Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/27

 RAINS

RAINSFORD

RAIN5, George Washington, soldier, was born in Craven county, N.C., in 1817 ; son of Gabriel M. and Hester (Ambrose) Rains. His parents removed to Alabama, and he vras ap- pointed to the U.S. Military academy from that state in 1838, and in 1843 was graduated third in a class of 56, and promoted 2d lieutenant in the corps of engineers. He served as assistant engineer in the construction of Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Mass., 1842-43; in garrison at Fort Monroe, Va., 1843-44, and was transferred to the 4th artillery, July 7, 1843. He was assis- tant professor of chemistry, mineralogy and geology in the U.S. Military academy, 1844-46; had charge of the quartermaster's depot at Point Isabel, Texas, in 1846 ; was promoted 1st lieu- tenant, March 3, 1847 ; took part in the siege of Vera Cruz, the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, the storming of Chapultepec, and the assault and capture of the City of Mexico. He was brevetted captain, Aug. 20, 1847, for Contreras and Churubusco, and major, Sept. 13, 1847, for Chapultepec. He served as aide-de-camp to General Scott and to Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, 1847-48, and while at West Point where Pillow was being court-martialed, he arranged the model of the Valencia silver mine. He was in garrison in New Orleans and on recruiting service, 1848-49 ; in the Seminole war, Florida, 1849-50 ; in garrison at Forts Lafayette and Columbus, N.Y. harbor. Fort Mackinac, Mich., and Fort Independence, Mass., 1850-54, and on recruiting service at Fort Columbus, 1854-56. He was promoted captain, Feb. 14, 1856, resigned from the service, Oct. 31, 1856, and became part o\vner ami president of the Washington iron works and "the Highland iron works at Newburg, N.Y. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of artillery in the Confederate army in 1861, and assigned to the equipment of powder mills at Augusta, Ga., anil had charge of these works, producing most of the powder used by the Con- federate army, until the war ended. He was pro- fessor of chemistry and pharmacy in the medical department of the University of Georgia, 1867- 84, dean of the faculty, 1884, and professor eme- ritus, 1884-94, and resumed business in Newburg, N.Y., in 1894. He received the degree of LL.D. from the University of Georgia in 1880, and that of JI.D. elsewhere. He obtained three patents for improvements in portable steam engines, and is the author of : Steam Portable Engines, a trea- tise (1860); Rudiment >!•>/ Course of Analytical and Applied Chemistry (1872); Chemical Qualita- tive Analysis (1879); History of the Confederate Powder Works (1882); and numerous essays. He died at Newburg, N.Y., March 21, 1898.

RAINS, James Edward, soldier, was born in Wilson county, Tenn., April 10, 1833 ; son of the IX. -2

Rev. John and Lucinda (Cartwright) Rains. He was graduated from Yale in 1854; was admitted to the bar, and practised in Nashville. He edited the Daily Republican Banner in 1857 ; was city attorney in 1858, and attorney-general for his judicial district in 1860. He was married about 1860, to Ida, only daughter of H. T. Yeatman. Mrs. Rains was residing in Nashville in 1903. In 1801 he joined the Confederate army as lieutenant- colonel of the 11th Tennessee regiment ; was pro- moted colonel, and commanded the 2d brigade, 1st division, department of East Tennessee. He was ordered by Gen. J. D. Stevenson, division commander, to cover the evacuation of Cimaber- land Gap, June 14, 1862, and after effecting the purpose, withdraw his two regiments and mai'ched toward Morristown. He was commis- sioned brigadier-general, Nov. 4, 1862 ; com- manded his brigade in McCown's division, Har- dee's corps, Bragg's Ai my of the Tennessee, in the battle of Stone's river, and while leading a charge against McCook's Federal corps, he was shot through the heart, dying instantly, Dec. 31, 1862. RAINSFORD, William Stephen, clergyman, was born in Dublin, Ireland, Oct. 30, 1850 ; son of the Rev. Marcus and Louisa (Dickson) Rainsford. Ill health caused his early withdrawal from school, and led to travel abroad for some time. He became interested in one of the first efforts made in Eng- land to apply a thor- ough study to the conditions of life in East London. The result of such study was a visit to Canada, in company with Herbert Watney, his brother-in-law, which visit had for its object the settling of eight

hundred emigrants /^/^T KJ) L^^

from the East of /K^/j2[^Mx4^^ London in the Do- minion. He then traveled extensively all over the United States, among other journeys un- dertaking one from St. Paul, Minn., to Victo- ria, Vancouver's Island. This trip lasted many months and was not without danger. His party consisted of Herbert Watney and himself and their two men. The country was wild and absolutely unsettled, and the United States' re- lations with the Indians very much disturbed. He returned to England iu 1869, and was gradu- ated from St. John's college, Cambridge, in 1873 ; was ordained deacon and priest in consecutive years, and held during this time the curacy of St. Giles's parish in Norwich. In 1876-78 he de-