My Genealogy Hound

William E. McCain was born in Marshall County, Ky., June 29, 1838, and is a son of Thomas C. and Mary Ann (Murray) McCain, who were born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1808 and North Carolina October 15, 1810, respectively. They were married in Kentucky, whither they had both removed at an early day, and in 1844 moved to Lafayette County, Miss., where the father died on the 5th of September, 1861. There the mother still resides, an earnest and consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The McCain family is of Irish descent, having come from the Emerald Isle to the United States during the Revolutionary War, and located in South Carolina. To Thomas c. McCain and wife were born nine children, six of whom are living. One son, James C., was killed during the war, about seventy-five miles south of Vicksburg. Six sons were in the Confederate army. At the age of twenty-two years William E. McCain, whose name heads this sketch, began to fight his own way in the world, and kept a grocery at Paris, Miss., until he joined the army, June 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Fourth Mississippi Infantry, serving in the ranks until after the battle of Macon, Ga., when he became wagon-master of the same regiment. He was in a number of hotly contested battles, among which were Columbus, Ky., Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, being taken prisoner at the latter battle. He was kept one month in the hospital at St. Louis, on account of sickness, and was then taken to Camp Douglas, Chicago, where he was retained until he was exchanged. He then rejoined his regiment, and took an important part in the battles of Mobile, Rome, Dalton, Resaca and Atlanta. At Fort Blakely he was again captured, and taken to Ship Island, where he was retained for about three months. During his service he received three slight wounds, and after the cessation of hostilities made his home in Mississippi until 1875, when he came to Franklin County, Ark., where he has been engaged in farming and stock raising, and is doing well financially. In September, 1866, he was married to Lucy Ann Kelly, a daughter of John Kelly, who lived just four months after her marriage. December 28, 1874, Mr. McCain was wedded to Martha Ann Taylor, who was born in Lafayette County, Miss., October 15, 1852. Six children have been born to them: Walter L. (deceased), C. Elma, Martha Ann (deceased), William E., David C. and Charles H. Mr. and Mrs. McCain are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He is a Democrat, is chairman of the central committee, and takes great interest in politics, being elected justice of the peace at one time, but would not serve.