My Genealogy Hound

R. M. Spain enjoys extensive acquaintance as one of the oldest settlers of the county. He is also a farmer of Wynne Township. A native of Virginia he is the son of N. G. and Martha (Hall) Spain, originally from Virginia and South Carolina, respectively, the former of whom, in 1840, moved to Maury County, Tenn., where he engaged in farming, and where his wife died in 1847. After that event Mr. Spain married Mrs. L. D. Benderman (nee Matthews). By his first marriage he was the father of eight children, two of whom are living: Addison H. and R. M. By his second union there were three daughters: Lenora (wife of John Thomas), Samuella and Lieusha (twins, the latter the wife of Thomas English). R. M. Spain was born in 1834, and was reared to agricultural pursuits in Maury County, Tenn., from the ages of eighteen to twenty-three being employed as a farm laborer. In 1856 he was married to Miss Margaret E. Benderman, and for two years after lived with his father-in-law. He then rented for a short time, and in 1859 came to this county, buying his present farm, consisting of 297 acres, to which he has added some eighty-six acres, and has now 125 acres under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Spain are the parents of ten children, four of whom survive: Emina E. (wife of J. W. Moore), Ozni, Lenora E. and John A. In 1862 Mr. Spain joined the Confederate army in McNeil’s regiment and served until July 4, 1863, when he was wounded at the battle of Helena, and was taken prisoner, being removed to the Memphis hospital, where he was kept until October of that year; then he was confined at Alton, Ill., and in August, 1864, he was removed to Camp Douglas, from which he was paroled in 1865. When he returned home his family were in much better circumstances than he expected to find them. His negroes were still on the farm, and had it in good order and crops growing. In 1874 Mr. Spain was elected assessor, acceptably discharging the duties of that position for two years. Mrs. Spain is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the A. F. & A. M., and is a public-spirited and enterprising man, enjoying the respect of all who know him.