BIOGRAPHY: Joseph RAINEY, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by David Monahan. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 450-1 ____________________________________________________________ Joseph RAINEY JOSEPH RAINEY, general merchant, undertaker and lumber-dealer of Lilly, this county, is a son of John and Margaret (Noel) Rainey, and was born near Ebensburg, this county, October 14, 1837. His paternal grandfather, James Rainey, was a gunsmith and wheelwright, and followed these mechanical pursuits all his life. He died in 1854. Nicholas Noel, maternal grandfather, was a pioneer settler of this county, locating near Loretto in Father Gallitzin's time. John Rainey, father, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and when a young man located on a farm near Ebensburg. He resided there until 1847, and in the latter year removed to Hemlock, now known as Lilly, where he died in 1870. In political faith he was a staunch democrat, and in religious belief was a devout member of the Roman Catholic church. His marriage with Margaret Noel, the mother of our subject, who died in 1844, resulted in the birth of nine children, four of whom are now living. Joseph Rainey was reared on the farm, and in childhood attended the common schools of his district, where he received his elementary education. But being thrown upon his own resources at an early age he resolved to secure a better education, and later in life earned and saved sufficient money to pay for a business course. When but a boy he began to work on the old State canal between Pittsburg and Columbia, where he was employed for two years; after that he was engaged in various pursuits until June, 1864, at which date he enlisted in the Civil War in company A, Fifty-fifth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, and served to the close of that memorable conflict. On leaving the army he located in Altoona, where for two years he was employed as a carpenter. He then bought a farm near Lilly, where for eighteen years he engaged in agriculture, at the same time following the carpenter trade to some extent. About 1888 he left the farm and purchased a tract of land in Lilly, on which he built a sawmill and store, and has since been engaged in the successful management of the two enterprises. He conducts a general store, carrying a well-selected stock of general merchandize. In connection with the latter business he is also an undertaker and funeral director. Mr. Rainey has been successful in his various business enterprises, and his success is largely due to his own efforts. Beginning life on his own account when but a boy, he has worked his way steadily to the front, and now ranks as one of the practical and substantial business men of Lilly. For a number of years he supported the principles of the Democratic party, but becoming dissatisfied with the principles of that party and believing the principles of the Republican party were better calculated to promote the interests of the country, he joined the ranks of the latter party, and is now a staunch supporter of the party of Lincoln, Grant and McKinley. He has been a school director, tax collector and assessor, and during Governor Pattison's last term was notary public; in fact, has held nearly all the township offices at various times. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and gives that organization his hearty support. In 1866 he married Mary J., a daughter of Jno. Brown, who was killed in the battle of Gettysburg in the late Civil War. To their union the following children have been born: Annie, John, George, Alice, Harry, deceased; James, Viny, Mary and Robert. His sons are all associated with Mr. Rainey in business.