H.D. Rains, a member of the City Council of Sault de Ste. Marie from the Fourth ward, and assistant superintendent of the Government locks, is a Canadian by birth and early training, but an active, patriotic citizen of the U.S. by naturalization and inclination.

He was born in Canada on the 5th of May, 1847, and is a son of Jamor W.K. Rains, an officer in the British army. For a number of years he was in the Canadian army, doing service for the queen. His college training led him into the army, and 62 years ago he crossed to the Dominion of Canada from his native land spent the remainder of his life within Canadian borders. During the later years of his life he turned his attention to civil pursuits, farming and trading. He married Frances Doubleday and of their 12 children the following are still living; Mrs. A.F.Hursley, Tudor and R.R., all of whom are living in Sault de Ste. Marie; and O.R., ALice, Constance, Arthur, Linda nd W.W., who are living in St. Joe Island, Canada, 50 miles from Sault Ste. Marie.

In 1874 H.D. Rains went on a tour of adventure and prospecting into the Northwest and spent 18 months in that region, but found no location which he greatly liked. He then returned to his old home in St.Joe Island, where he embarked in merchandising, andin that undertaking met with a fair degre of success; but with the hope of more rapidly acquiring a competency he determined to come to Sault de St. Marie. Accordingly, in 1882, he became identified with this city and its interests, andhas since ben one of its valued citizens. Here he embarked in the real-estate business, and as about that time property in this locality began to rapidly rise in value, he made judicious investments, which yielded to him a handsome return, and he is in consequence the possessor of a handsome competence. He is the joint owner in the Midway, an apartment block and a valuable property.

Mr. Rains is a leading and influential citizen who gives his hearty support and lends his co-operation to any enterprise that is calculated to prove of benefit to the general community. For six years he has served as a member of the City Council from the Fourth ward, and does all in his power to promote public improvements, secure pavement, water mains, sewers and other improvements. He was appointed ot his present position as assistant superintendent of the Government locks by Supertendent McKenzie in 1893.

The lady who bore the name of Mrs. Rains was in her maidenhood Elizabeth Greenough, a daughter of Captain Wm. Greenough. She was in Michigan and their marriage was celebrated in Canada. She died in Sault de Ste. Marie in 1893, leaving five children - Constance, Jessie, Myra, Ralph and Blanche.

Memorial Record of the Northern Peninsula of Michigan 1895

Copyright © Christine Walters All Rights Reserved

Northern Peninsula of Michigan 1895