McMains - Robert
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW Bowen, 1913
(Indianapolis:
AW Bowen, 1913) p 670
By a life consistent in motive and action, and because of his
many commendable personal qualities, Robert McMains, who is
successfully engaged in the monument business in Crawfordsville,
has earned the sincere regard of all who know him. He came from
an ancestry that distinguished itself in pioneer times, having
had in them that Anglo-Saxon unrest that drives the race ever
westward on its great adventure, globe girdlers and zone
conquerors. His progenitors were courageous, large muscled, a
stolid sort of people, in whom acute imagination was coupled with
immense initiative, and who possessed, withal, loyalty and
affection as sturdy as their own strength. When the state of Ky.
was covered with almost an interminable foresty of primeval
hardwoods, filled with wild animals, and through which wound only
Indian trails, the McMains came W. and began carving homes from
the farstretching woods in the "dark and bloody ground country,"
and there helped build schools and churches, and assisted in the
general introduction of the customs of civilization in the
wilderness, giving vent to that in their blood to push on to the
edge of things. And, later, they came to Parke Co, Indiana still
as pioneers, and carried forward the same line of private and
public work. They were genuine pioneers, willing to take the
hardships that they might acquire the soil and the home that was
sure to rise. So, having behind him such progenitors, it is no
wonder that the subject of this sketch has succeeded in his life
work. Mr. McMains was b. in Parke Co, Indiana on Aug. 22, 1851.
He is the son of Robert and Mary (Groves) McMains, both natives
of Ky, but when he was 16 the father came to Parke Co, in and
here spent the rest of his life, beginning as a new comer in an
undeveloped country always does, by clearing the land and
developing a farm by degrees until he had a good home. He spent a
great many years in that County, successfully engaged in general
farming and stock raising. He moved to Ill after the Civil War,
but after remaining in that state 3 years, he came to Waveland,
Montgomery Co In where he spent the rest of his life, dying in
1879. 13 children were b. to Robert McMains, Sr. 8 of whom are
still living, namely: Philip, lives in Rossville, Ill; Anderson,
a Civil War vet. lives in Crawfordsville; Robert, of this review;
Nancy, marr. William Kelso and they live retired in Waveland;
Miranda, marr. HC Ellis, who d. at Rossville, Ill; where he
maintained his home; Elmira, who lives at Okmulgee, Ok, married John Petty, now deceased; Eveline, married H.A. Pratt and they live
in Waveland; Mary Ellen, married James Alfrey, and they live in
Crawfordsville. Robert McMains, Sr. was a member of the Christian
Church. Politically, he was a Republican, and for a number of
years was a justice of the peace. He took an interest in public
affairs and was highly esteemed whetever he lived. Robert
McMains, of this review, rec'd his educ. in the schools of
Rossville, Ill; however, his early schooling wa sinterrupted by
health and he was compelled to give up his studies. But this
deficiency has been more than accounted for in later life by
actual contact with the business world and by wide home reading.
Mr. Mc M engaged in general farming until he was 40 then turned
his attention to the monument business, in which he has since
been engaged with ever increasing success, until today his trade
in this line extends over a wide territory, and he is one of the
best known men in his line in Western Indiana. He first began in
this business in Waveland, Indiana, remaining there 8 years, then
in 1893, he came to Crawfordsville, where he has since maintained
his place of business, being well equipped in every respect for
giving prompt and high grade service, and he understands
thoroughly every phase of his vocation. He recently bought out
Miller Brothers, at 117 W. Market St, and he removed there in the
Spring of 1913. Mr. McMains was marr. to Margaret Catherine Odell
in 1893. Her people were of Sullivan Co, Ind. The union of the
subject and wife has been without issue, but are raising an
adopted child, Ellen. Mr. McMains devotes all his time and
attention to the monument business. Politically, he is
progressive. he holds membership with the Christian Church and
fraternally is a member of the Owls.
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Source: Waveland Independent newspaper, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana, Aug 13, 1926
Robert McMains died on Friday at 11:30 o'clock in Mt. Olive,
Ill of double neuritis. The body was brought to the home of Mrs.
Jennie Hanna on Sun. Fun. serv. were held at the Christian Church
on Monday afternoon with Rev. FE Graves in charge. The following
obit. was read: Robert McMains, son of Robert and Mary McMains
was b. Aug 22, 1851 on a farm near Waveland and died at his home
in Mt. Olive, Ill Fri. Aug 6, 1926 at the age of 74 years, 11
months and 15 days. He was marr. Sept 3, 1893 to Kate Odell at
Charleston Ill. The deceased, who was the last of a family of 13
children is survived by the widow, one adopted daughter, Mrs.
Helen Sandahl of Beneld, ill, a number of nieces and nephews and
a host of friends who will miss his friendly smile and words of
cheer. Mr. McMains united with the Christian Church at this place
in his boyhood days and throughout his long life never forgot the
vow he made to his Savior. His entire life with the exception of
5 years was spent in Montgomery Co. and that life was an open
book to all who knew him. Those present from a distance were:
Harry McMains of Lebanon, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Lewis, Mrs.
Goben and Mrs. Robert Kelso of Crawfordsville; Mrs. Ida Cowan of
Hoopston, Ill; and Mrs. Mary Rambo and sons of Morton.