Bio: James B. McCain,  Caddo Parish La
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890
Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker




**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 


     James B. McCain is one who has lived in Caddo Parish, La., since 1851,
but was born in Perry County, Ala., February 27, 1824, being a son of John and
Mary Ann (Brown) McCain, the former a native of South Carolina, and the
latter of Kentucky.  They were taken to Perry County, Ala., by their
parents in their youth, and were there reared and married, and after the
birth of the subject of this sketch, who was the eldest of their six
children, and the only one now living, he was brought by them to Caddo
Parish, La., and here both parents died, he in 1869, when over seventy of
age, and she in 1863, when sixty years of age, both being members of the
Baptist Church, of which he was a minister.  On first starting west, it was
with the intention of going to Texas, but on reaching this parish he was so
pleased with the aspect of affairs that here he determined to pitch his
tent, and for that time eventually became a wealthy farmer.  He was of
Scotch descent, and in his political views a Whig.  James B. McCain was
given fair educational advantages, and upon reaching a suitable age he
began assisting his father on the home plantation, and being thoroughly
familiar with every detail of the work, he has since made it his chief
calling, and although he lost all he had accumulated during the war, by
energy and good management, he has since become the owner of 1,800 acres of
land, a goodly portion of which is under cultivation, and well improved
with buildings, fences, etc.  In 1886 he purchased a steam cotton gin,
which he has since operated, and in this, as well as all his other
enterprises, he has met with good success.  Before the war he was captain
of a company of militia, and during that time he joined the Confederate
service, and was detailed to help operate the iron works in Cass County,
Tex., being under Capt. Robson during the last two years of the war.  In
1847 he married Elizabeth Iles, who was born in Louisiana, and came with
her father to Caddo Parish in 1838, and in this parish she died, in 11848,
when seventeen years of age.  His second marriage took place in 1854, his
wife being Miss C. A. Cole, a daughter of Noah A. Cole, of this parish.
She was born in Alabama, and died in 1860, leaving, besides her husband,
four children to mourn their loss, two now living:  J. R. (a farmer of this
parish), and Wealthy (wife of William Vaughn, who also resides here).  One
child died in infancy, and John was four years old at the time of his
death.  July 29, 1868, Mr. McCain's third marriage took place, the maiden
name of his wife being Fannie Parnell, a daughter of John Parnell, her
birth occurring in this parish in 1848.  To them ten children have been
born, six living:  E. S., Hearsey, J. P., Ruth, James B., Jr., and Katie.
Thos deceased are George N., Mary, Fannie and Will.  Mrs. McCain is a
member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and he is a Democrat in his
political views, and is one of the leading and enterprising citizens of
this section.