shown in the 1860 Federal Census of Parker County, Texas as being married to A. Crain, age 19.
William age 12 and Francis age 10, plus a male J. age 7 and female M. age 5
are with them. They have a 1 year old girl, Mary Isabelle. There are no
records of a divorce from Nancy, so it is assumed she died. We know A. Crain
to be Serena Appiline Elliott CRAIN, who was born in TN in 1842, and who
along with her parents, John and Lucinda Elliott, was living in Newton
County, MO in 1850. Leroy McCraven CRAIN Jr. was born on April 13, 1863 or
1864 in either TX or MO. Different records give conflicting data. Leroy Sr.
is presumed to have died in a Northern Prison during the Civil War.
We would appreciate any information about
William and Rachael CRAIN and their descendants and would like to exchange
family records.
William B. and Rachael Crain's Descendants
Sources:
1840 Federal Census for Stoddard County, MO
1850 Federal Census for Newton County, MO
1860 Federal Census for Parker County, TX
1959 Memoir entitled "Family", written by Rhoda Belle Wheaton Andrews,
great grandaughter of Leroy and Serena Crain
Trail Drivers of Texas by George W. Saunders
1870 Federal Census for Kendall County
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