John Sanford Rainwater

Two spouses which may have been married to John Sanford Rainwater:

1) Lucinda Shehan born 1821-?, and may have married him in 1841. She was burried in the Hall Cemetery unknow date of death.

2) Isabel Ellafare Taylor 1830-1913; She was born May 1830 in Kentucky and died August 16, 1913 at Union Town, Crawford County, Arkansas; she was buried in the Hall Cemetery at Natural Dam, Crawford County, Arkansas.

=====

John S. had older children by another wife whose name was Shahan.

Names were Mary E.who married (Mills) 1847;

Sarah Elizabeth (Riddle) 1851;

John Albert 1853;

Louisa U 1857.

Perry Rainwater was killed in the Civil War.

John Sanford was badly wounded by a bullet from a bushwhacker's gun during the Civil War. He was a strong Republican and did not participate in the rebellion in the South. He survived because of his faith in God and the diligent care given him by his second wife, Ella, who carried him..his trouble in a very faithful manner, nursing him back to health. After he was able to travel he was not injured again." (from a letter written by Mrs. Harris Rainwater on Feb. 7, 1961 speaking of the life of John Sanford Rainwater.

The Natural Dam Methodist Church was organized at the residence of John Rainwater about 1868 by Elisha Robinson, Caswell Mills, and David McCaslin and belonged to the Van Buren circuit. John Rainwater was the leader - they never had a building. But services have been held at various times since by Rev. Gilcoat, Conley, Manus, A. Hyde, O'Barr, Bryant, Hunt and others."

History of Crawford Co., AR " by Eula Hopkins and Wanda M. Gray, The Historical Preservation Association of Crawford Co., AR July 2001, p. 385

=====

The rainwater surname has an interesting history. Many American Rainwaters trace their origin to Robert Rainwater who likley came from England and lived as an indentured servant in Virginia by 1706.

His presumed son, John Rainwater, married Mary Fussell in Virginia or North Carolina around 1733.

This information came from AI

Loyd Luginbuel

Luginbuel Funeral Home

Prairie Grove, Arkansas