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John Sullinger RAINEY born 20 JAN 1797, Orange Co., NC, occupation Farmer, married (1) abt 1820, Helen WARREN, died 1825, married (2) 1832, in Carroll Co., Tennessee, Elizabeth Jane SWEENEY, born 07 APR 1815, Virginia, (daughter of Samuel SWINNEY and Winnie HAMMOCK) occupation Homemaker, died 01 MAY 1903, Gentry County, MO, buried: Owl Creek Cemetery, Gentry Co., MO. John died 10 JUN 1883, Gentry County, MO, buried: Owl Creek Cemetery, Gentry Co., MO. John S Rainey's estate was probated between the years 1885-1902 in Gentry County, Missouri. He left no will per information from the Gentry Courthouse in Albany. He and his family moved to the Andrew County (northwestern) area of Missouri, from Tennessee in 1838 where John was a farmer and reportedly ran a still house and then DeKalb County, Missouri in 1846 (Gentry Co., Missouri Genealogical Society, 1996).In 1850, the family made a final move to the Owl Creek homestead in Gentry County Missouri, which has remained in the Rainey family at least as of 1905. Wife, Elizabeth's newspaper obituary (1903) indicates the family lived in DeKalb County until the move to Gentry. Son, William's obituary (1921) states Andrew.
February 20, 1828 John S. RAINEY sold land in Orange County, North Carolina to Benjamin Hurdle. He moved to Tennessee about 1810 (Gentry County MO Genealogy Society), however he is not listed in either the 1830 or 1840 census lists for the state of Tennessee. The land he sold in North Carolina may have been the land his father left him when he died. After John's father died in 1811, he likely lived with either his older brother, William, in Rutherford County, Tennesse or his older brother, Benjamin Abel, in Orange until ca.1830.. A Benjamin 'RONEY' is listed in the 1836 tax list of Carroll County, Tennessee along with John 'RONEY' and a William 'RONEY'. This group is not listed in the 1839 Carroll tax list.
(John's brother Benjamin is listed in the 1850 census for Andrew County, Missouri).
In the June, 1983, 3rd Volume of "Rainey Times", (Marynell Bryant,Ed.) , John's granddaughter, Elva Eunice (sister of grandson, Edward Arthur Rainey) is named as a descendent of William Rainey, Orange Co., NC.
John was left 500 acres of land on Turnbull Creek in Tennessee, in his father, William's will (probated 1811). This is located in both former and present day Dickson County, Tennessee (middle Tennessee). From Rainey Times, Volume 5, July, 1985, pg 68
(CLIPPING FROM NEWSPAPER, GENTRY COUNTY, MO SUBMITTED BY MRS. ELDON D.RAINEY, SPOKANE , WA 99206)
ANOTHER PIONEER GONE: GRANDMA RAINEY DIED AT HOME OF HER SON, JOSEPH RAINEY, NEAR BERLIN, ON FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1903, AGED 88 YEARS AND 24 DAYS . ELIZABETH J SWINNEY WAS BORN IN TN, APRIL 7, 1815. SHE WAS MARRIED TO JOHN RAINEY IN 1832, AND THEY MOVED TO DEKALB CO. AND REMAINED UNTIL 1850, WHEN THEY WENT ONTO THE OWL CREEK HOMESTEAD, WHICH HAS CONTINUED TO BE THE PROPERTY OF THE RAINEY FAMILY SINCE THAT TIME.
ELEVEN CHILDREN WERE BORN TO THEM, SEVEN OF WHOM SURVIVE. THE LIVING CHILDREN ARE BENJAMIN, SAMUEL, WILLIAM, JOSEPH, AND JOHN RAINEY; MRS. CORNELIA BOLEY AND MRS. PHILENE MEADOWS. FORTY-EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN, THIRTY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND THREE GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILDREN ALSO SURVIVE. THE AGED HUSBAND DIED NINETEEN YEARS AGO.
GRANDMA RAINEY HAD UNITED WITH THE METHODIST CHURCH EARLY IN LIFE, AND SHE CONTINUED TRUE TO HER CHRISTIAN PROFESSION THROUGH LIFE, DYING FIRM IN THE FAITH THAT TRIUMPHS OVER DEATH AND THETOMB. SHE WAS LOVED AND HONORED BY A LARGE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, WHO WILL JOIN WITH THE FAMILY IN MOURNING THE DEATH OF ONE WHO HAS BEEN A TRUE NEIGHBOR, FRIEND AND MOTHER TO THE GENERATIONS THAT HAVE BROUGHT THE SOUTH PART OF GENTRY COUNTY UP FROM A WILDERNESS TO THE SPLENDOR COMMUNITY IT IS TODAY.
THE FUNERAL SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED BY ELDER D. CAMPBELL, ASSISTED BY REV. BALL OF KING CITY, AT THE BERLIN CHURCH ON SATURDAY, AFTER WHICH A LARGE CROWD OF THE RELATIVES, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS FOLLOWED THE REMAINS TO THE OWL CREEK CEMETERY, WHERE THEY WERE LAID TO REST BY THE GRAVES OF THE HUSBAND AND CHILDREN.
Elizabeth did not live in the Rainey's Owl Creek home after John's death in 1883. She moved to her daughter, Cornelia Jane's home in Miller Township, where she passed away in 1903. (1900 Federal Census for Gentry County, Missouri). I found Elizabeth's last name as 'SWINNEY' on the death record of her son, John. This concurrs with earlier findings of only 'SWINNEY' and not 'SWEENEY' in records of Carroll County, Tennessee. Additionally, the DAR has her listed as 'SWINNEY. However, both names are listed so frequently that I haven't yet determined which is correct. Elizabeth's obituary lists her as SWEENEY. She lived in such a small community, I find it unlikely her name would be spelled wrong in the local newspaper.
(6/24/97) I have recently discovered that Elizabeth could not have been b.1815 in Carroll Co., TN, as this county did not exist at the time. Interestingly, the DAR record copy submitted by Rose FISCHER c.1955, lists her birthplace as VA, and I believe this is far more likely. Also, the Oklahoma census index for 1900, for which William RAINEY was an enumerator lists her place of birth (within the "birthplace of mother" category of John RAINEY's name), as Virginia. I find it unlikely William would mistake the birthplace of his own grandmother.
I have not yet been able to confirm her birthplace-most likely, Franklin Co., Virginia, as her parents were married there four years prior to her birth.
I. Benjamin L RAINEY
Born 23 SEP 1832, Carroll Co., Tennessee, occupation Farmer, married 23 AUG 1855, in Missouri, Malinda GAY, born 17 MAY 1838, Illinois, (daughter of Charles GAY and Nancy (GAY)) died 24 JAN 1911, Gentry County, MO, buried: Owl Creek Cemetery, Gentry Co., MO. Benjamin died 17 JAN 1919, Gentry County, MO, buried: Owl Creek Cemetery, Gentry Co., MO, Military Service: Civil War-39th Reg. MO Infantry.
II. Samuel Sweeney RAINEY
born 22 NOV 1833, Carroll Co., Tennessee, occupation Farmer, married 21 JAN 1858, in Dekalb County, Missouri, Francis Melvina MATHIS, born 17 OCT 1840, Andrew Co., Missouri, (daughter of Littleton MATHIS and Jane TODD) died 14 JUL 1926, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, buried: 16 JUL 1926, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma. Samuel died 24 FEB 1917, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, buried: 1917, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, Military Service: C. 1860, Civil War, Pvt.-Co.H,1st MO S.M. Cavalry. Samuel's Union troop served out of DeKalb County, Missouri.
Samuel lived with his parents until c. 1850, then with his wife and children in Gentry County, Missouri c.1858-1880. They moved to Sheridan in Oklahoma Territory c. 1890. A Samuel RAINEY is enumerated as a participant of the April, 1893, Oklahoma Land Rush- the largest of the reknown runs. I believe this is the same Samuel -both moved from Sheridan and staked claims in Enid, Garfield County. Samuel Sweeney RAINEY lived here until his death. His sons, George and William lived Kingfisher County, Oklahoma (south of Garfield County) during this period, along with their uncle, Samuel's youngest brother, John. George purchased land in Kingfisher on Sept. 28, 1889 and later sold this 160 acre tract to his uncle, John Rainey, February 28, 1890. Samuel's son William also purchased land May 17, 1890 in Kingfisher, 160 acres on a five year note, from John A. Bell. George authored a biography in 1937. William was the 1900 census enumerator for the Skeleton area of Kingfisher County. RAINEY, Samuel 1833-1917 Pvt Co H, Ist Cav, Civil War Earned: Military Service Metal Member: GAR (source:Veterans of Civil and Spanish American Wars, Garfield County,Oklahoma Garfield County Genealogists, Inc. P. O. Box 1106, Enid, OK 73702).
III. William C RAINEY
born 18 SEP 1835, Shellbrook, Tennessee, married 01 FEB 1872, in Missouri, Nancy Emiline BOLEY, born 08 AUG 1848, (daughter of John BOLEY and Delsenna LICENS) died JAN 1935, Gentry County, MO, buried: Owl Creek Cemetery, Gentry Co., MO. William died APR 1921, Missouri, buried: Ford City Cemetery, Missouri. FROM RAINEY TIMES VOLUME 5, JULY 1985, P.69
WM. RAINEY DIED TUESDAY (CLIPPING FROM THE ALBANY PAPER, GENTRY COUNTY, MISSOURI; SUBMITTED BY LILLAV RAINEY, SPOKANE, WA; DATED 6 APRIL 1921)
WM. RAINEY , AND OLD AND WELL KNOWN CITIZEN OF THE SOUTH PART OF GENTRY COUNTY, DIED AT 4 O'CLOCK LAST TUESDAY MORNING, AT HIS HOME A MILE SOUTHEAST OF THE MAPLE GROVE CHURCH. MR. RAINEY HAD BEEN BOTHERED BY KIDNEY AND HEART TROUBLE AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS, AND HAD BEEN IN POOREST HEALTH FOR SOME TIME.
DECEASED WAS 85 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AND 18 DAYS OLD. HE WAS BORN IN TENNESSEE , HIS PARENTS COMING TO MISSOURI WHEN HE WAS A SMALL CHILD. THEY FIRST SETTLED IN ANDREW COUNTY, REMAINING THERE ONLY A SHORT TIME; THEN MOVED TO GENTRY COUNTY AND SETTLED ON THE RAINEY HOMESTEAD IN THE OWL CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE HE LIVED FOR ALMOST EIGHTY YEARS.
ON FEB. 1, 1872, HE WAS MARRIED TO NANCY EMMALINE BOLEY. ELEVEN CHILDREN WERE BORN TO THEM, ALL OF WHOM, WITH THEIR MOTHER ARE STILL LIVING. THE NINE SONS AND TWO DAUGHTERS ARE: JOHN H., BENJAMIN PORTER, DAVID M., ROY O., AND MRS. CLARENCE STARK, ALL OF ST. JOSEPH, MO.; HIRAM B. OF ESSEX, MO; IRA D. OF DIX, IL; ALBERT B., ELMER L., MRS. CLAUDE EVENS AND TIPTON RAINEY OF NEAR FORD CITY, MO. ALL OF THESE EXCEPT HIRAM AND IRA WERE PRESENT AT THE FUNERAL OF THEIR FATHER.
EARLY IN LIFE MR. RAINEY HAD MADE CONFESSION IN FAITH IN CHRIST, AND UNITED WITH THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. HE HAD ALSO BEEN A MEMBER OF THE MASONIC LODGE FOR THAN 50 YEARS. HE WAS A TRUE HUSBAND, A KIND FATHER, AND A GOOD NEIGHBOR, AND WILL BE GREATLY MISSED, BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE HOME. BESIDES THE FAITHFUL WIFE AND ELEVEN CHILDREN, HE LEAVES 23 GRANDCHILDREN, ONE BROTHER, JOHN RAINEY, WHO IS IN OKLAHOMA, AND ONE SISTER, MRS. PHILENA MEADOWS OF NEAR WINSLOW, MO, BESIDES A HOST OF OTHER RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.
FUNERAL SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED AT THE MAPLE GROVE CHURCH YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) AT 12 O'CLOCK BY REV. W.C. WHITEHOUSE, PASTOR OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT KING CITY, AFTER WHICH THE MEMBERS OF THE MASONIC ORDER TOOK CHARGE OF THE REMAINS AND LAID THEM TO REST WITH THE LAST RITES OF FREEMASONRY, IN THE KING CITY CEMETERY.
IV. Cornelia RAINEY
born 10 JAN 1838, Carroll Co., Tennessee, married 22 JUN 1865, in Gentry County, MO, Enoch BOLEY, born 15 FEB 1832, Campbell Co., TN, (son of John BOLEY and Delsenna LICENS) died 10 JAN 1903, Missouri, buried: Owl Creek Cemetery, Gentry Co., MO, Military Service: Civil War - Co. H,1st MO S.M. Cavalry. Cornelia died 01 DEC 1913, Gentry County, MO, buried: 1913, Owl Creek Cemetery, Gentry Co., MO.
V. Winnie RAINEY
born ABT 1840, Missouri, died ABT 1841, Missouri, buried: Missouri. Winnie died when she was about six months old.
VI. Austin RAINEY
born 1842, King City, Gentry Co., MO. Austin was reportedly killed after the Civil War by Native Americans. (This was an explanation often used for a disappearance during this time--nothing difinitively confirms this.).
VII. Joseph RAINEY
born 26 NOV 1844, Andrew Co., Missouri, occupation Farmer, married 02 APR 1867, in Missouri, Mary L JOLLY, born 28 NOV 1847, Breckinridge County, Kentucky, (daughter of Malinda ROBERTSON and Samuel J JOLLY) died 01 APR 1917, Missouri. Joseph died 08 FEB 1911, Gentry County, MO, buried: Berlin Cemetery, Gentry Co., MO, Military Service: 1862, Civil War-Priv.,Co.H,1st MO S.M. Cavalry. Biography of Joseph Rainey, Gentry County Missouri (Gentry and Worth County History-1882, p. 448, Gentry County Genealogical Society)
Joseph Rainey, farmer, section 34, post office Berlin, is the owner of 390 acres of good farming land, about 120 acres of which are in an excellent state of cultivation. He was born in Andrew county, Missouri, October 26, 1844, and is a son of John S. and Elizabeth Rainey, nee Sweeney, the former of North Carolina and the latter a native of Carroll County, Tennessee. At the age of six years Joseph moved to Gentry County, where he was reared on a farm, being educated in the common schools. April 2, 1867, he was married in this county to Miss Mary L. Jolly. By this union, they have had seven children, five of whom are living: James S., John R., Allie I., Melinda Jane and Franklin S. Rainey. Mrs. Rainey was born in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, November 28, 1847. Her parents, Samuel J. and Melinda (Robertson) Jolly, were both natives of Breckinridge County, Kentucky. In 1862, Mr. Rainey enlisted at Maysville, Missouri, in Company H, First Missouri State Militia, as a private and served for three years. He is a member of the Masonic order. He moved to his present place last spring and here he intends to make his future home.
The biographical information for Joseph held by the Gentry County Genealogy Society (Missouri), states that Joseph and Mary had only seven children. This contradicts information given in "RAINEY TIMES", Vol.11, which lists nine.....
VIII.Nancy Isabella RAINEY
born 1845, Missouri, died 1860, Missouri.
IX. Sallie RAINEY
born ABT 1846, Missouri, died Missouri, buried: Missouri. Sallie died at young age.
X. Philina RAINEY
born 08 JAN 1850, Andrew Co., Missouri, married (1) 1872, Jacob Newton JOLIFF, born 1849, Illinois, died 1881, married (2) 17 FEB 1884, Jasper MEADOWS, born 1851, died 1928. Philina died 03 MAR 1922, Missouri, buried: Winslow Cemetery, Dekalb Co., MO.
XI. John RAINEY
born 07 JUN 1856, Gentry County, MO, occupation Farmer, married 07 APR 1878, in Dekalb Co., Missouri, Rosa Bertha Ellen SHAFFER, born 14 OCT 1861, Bucyrus, Crawford Co., Ohio, died 06 AUG 1924, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, buried: Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma. John died 08 MAY 1939, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, buried: Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma. John moved to Kingfisher County, Oklahoma c.1890 with his family. He bought property near his nephew, George RAINEY. He owned and carried a mortgage on his home in Skeleton, Kingfisher County, 1900. He lived in Hennessey in 1910, and Vernon Township, Kay County, Oklahoma in 1920. However, his probate papers (Kay County, Oklahoma) indicate land ownership in nearby Beaver County and that this is where he resided upon his death.
Rosa is listed as Bertha in the 1880, Gentry County, Missouri Census. She is named Rosa B. for the 1900 census of Skeleton, Kingfisher Oklahoma census. Rosa D. is the way she is listed on the 1910-1920 censuses of Kingfisher and Kay Counties in Oklahoma. Rosa is listed as Bertha in the 1880, Gentry County, Missouri Census. She is named Rosa B. for the 1900 census of Skeleton, Kingfisher Oklahoma census. Rosa D. is the way she is listed on the 1910-1920 censuses of Kingfisher and Kay Counties in Oklahoma.