Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 698
WILLIAM RAINER

William RAINER, one of Harrison County's successful farmers, living on section 17, of Union Township, has been a resident of the county since June, 1870. At first he rented a farm of William RIDDLE, giving him a share of the crop for the use of the land. The same year he bought a part of the land comprising his present farm, and constructed a "dug-out" on the same, in which he lived during the two years he rented land. His own land cost him $8 per acre; he purchased the same of the railroad company, and while he was erecting his "dug-out" he lived within his wagon.

From 1870 to 1889 our subject was farming land on shares, hired his forty acres broken, and lived within the "dug-out." His present farm house, the model of neatness, is 16x24 feet, and two stories high, with a wing 14x16 feet, one story high. His farm now comprises eighty acres, all under a high state of cultivation, enclosed within a barbed wire fence, and provided with a substantial house and outbuildings. He is fortunate in also owning a five-acre timber lot. In order to obtain this land, which now provides him such a comfortable home, he, like many another man, had to go in debt, and during the years of the grasshopper plague much self-denial and great hardships marked the experience of this man and his family.

To go back to his earlier life, it may be said in this connection that he was born in Franklin County, Ohio, December 6, 1831, and is the son of Abraham and Christina (PONTIUS) RAINER, who had two children, our subject being the youngest, the other, a sister, named Ann. The parents were also natives of the Buckeye State, and the father died before our subject was born, and his mother died when he was a lad of eleven summers, when he went to live with his grandparents on the maternal side. He remained with them until nineteen years old, when he embarked on the sea of life for himself.

Until twenty-two years of age he served as a farm hand in Ohio, and then came to Clinton County, Iowa, where he was engaged at the same work one season, when he enlisted as a member of Company C, in the 26th Iowa Infantry, and served eight months during the second year of the Civil War. His regiment was sent to Helena, Arkansas, and was at the seige of Vicksburg. After that struggle our subject was taken sick and sent to St. Louis hospital, where he remained two months and was discharged. Between the time of his leaving the service of his country and coming to Harrison County, in 1870, he worked land on shares in Clinton County, Iowa.

Concerning his married life it may be said that Melvina K. COFFMAN became his wife October 24, 1854, in Fairfield County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Noah and Rhoda COFFMAN, natives of Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. RAINER are the parents of the following children: Lizzie G., born December 6, 1861; Frank, August 23, 1864; Anna R., July 16, 1867, now deceased; Jessie G., December 13, 1871, now deceased; Mabel, October 18, 1875.

Their son Frank was married March 1, 1888, to Winnie M., daughter of Richard J. and Mary E. MILLER, who had five children, of whom Frank's wife is the oldest.

Our subject and his wife are acceptable members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in his political views Mr. RAINER affiliates with the Republican party, first, last and all the time.

Return to 1891 Biographical R Surnames Index

Back to 1891 Biographies Index