GAINES BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== GAINES, Charles William source: 1917 Missouri The Center State, selected bios reprinted by Clinton Democrat residence: Clinton, Clinton Twp Charles William Gaines, a resident of Clinton, is the owner of valuable farming property in Missouri, his holdings aggregating two thousand acres. He was born in Henry County, January 16, 1864, a son of Richard F. and Margaret (Stone) Gaines. The father, a native of Cumberland County, Kentucky, was born in 1839, while the mother's birth occurred in Henry County, Missouri, in 1841. She was a daughter of Judge John Stone, one of the ante-bellum pioneers, a member of the famous Stone family, who removed to Henry County in 1839 from North Carolina. The Stone family was very prominent in the early history of Henry County. In early life Richard F. Gaines became a farmer and stockdealer. About 1854 he removed to Missouri, settling in Saline County, and in 1860 came to Henry County, where the grandfather of our subject purchased the farm which is now owned by Charles W. Gaines. Richard F. Gaines was largely reared in this state and became an extensive land owner and stockdealer. His father had been a large slaveowner in the South. After the war Richard F. Gaines took charge of the estate and continued thereon until his death in 1891. He dealt extensively in cattle and also in mules during the Civil War. His father owned eight hundred acres of land, to which Richard F. Gaines kept adding from time to time, as his financial resources permitted, until he had about three thousand acres in Henry and St. Clair Counties, the extensive tract being devoted to general farming. He was a man of excellent business ability, energetic and far-sighted, and carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. He lost his first wife in 1868 and was married again to Emily D. Merritt, a daughter of Judge M. B. Merritt, of Henry County. Mr. Gaine's death occurred in March, 1891. Charles W. Gaines was a pupil in the district schools of Henry County and afterward attended the Fayettte Central College. He was twenty-seven years of age when his father died and was made administrator of the estate, which was settled up two years later. He then engaged in the livestock business, feeding, shipping and selling stock, and, like his father, won substantial success. His business affairs prospered under his capable direction and in matters of business judgment he is seldom if ever at fault. He now owns two thousand acres of valuable farm land and gives supervision to its cultivation and management. He resided upon the old family estate until his marriage in 1899, when he purchased one of the most commodious and beautiful residences in Clinton. There he makes his home while giving supervision to his agricultural and livestock interest. It was on the 19th of July, 1899, that Mr. Gaines was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Josephine Hannah, who was born in Davidson County, North Carolina, near Salisbury, a daughter of J. P. and Nancy (Covington) Hannah, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gaines have two children, Charles W. and Richard Pinckney, both attending school. The parents attend the Presbyterian Church, yet Mr. Gaines contributes to the support of all other churches. He is prominent in Masonic circles, is a past commander of Boaneges Commandery of Clinton, and a member of the Mystic Shrine at Kansas City. He is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics Mr. Gaines is a Democrat and received in 1898 his party's nomination for representative from Henry County, but declined. He was his party's candidate for the same office in 1914. Mr. Gaines represents one of the old and prominent families of this section of the state and his lines of life have been cast in harmony with this tradition. The work instituted by his grandfather and continued by his father has been carried on still further by him, and his business activities have been of a character that has contributed to general progress and prosperity as well as to his individual success. At the same time he has gained a place among the capitalists of Henry County and is recognized as a man of splendid business ability, whose enterprise has found expression in his growing success. ==================================================================== GAINES, Charles William - b: 1864 Henry Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 600 residence: Clinton, Clinton Twp Charles William Gaines - In the passing of Charles William Gaines the city of Clinton and Henry County lost one of its most worthy citizens, judged by every standard of worth. Mr. Gaines was a man of strong and vigorous mind; a citizen who had the courage of his convictions and was ever ready to defend his expressed convictions which were usually of a decisive character. While modest, reserved to a considerable degree in. his character and demeanor, he permitted his chosen friends to occasionally cross the threshold of his inner soul and they, the few who were admitted to this inner sanctuary, saw inherent, noble qualities which were generally hidden from the world. The real Charles W. Gaines possessed a fund of quiet humor, a wealth of good fellowship and made an ideal companion, joining good humor and good sense. In the bosom of his family he was a well read companion endowed with a literary taste, which led him to accumulate a store of literary knowledge and to fill his home with good books and literary treasures. He was possessed of a strong and practical mind, his logic and experience enabling him to make quick decisions and right conclusions. In every gathering of men, Mr. Gaines was esteemed and welcomed for his manly qualities and sterling worth. His life was a success from practically every point of view with. which we are apt to judge successful citizenship. A leader among the capitalists of Henry County and western Missouri, a diligent and practical agriculturist who tilled his broad acres so as to bring forth the acme of production, his life labors were of decided benefit to the community in which he was reared to manhood and where his life was spent. Charles William Gaines, a late resident of Clinton, was the owner of valuable farming property in Henry County, his holdings aggregating two thousand acres. He was born in Henry County January 16, 1864 a son of Richard F. and Margaret (Stone) Gaines. The father, a native of Cumberland County, Kentucky, was born in 1839, while the mother's birth occurred in Henry County, Missouri, in 1841. She was a daughter of Judge John Stone, one of the antebellum pioneers, a member of the famous Stone family, who removed to Henry County in 1839 from North Carolina. The Stone family were very prominent in the early history of Henry County. In early life Richard F. Gaines became a farmer and stock dealer. About 1854 he removed to Missouri, settling in Saline County, and in 1860 came to Henry County, where the grandfather of our subject purchased the farm which was owned by Charles W. Gaines. Richard F. Gaines was largely reared in this State and became an extensive land owner and stock dealer. His father had been a large slave owner in the South. After the war Richard F. Gaines took charge of the estate and continued thereon until his death in 1891. He dealt extensively in cattle and also in mules during the Civil War. His father owned eight hundred acres of land, to which Richard F. Gaines kept adding from time to time, as his financial resources permitted, until he had about three thousand acres in Henry and St. Clair Counties, the extensive tract being devoted to general farming. He was a man of excellent business ability, energetic and far-sighted, and carrying forward to a successful completion whatever he undertook. He lost his first wife in 1868 and was married again to Emily D. Merritt, a daughter of Judge M. B. Merritt of Henry County. Mr. Gaines' death occurred in March, 1891. Charles W. Gaines was a pupil in the district schools of Henry County and afterward attended the Fayette Central College. He was twenty-seven years of age when his father died and was made administrator of the estate, which was settled up two years later. He then engaged in the live stock business, feeding, shipping and selling stock, and, like his father, won substantial success. His business affairs prospered under his capable direction and in matters of business judgment he was seldom if ever at fault. He became owner of two thousand acres of valuable farm land and gave his personal supervision to its cultivation and management. He resided upon the old family estate until his marriage in 1899, when he purchased one of the most commodious and beautiful residences in Clinton. There he made his home while giving supervision to his agricultural and live stock interests. His death occurred May 24, 1918. It was on the nineteenth day of July, 1899, that Mr. Gaines was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Josephine Hannah, who was born in Davidson County, North Carolina, near Salisbury, a daughter of J. P. and Nancy (Covington) Hannah, both of whom are deceased. To this marriage were born two children: Charles W. and Richard Pinckney, both attending school. The parents attended the Presbyterian Church, yet Mr. Gaines contributed to the support of all other churches. He was prominent in Masonic circles, and was a past commander of Boaneges Commandery of Clinton and a member of the Mystic Shrine at Kansas City. He was also identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics Mr. Gaines was a Democrat and received in 1898 his party's nomination for representative of Henry County, but declined He was his party's candidate for the same office in 1914. Mr. Gaines represented one of the old and prominent families of this section of the State and his lines of life were cast in harmony with this tradition. The work instituted by his grandfather and continued by his father had been carried on still further by him until his death, were of a character that had contributed to the general progress and prosperity of the community as well as to his individual success. At the same time he gained a place among the capitalists of Henry County and was recognized as a man of splendid business ability, whose enterprise found expression in his growing success. While Mr. Gaines sought no leadership in community activities, men naturally turned to him for guidance. His influence and his purse were ever at the command of the community for every worthy purpose. He was no passive patriot, but an American of vigorous assertiveness, and every call of his country found him answering promptly to her requests, whether for bond issues, the Red Cross or kindred war activities, in all of which he was greatly interested and liberal to a high degree. Mr. Gaines was charitably inclined and never allowed a call upon his purse to go unheeded when the object was worthy of help. As a valued member of the Elks Lodge he was always active in the usual holiday charity offerings made by this lodge. The Masonic fraternity held a strong place in his affections, the spirit of fraternalism and good fellowship being manifest in his relations not only upon the floor of these lodges but in his every day life. In the bosom of his family he was a kind and loving husband and father and had plans for the upbringing of his sons which will be carried to completion by the widowed mother. This community will long miss and mourn him as one of its best citizens. Among the many tributes which came from men who were friends of Mr. Gaines and who sorrowed with his family in their bereavement the following extract from a letter from Congressman Dickinson, best portrays the man himself as he appeared to his friends. It says: He had so many friends and his strong qualities and high character made him more than worthy of their friendship and esteem. He was a high type of citizen, and loved right and justice and truth. He was generous and warm hearted and high minded. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. 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