Thomas Powers McCain, Pope Co., AR Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Joyce McCain . ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Atkins Chronicle, Atkins, AR, January 23, 1931 Thomas Powers McCain, of near Gravel Hill, Pope County, Arkansas, was born in Weakley County, Tennessee on January 15, 1844, and departed this life at his home on January 12, 1931, about 12:30 a.m., after a two week illness, lacking only three days being 87 years old. He is survived by three sons, William J. McCain of Little Rock, Jack McCain of North Dover, and John E. McCain of Hilton, Okla.; and three daughters, Mrs. Frank (Donnie) Vaughan, Mrs. Jim (Pearl) Turner and Miss Vannie McCain, all of Dover. The three sons and three daughters were at his bed side when death came. "Uncle Tom" McCain, as he was know, came from Tennessee to Pope County, in 1867 and began teaching school. In 1870 he went to Mount Home academy and finished his education, returning to Pope County, where he resumed his profession as a teacher. He was also a mechanic and when not engaged in teaching did much carpenter work. About 1879 he quit teaching as a regular profession, but now and then yielded to the request of friends and taught a few terms, but gave most of his time to farming. He reared and educated his children while he was living on the fare where he died. In 1874 he was married to Miss Georgia Ann Jones, who lived but one year and died. In 1877, while teaching at Scottsville, he married Miss Nannie (Nancy) Aiken. She preceeded her husband in death about twelve years. Since here death, he and his unmarried daughter, Miss Vannie McCain, had been keeping house, his married daughter, Mrs Turner, and her husband, residing near thema and some of the time with them. He became a member of the Primitive Baptist Church about 1888. Soon thereafter he was ordained to preach and continued preaching until old age made him unable to preach. He was a Confederate soldier, enlisting in 1862 in Co. G, 52nd Tennessee. He came to Arkansas when we were suffering with what was know as reconstruction days, and he lined up with his Confederate comrades in arms and always took an active part in public matters, more especially in the educational interests, and fully did his part to bring us back to peace. He lived a great life, devoted to his family, his relatives and friends, passing through times that try men and prove them, living in peace and prosperity blessed a land that he had seen in ruins, his richest reward coming when he was well advanced in years when he became a minister of the Gospel and spent his last real service working the the Master's vineyard, seeing his children grow up, well-educated, prosperous and happy, while he waited patiently for the time when he should join comrades in arms as well as loved ones of his own household in that greater life in which he placed his hope of eternal salvation through the redeeming grace of God in the gift of His only Son. He was not afraid to die, and death came to him peacefully and quiet without a struggle. He slept, and sleeping breathed his last. He had kept the faith and had finished his course. He taught the children how to live and has also taught them how to died. It is a great honor to have such a father. May we all so live that when the end comes, we may have the hope he had, the faith he had, and die in peace with all mankind. Funeral services was held at the family home, conducted by Rev. F.M. Hudson, a neighbor and life-long friend. He first called upon J.T. Bullock, a cousin, who had lived in the home of the deceased, and after a short talk by him, Elder O'Neal, pastor of the Primitive Baptist Church at Atkins, delivered the funeral sermon, at the close of which Brother Hudson delivered a touching address. The songs were beautiful and well rendered by good singers. Burial was in the Hillis Cemetery. The large crowd that followed the body to his last resting place proved his wide circle of friends. [Tribute to Thomas Powers McCain written the day after he died by Judge J.T. Bullock. Published in the Atkins Chronicle, January 23, 1931] ------------------------------------------------------------------------