KENTUCKY: A HISTORY OF THE STATE, by Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 6th ed.
BRECKINRIDGE COUNTY. DESCRIPTIVE AND PERSONAL. 1058
WILLIAM H. CAIN, a prominent farmer of this county, was born in Bedford
County, Va., May 2, 1822, and is a son of Thomas B. and Oney (Meador)
CAIN, natives of Virgin-ia. The former was a soldier in the war of
1812, and after the war was over returned to his native State, where he
lived until 1838, when be came to Kentucky. He settled in Breckinridge
County, on the road leading from Hardinsburg to Big Spring, about five
miles west of the latter village. He married Oney Meador, a daughter of
Benjamin Meador, a Virginian, and a soldier of the Revolutionary war; he
was a farmer, and died in Virginia, at a good old age. The union of
Thomas B. CAIN and Oney Meador resulted in the birth of nine children,
viz. Mary A. B. (Mrs. Orendorff), Thomas B. (deceased), William H.
(subject), James (deceased), Giles (living in Texas), Empey (de-ceased),
Frances (Mrs. Gano, deceased), Nar-cissa V. (Mrs. Cozine), Letitia L.
(Mrs. McAllister). His wife died May 25, 1837, and some years afterward
he married Jemima Dowell, by whom he had four children: John, Lucy,
Laurel P. and Sue Thomas. Mr. CAIN died May 20, 1840. William H. CAIN,
the subject of this sketch, was sixteen years old when his father
removed to Ken-tucky. He remained at home until his twen-tieth year. His
education was of the pioneer type, and received in the log-cabin
school-house, which he attended at intervals during the winter months in
Virginia, and also after the family removed to Kentucky. This he has
supplemented by extensive reading, and is well informed upon all
questions of poli-tics, religion and current topics. He com-menced
business for himself as a farmer when twenty-one, and purchased a part
of his present farm, upon which he has ever since lived. It is situated
in the environs of Bewleyville Village, and comprises 260 acres of
choice land, well improved and in a fine state of cultivation. In 1863
he engaged in mercantile business at Bewleyville, which he continued for
two years. Since that time he has given his exclusive attention to his
farm. He was married, September 21, 1843, to Mary Hardaway, a daughter
of William and Har-riet B. (Stith) Hardaway of this county. Three
children were born to this union: William H., Jr., Bevie (deceased), and
Mary W. (Mrs. Moore, deceased). Mrs. CAIN died October 29, 1850, and
March 11, 1852, he married Catherine Hardaway, a sister of his former
wife. This union resulted in the birth of the following children: Rhoda
(wife of Dr. J. W. Walker), Harriet (wife of Will-iam Keath),Fannie L.,
Minnie W. (deceased), Rufus L., Herbert and Philip. Mrs. CAIN died
January 11, 1885. Mr. CAIN was originally a Whig, but since the
dissolution of that party he has adopted the Democratic faith, and in
all general elections votes with that party. He is a zealous and
consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, to which he
has belonged for many years. Kind, henevolent, charitable--these are
the main constituents that render him an upright citizen, and an
exemplary and sincere Christian. He is an ardent temperance man, and an
earnest advocate of Prohibition.