Cain, M. J. (1835-1913)

CAIN, MARTIN, MOREY, PERHAM, LEE, MILLER, RINGENA

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/24/2012 at 12:06:06

History of Poweshiek County Iowa

M.J. CAIN (Milligan J. Cain)

Probably few men are better known throughout Poweshiek county in connection with the union labor cause than is M.J. Cain, now living retired in Brooklyn. He was born near Morristown, Belmont county, Ohio, on the 15th of January, 1835, a son of Daniel Cain, who was a soldier of the war of 1812, and a grandson of Richard Cain, who served for four years in the Revolutionary war. Our subject's mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth McClain was a daughter of William McClain, also a Revolutionary hero, having for eight long years aided the colonies in their struggle for independence.

M.J. Cain remained on the home farm in his native county until twelve years of age, when he became an apprentice to the tailor's trade. After thoroughly mastering that occupation he followed it until he had saved sufficient money to enable him to complete a dental course, after which he was engaged in the practice of dentistry for eight years. That profession, however, proved detrimental to his health and in 1855 he abandoned it and started for Iowa, reaching Burlington on the 13th of February. From that place he went to Jefferson county and there followed the tailor's trade until 1860, when he made his way to Missouri. He soon returned to Iowa, however, locating at Leon, Decatur county. He was residing at the latter place at the time of the Civil war, and in 1862 he organized a company of Union soldiers which became known as Company K, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry. In August of that year he was mustered into service as first lieutenant of his company and continued in that capacity throughout the remainder of the war. He took part in all of the engagements of his regiment, went with Sherman to the sea and during that great march was engaged in fighting for four days without any sleep or rest whatever, a strain which permanently affected his health.

After the cessation of hostilities Mr. Cain came to Brooklyn and was here successfully engaged in the grocery business until 1873, in which year he sold out and purchased a farm about two miles east of town, upon which he resided until October, 1894, when he again took up his abode in Brooklyn and has since lived retired. However, he did not sell his farm, which consisted of two hundred acres of valuable land, until 1906. Prior to his withdrawal from active life his career had been one of continuous activity in the various channels into which he had directed his efforts and was characterized at all times by a close application, keen business ability and sound judgment which proved potent forces in the accumulation of a competency which ranks him among the substantial and prosperous citizens of Brooklyn.

It is probably through his activity along political lines, however, that Mr. Cain has become best known to the residents of Poweshiek county. At an early day he became interested in the labor question and has ever remained a stalwart anti-monopolist. For a long period he was president of the Farmers Alliance and early became a member of the Knights of Labor, while for some time he served as master workman of his assembly. He was a delegate from his county to the union labor convention held in Cincinnati, and at that time was chosen to organize the district in Iowa, in which task he was most successful. He made a thorough study of and became well posted on the needs of farmers and laborers and became intensely interested in the cause of union labor. Possessing much ability as an orator, he carried on an extensive campaign throughout this and adjoining states and in 1887 was the candidate of the union labor party for governor of Iowa. Something of his popularity among the laboring classes is indicated by the fact that at the time he was supported by fourteen thousand, five hundred votes, the largest vote received by any union labor or greenback candidate for governor or for any other office in Iowa since the time of General Weaver. In more recent years, however, Mr. Cain has withdrawn from active politics, and since 1890 has been identified with the republican party.

Mr. Cain was united in marriage in Libertyville, Jefferson county, Iowa, on the 30th of July, 1857, to Miss Nancy Elizabeth Morey, who was born in Athens, Athens county, Ohio, on the 16th of February, 1840. She is a daughter of the Rev. Cyrus and Elizabeth (Martin) Morey, natives of New York and Ohio respectively. Her father began his ministerial work in connection with the Methodist Episcopal church in West Virginia in 1851. In 1855 he became a member of the Iowa conference, his first appointment being Troy, this state. For one year during the war he preached at the Brooklyn church and continued his connection with the Iowa conference until the time of his death, which occurred on the 27th of March, 1890. He was a man of most excellent traits and was loved and respected by all who came under his influence. Joseph K. Morey, a brother of Mrs. Cain, entered the Union army during the Civil war as a member of the Sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh and was afterward transferred to the Eighteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, being mustered out as lieutenant colonel of his regiment. He was a lawyer by profession but died only one year after his return from the war.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cain were born eleven children , as follows: Flora May, the wife of L.W. Perham, of Wichita Falls, Texas; Charles Clifford, who died at the age of nineteen months and was buried at Corinth, Mississippi, while his mother was visiting her husband in the army; Carrie, the deceased wife of Homer D. Lee; Edward Lowell, general transportation clerk of mails for the United States, stationed at Omaha, Nebraska; U.S., a farmer of Bear Creek township, who formerly engaged in teaching; Arthur Cyrus, conducting a restaurant at Kansas City Missouri; Ira M., a traveling man with headquarters at Kansas City; Eva Frances, the wife of Grant H. Miller, who resides on a ranch near Iola, Kansas; Charles C., engaged in the drug business in Deep River; Edyth Myrtle, who married Dr. John Ringena, of Deep River; and Dr. Raymond W., practicing medicine in Denver, Colorado.

The family occupy a most attractive home in Brooklyn and are well known in the social circles of the town. They hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Cain belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, having assisted in the organization of John T. Drake Post No. 321, of Brooklyn. He is a man of fine physical appearance and of very pleasing personality, and during the years of his residence in this locality has won a circle of warm friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.

Transcriber Note: See Find-A-Grave Memorial #12511182