Was First Mayor, Postmaster and School Teacher, A Pioneer
Another pioneer has crossed the great divide; one more soldier has answered the long roll-call. James Cain was born in Will county, Ill., June 10, 1839, and peacefully passed away in Blaine, Washington, February 5, 1914.
While still a small boy he moved with his parents to Missouri in 1844, and this was but the beginning of a series of moves so characteristic of the early pioneers. In 1846 they moved to Wisconsin and the next year they traveled to Iowa. The year 1860 found them following the frontier into Dakota, where the family resided until 1861, when James Cain enlisted in the Sioux City Cavalry, afterwards being transferred to the Seventh Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. As a soldier he made an enviable record, not being mustered out of service until April 16, 1866.
He was ever a pioneer and after the war the frontier beckoned him on. He answered the summons and in 1871 moved to Whatcom county and settled where the City of Blaine now stands. With his parents, his sister and brothers he endured all the vicissitudes incident to the life of the Puget Sound frontiersman. His father, John Cain, was a typical pathfinder, of whom one of his old friends has written, "he deserved to be ranked with Jim Bridger, Kit Carson or Jim Beckwith." The devoted wife, Lucretia Cain, the mother of the subject of our sketch, passed away beloved by all, January 30, 1887, aged 71, her husband following her to the better world March 10, 1893, at the ripe age of 87.
The history of Blaine cannot be written without prominently mentioning the Cain family. James, as one of the members, was actively identified with the interests of the city since it was first platted in 1887 by Cain Bros. - Cornelius, James and George W. He was the first Mayor of Blaine, the first school teacher of District 25; the first notary public, the first postmaster, and he drew up the first plat of the original townsite of Blaine, and was part owner of the first newspaper - the Blaine Journal. He was a man of marked qualities and was closely associated with the growth and prosperity of this city. Of recent years he was somewhat afflicted but bore his sufferings with patience and fortitude.
He was a Christian man and for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which organization much of his time and means were given. To such men as he the world owes much. Such need no monuments of marble to perpetuate their memory. The smiling fields or busy city ever speak of their faith and courage. The achievements of this great and growing empire by the Pacific sea have been made possible because men like James Cain braved the hardships of the trail and forest and blazed the way for the blessings and privileges of the civilization we now enjoy.
The funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church by the Rev. R. C. Hartley. A large concourse of friends gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased. James Cain was a brave soldier, a sturdy pioneer, a loyal citizen and a faithful Christian. There are left to mourn his loss one sister Mrs. Lizzie Rucker, of Abbotsford, B. C., and *one brother, George W. Cain, of Blaine, Washington, besides a large circle of friends.
* brother, Cornelius Cain, was also a survivor.
From The Blaine Journal, February 13, 1914.
Another pioneer has crossed the great divide; one more soldier has answered the long roll-call. James Cain was born in Will county, Ill., June 10, 1839, and peacefully passed away in Blaine, Washington, February 5, 1914.
While still a small boy he moved with his parents to Missouri in 1844, and this was but the beginning of a series of moves so characteristic of the early pioneers. In 1846 they moved to Wisconsin and the next year they traveled to Iowa. The year 1860 found them following the frontier into Dakota, where the family resided until 1861, when James Cain enlisted in the Sioux City Cavalry, afterwards being transferred to the Seventh Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. As a soldier he made an enviable record, not being mustered out of service until April 16, 1866.
He was ever a pioneer and after the war the frontier beckoned him on. He answered the summons and in 1871 moved to Whatcom county and settled where the City of Blaine now stands. With his parents, his sister and brothers he endured all the vicissitudes incident to the life of the Puget Sound frontiersman. His father, John Cain, was a typical pathfinder, of whom one of his old friends has written, "he deserved to be ranked with Jim Bridger, Kit Carson or Jim Beckwith." The devoted wife, Lucretia Cain, the mother of the subject of our sketch, passed away beloved by all, January 30, 1887, aged 71, her husband following her to the better world March 10, 1893, at the ripe age of 87.
The history of Blaine cannot be written without prominently mentioning the Cain family. James, as one of the members, was actively identified with the interests of the city since it was first platted in 1887 by Cain Bros. - Cornelius, James and George W. He was the first Mayor of Blaine, the first school teacher of District 25; the first notary public, the first postmaster, and he drew up the first plat of the original townsite of Blaine, and was part owner of the first newspaper - the Blaine Journal. He was a man of marked qualities and was closely associated with the growth and prosperity of this city. Of recent years he was somewhat afflicted but bore his sufferings with patience and fortitude.
He was a Christian man and for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which organization much of his time and means were given. To such men as he the world owes much. Such need no monuments of marble to perpetuate their memory. The smiling fields or busy city ever speak of their faith and courage. The achievements of this great and growing empire by the Pacific sea have been made possible because men like James Cain braved the hardships of the trail and forest and blazed the way for the blessings and privileges of the civilization we now enjoy.
The funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church by the Rev. R. C. Hartley. A large concourse of friends gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased. James Cain was a brave soldier, a sturdy pioneer, a loyal citizen and a faithful Christian. There are left to mourn his loss one sister Mrs. Lizzie Rucker, of Abbotsford, B. C., and *one brother, George W. Cain, of Blaine, Washington, besides a large circle of friends.
* brother, Cornelius Cain, was also a survivor.
From The Blaine Journal, February 13, 1914.
Was First Mayor, Postmaster and School Teacher, A Pioneer
Another pioneer has crossed the great divide; one more soldier has answered the long roll-call. James Cain was born in Will county, Ill., June 10, 1839, and peacefully passed away in Blaine, Washington, February 5, 1914.
While still a small boy he moved with his parents to Missouri in 1844, and this was but the beginning of a series of moves so characteristic of the early pioneers. In 1846 they moved to Wisconsin and the next year they traveled to Iowa. The year 1860 found them following the frontier into Dakota, where the family resided until 1861, when James Cain enlisted in the Sioux City Cavalry, afterwards being transferred to the Seventh Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. As a soldier he made an enviable record, not being mustered out of service until April 16, 1866.
He was ever a pioneer and after the war the frontier beckoned him on. He answered the summons and in 1871 moved to Whatcom county and settled where the City of Blaine now stands. With his parents, his sister and brothers he endured all the vicissitudes incident to the life of the Puget Sound frontiersman. His father, John Cain, was a typical pathfinder, of whom one of his old friends has written, "he deserved to be ranked with Jim Bridger, Kit Carson or Jim Beckwith." The devoted wife, Lucretia Cain, the mother of the subject of our sketch, passed away beloved by all, January 30, 1887, aged 71, her husband following her to the better world March 10, 1893, at the ripe age of 87.
The history of Blaine cannot be written without prominently mentioning the Cain family. James, as one of the members, was actively identified with the interests of the city since it was first platted in 1887 by Cain Bros. - Cornelius, James and George W. He was the first Mayor of Blaine, the first school teacher of District 25; the first notary public, the first postmaster, and he drew up the first plat of the original townsite of Blaine, and was part owner of the first newspaper - the Blaine Journal. He was a man of marked qualities and was closely associated with the growth and prosperity of this city. Of recent years he was somewhat afflicted but bore his sufferings with patience and fortitude.
He was a Christian man and for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which organization much of his time and means were given. To such men as he the world owes much. Such need no monuments of marble to perpetuate their memory. The smiling fields or busy city ever speak of their faith and courage. The achievements of this great and growing empire by the Pacific sea have been made possible because men like James Cain braved the hardships of the trail and forest and blazed the way for the blessings and privileges of the civilization we now enjoy.
The funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church by the Rev. R. C. Hartley. A large concourse of friends gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased. James Cain was a brave soldier, a sturdy pioneer, a loyal citizen and a faithful Christian. There are left to mourn his loss one sister Mrs. Lizzie Rucker, of Abbotsford, B. C., and *one brother, George W. Cain, of Blaine, Washington, besides a large circle of friends.
* brother, Cornelius Cain, was also a survivor.
From The Blaine Journal, February 13, 1914.
Another pioneer has crossed the great divide; one more soldier has answered the long roll-call. James Cain was born in Will county, Ill., June 10, 1839, and peacefully passed away in Blaine, Washington, February 5, 1914.
While still a small boy he moved with his parents to Missouri in 1844, and this was but the beginning of a series of moves so characteristic of the early pioneers. In 1846 they moved to Wisconsin and the next year they traveled to Iowa. The year 1860 found them following the frontier into Dakota, where the family resided until 1861, when James Cain enlisted in the Sioux City Cavalry, afterwards being transferred to the Seventh Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. As a soldier he made an enviable record, not being mustered out of service until April 16, 1866.
He was ever a pioneer and after the war the frontier beckoned him on. He answered the summons and in 1871 moved to Whatcom county and settled where the City of Blaine now stands. With his parents, his sister and brothers he endured all the vicissitudes incident to the life of the Puget Sound frontiersman. His father, John Cain, was a typical pathfinder, of whom one of his old friends has written, "he deserved to be ranked with Jim Bridger, Kit Carson or Jim Beckwith." The devoted wife, Lucretia Cain, the mother of the subject of our sketch, passed away beloved by all, January 30, 1887, aged 71, her husband following her to the better world March 10, 1893, at the ripe age of 87.
The history of Blaine cannot be written without prominently mentioning the Cain family. James, as one of the members, was actively identified with the interests of the city since it was first platted in 1887 by Cain Bros. - Cornelius, James and George W. He was the first Mayor of Blaine, the first school teacher of District 25; the first notary public, the first postmaster, and he drew up the first plat of the original townsite of Blaine, and was part owner of the first newspaper - the Blaine Journal. He was a man of marked qualities and was closely associated with the growth and prosperity of this city. Of recent years he was somewhat afflicted but bore his sufferings with patience and fortitude.
He was a Christian man and for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which organization much of his time and means were given. To such men as he the world owes much. Such need no monuments of marble to perpetuate their memory. The smiling fields or busy city ever speak of their faith and courage. The achievements of this great and growing empire by the Pacific sea have been made possible because men like James Cain braved the hardships of the trail and forest and blazed the way for the blessings and privileges of the civilization we now enjoy.
The funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church by the Rev. R. C. Hartley. A large concourse of friends gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased. James Cain was a brave soldier, a sturdy pioneer, a loyal citizen and a faithful Christian. There are left to mourn his loss one sister Mrs. Lizzie Rucker, of Abbotsford, B. C., and *one brother, George W. Cain, of Blaine, Washington, besides a large circle of friends.
* brother, Cornelius Cain, was also a survivor.
From The Blaine Journal, February 13, 1914.
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