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Edward Cain
Edward
Cain is numbered among the pioneer residents of Greene county and is
now one of the most extensive landowners of this part of the state.
Moreover, he is closely associated with financial interests as
president of the Farmers Savings Bank of Lanesboro and in all of his
business operations has manifested an aptitude for successful
management and marked ability in solving intricate and complex business
problems. His life record began on the Isle of Man, in 1842, and he
remained a resident of his native country until 1861, when at the age
of nineteen years he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling
first in Warren county, Illinois. As his capital was very meager,
rendering immediate employment a necessity, he began work on a farm and
was thus engaged for three years. He then started out in life on his
own account. After he had been in America for some time his parents,
John and Jane (Eads) Cain, came to the United States in the early ’70s.
The former was born on the Isle of Man and the latter in England. They
were the parents of the following children, seven of whom are living,
and all came to the United States, namely: Mrs. Sarah Brideson; John,
deceased; Abraham; Edward; Robert; Mrs. Jane Ryder; Mrs. Lizzie Quayle:
William; and Morris, who has passed away.
Edward Cain continued a resident of Illinois until after his
marriage, which was celebrated in Warren county, that state, in 1870,
Miss Jane Gaunt becoming his wife. She was born in Missouri, but was
reared in Illinois and was a daughter of David Gaunt, who removed from
Illinois to Bayard, Iowa, where he is still living at the advanced age
of eighty-five years.
In the year 1872 Edward Cain came with his family to Greene county
and with the money which he had saved from his earnings at farm labor
and while engaged in farming on his own account, he here purchased one
hundred and sixty acres of land on section 35, Greenbrier township. He
then returned to Warren county, Illinois, and sent two men to Iowa to
break the sod for him. The next year his brother came to Greene county
and lived upon the farm which Edward Cain purchased. In 1876, however,
Mr. Cain himself came to live upon his place. He has erected all of the
fine buildings upon the farm, has planted all of the trees and has
added every modern convenience and accessory, making this one of the
valuable farm properties of Iowa. As his financial resources have
increased, he has kept adding to his land until he is now one of the
extensive property holders of this section, his possessions aggregating
eleven hundred and forty acres, of which four hundred and eighty acres
is situated in Guthrie county, but adjoins his land in Greene county.
He has tiled his farm, thus transforming wet, swampy land into rich and
fertile fields. He has also put down nine wells with windmills, so as
to supply water for his stock. He feeds all the crops that he raises
and buys a great deal of grain beside. He is very widely known as a
stock-feeder, having about five hundred head of cattle and about the
same number of hogs each year. His shipments of stock are thus
extensive and bring to him a gratifying return annually. Aside from his
agricultural interests he is well known in financial circles, having
been one of the organizers of the Farmers Savings Bank of Lanesboro,
which was established six years ago. It is now a state bank and Mr.
Cain is its president.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cain have been born six children. but thev lost
their eldest daughter, Anna. The others are: Ada, now the wife of Frank
Smith; Oscar, who lives one mile north of his father and is also a
farmer; Charles, who is in the bank at Bagley; Alice, who is the wife
of Freeman Jenkins, a resident of Bagley; and Ralph, at home. There are
also two grandchildren.
In his political views Mr. Cain is a stalwart republican and has
served for six years on the board of supervisors. He belongs to the
Methodist church and is interested in all that pertains to public
progress and improvement along material, intellectual and moral lines.
His business interests make him one of the foremost residents of Greene
county, few men carryingon the business of feeding cattle so
extensively. He possesses sound judgment in all business affairs, is
reliable and energetic, and as the years have gone by has made an
excellent record by reason of the extent of his operations and the
probity of his methods.
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