THOMAS BENTON CAIN 1840-1929

CAIN, PHILLIPS, BRUNSKILL, PARKIN, GRIFFINS, JACKSON, PRICE

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 2/7/2019 at 23:27:14

Thomas B. Cain, 88 Years Old,
And Native Dubuquer, Is Dead

THOMAS BENTON CAIN, 88, probably the oldest native born resident of Dubuque, died at Finely Hospital Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock after an illness of four weeks duration.

The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon from the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Thomas Parkin, 1905 Grace Street, to the Grandview Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church where services will be conducted at 2:30 o’clock. Burial will be made in the Center Grove Cemetery where Harmony Lodge No. 2, I. O. O. F., of which Mr. Cain was a member, will assist.

The death of Mr. Cain removes from Dubuque’s daily life one of its most interesting characters and as a man who served as a living link between the modern Dubuque of industry and commerce, and the pioneer mining town of early Dubuque. The son of “Col.” Paul Cain, a native New Yorker who traveled west to Indiana, and then to Dubuque, arriving here in 1836. Mr. Cain was born Aug, 26, 1840. His birthplace was a small house at the corner of First and Iowa Streets, the house sanding on the property of which is now the site for McFadden Coffee and Spice Company building.

Mr. Cain spent his boyhood in Dubuque, and when he reached manhood he followed the occupation in which his father, and most of Dubuque was engaged, that of mining. Later, Mr. Cain deserted mining for farming and became the owner of a farm in Dubuque County which he worked until his retirement some years ago. Since then he has made his home in Dubuque.

Mr. Cain was one of the honored guests at the recent “Made in Dubuque” dinner at the Chamber of Commerce which opened the observation of Dubuque’s first made in Dubuque week and was introduced to the dinner guests as the oldest Dubuquer present. He was introduced by John Rider Wallis and was presented with a cane in commemoration of the event.

Mr. Cain’s wife died some years ago and he is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Ella Phillips, Mrs. D. W. Brunskill, Mrs. Thomas Parkin and Mrs. J. L Griffins, and two sons, Orrin E. and Charles B. Cain, all of Dubuque; eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and one sister Mrs. Eugenia Jackson, Eagle Rock, Calif.

Mr. Cain was the senior member of the Harmony Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F. and a charter member of the Early Settlers Association, always being active in that organizations growth.

Dubuque Times Journal, May 12, 1929, p. 6