THOMAS HAIN

View Portraits of
Thomas Hain and Mrs. Thomas Hain

The founders of a state are not merely the men who handle the reins of government and control the public policy, but are also those who carry civilization into hitherto wild regions and develop the natural resources of the state. Such a man was Thomas Hain, who came to Cedar county in pioneer days and from that time to the date of his death, on the 22d of November, 1906, he was numbered among its most helpful , honored and public-spirited citizens.

He was born in Ohio on the 26th of June, 1821, a son of John Hain, in whose family were the following children: Elnathan, Leonard, John, Levi, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary, Rhoda and Thomas. The last named was taken to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, in his early youth, and it was there that he was reared. In 1847 he came to Cedar county, Iowa, and lived two years, after which he returned to his old home in Indiana. He only spent five years there, however, returning once more to Cedar county, for he was now fully convinced that this state offered splendid opportunities to the agriculturist and he decided to make this a permanent place of abode. He located in Sugar Creek township but after spending some time there, crossed the township line into Rochester, where he continued his operations as a farmer and stock-raiser, making the raising of cattle his chief occupation. He purchased land from time to time and at one period in his life owned almost a thousand acres in Rochester township. He was a careful man of business, was quick to note opportunities for investment, and thus it was that he became a prosperous man.

Mr. Hain was married in 1846 to Miss Ursula Hecathorn, who was born in Indiana, March 11, 1826, and resided in that state until the time of her marriage. The children of this union are: Levi J., a resident of Muscatine, Iowa; Zimri S., a resident of Wilton Junction, this state; Julia, the wife of Charles A. Zeisig, a resident of Rochester township; Linus C., of Haynes, North Dakota; and Charles S., who is mentioned below. After a happy married life covering more than a half century, Mr. and Mrs. Hain were separated by the death of the husband, which occurred November 22, 1906. Mrs. Hain is still living at the advanced age of eighty-four years, making her home with her son Charles on the farm in Rochester township, which has been her place of residence for so many years.

Mr. Hain was a republican in his political views and affiliations. While he accumulated wealth, he also found time and opportunity to do much for the development and improvement of his home locality and though he has passed from this life his memory will long be cherished not only by the members of his own household but by all who knew him.