The Rainwater Collection of Genealogy Resources

Why The Rainwater Collection?

The purpose of The Rainwater Collection is to assist serious genealogical researchers in their research by providing an archive of well-documented, accurate and uninterpreted data related to the Rainwater family in America. It is the product of thousands of hours of work on the part of Susan and Steve Rainwater, and our many contributors. Avail yourself freely of all of the resources of the collection, but please email only if you have something to add or correct.

The site has recently undergone major maintenance as part of the move to a new domain. You may encounter minor glitches that are still being worked out.

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The Rainwater Collection is now at its new permanent home, therainwatercollection.com.

The Annual Rainwater Reunion is scheduled for August 15th at noon. The location is Pulaski Park, Shelter #1, Highway 80, Nancy, Kentucky. For directions, call the park office at 606-636-6450. Area Map

This year’s theme is "celebrating freedom" – please wear red, white and blue. Participants bring vats of home-cooked sides and desserts, Southern-style, and buckets of fried chicken are supplied.

Official Records

US Census Complete 1784-1840 census Complete 1850 Census Complete 1860 Census Complete 1870 Census Complete 1880 Census Complete 1890 Census Complete 1900 Census Complete 1910 Census Complete 1920 Census Incomplete 1930 Census updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:13:19 CDT	Death Indexes updated Friday, 05-Jun-2009 10:49:41 CDT Alabama, 1908-1959 Arkansas, 1914-1948 California, 1905-1997 Florida, 1917-1979 Georgia, 1919-1998 Idaho, 1911-1932 Illinois, 1916-1950 Indiana, 1921-1977 Kentucky, 1911-2000 Pulaski Co., KY, 1852-1859 Louisiana, 1900-1944 Calcasieu Parish, 1997-2002	Death Indexes, continued Michigan, 1971-1996 Mississippi, 1912-1925 Missouri, 1910-1855 New Orleans Daily Picayune Obituary Daily Times Ohio, 1913-1937 and 1958-1998 Oregon, 1903-1960 South Carolina, 1915-1934 Spartanburg Herald and Herald Journal Tennessee, 1914-1925 Texas, 1903-1998 Washington, 1907-1939
Marriages updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:21:36 CDT England Alabama Arkansas Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Mississippi Missouri Nevada New Mexico New York North Carolina Oklahoma & Indian Territory Oregon South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Divorce and Separation	Cemeteries & Tombstones updated Tuesday, 30-Jun-2009 22:00:20 CDT Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Michigan Mississippi Missouri Montana New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia Washington Overseas Virtual Tombstone Tours	Birth Records updated Wednesday, 10-Jun-2009 22:06:48 CDT California, 1905-1945 Butler Co., KY, 1852-1859 Lincoln Co., KY, 1852-1859 Pulaski Co., KY, 1852-1859 Russell Co., KY, 1878 Missouri Mississippi Kentucky, 1911-1940, by child Kentucky, 1911-1940, by mother's maiden name Texas, 1903-1943, by child Texas, 1903-1943, by mother's maiden name Land Records Search the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records online database Requires Internet Explorer Military Records Rainwaters in War, from the Revolution to present day, updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:21:39 CDT Rainwaters in the Civil War, 1861 - 1865, updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:23:40 CDT
Social Security Death Index, Jan 1937 through Dec 2007 updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:22:06 CDT
Alabama Arizona Arkansas Colorado California Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas	Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina	Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Texas Utah Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Railroad Retirement

Rainwaters on the Web

Genealogical pages
Contributors to The Rainwater Collection
Other Rainwater researchers

Photo Gallery

A gallery of over 70 Rainwater photos and associated biographies

Contributions to the gallery are always welcome.

The Rainwater Researcher Family Newsletter, 1994-1998

The Rainwater Researcher, a printed newsletter, edited by Robert O. Albert, Jr., lasted four years and helped create a cohesive research community. It was the forerunner of and insiration for this website. While some of the information contained in the newsletter is questionable, most is of good quality and there are many fascinating family stories worth preserving. Non-genealogical filler material, such as poems, cartoons, etc. have been dropped for file size considerations.

Requires Acrobat 7.0 or later

Wills & Probate

The will of Thomas Fussell, 1735, Bertie Co., NC
The will of Rev. James Hembree, 1849, Anderson District, SC
The will of Aaron Rainwater, 1849, Logan Co., KY
The will of Alexander Martin Rainwater, 1820-1890, Bedford Co., OR
Application for letters of administation for the estate of Annie J. Rainwater, 1909, Richmond Co., NC
The will of James Rainwater, 1862, Pulaski Co., KY
The will of James Rainwater the Preacher, 1865, Campbell Co., GA
The probate file of Job Rainwater, ca 1784-1863, Milton Co., GA
The will of John Rainwater, 1777, Surry Co., NC
The will of John Rainwater, 1832, Spartanburg District, SC
The will of John Wesley Rainwater, 1888, Bedford Co., TN
The probate records of Joseph Rainwater, (1824-1873), Wood Co., TX
The will of Josiah Rainwater, 1934, Wilbarger Co., TX
The guardianship of the minor children of Louisa Moore Rainwater, 1876, Hamilton Co., TX
The will of Miles Rainwater, 1884, Pulaski Co., KY
The estate administration of Robert Rainwater, 1825, Stewart Co., TN
The estate adminstration of Sam Rainwater, 1889, Waller Co., TX
Estate Sale of Solomon Rainwater, Sr., ca 1765-1814, Pendleton District, SC
The guardianship of the minor children of Wesley H. Rainwater, 5 May 1865 & 10 Apr 1867, Pulaski Co., AR
The will of William Rainwater, 1825, Pulaski Co., KY
The will of William Jasper Rainwater, 1887, Waller Co., TX

War of 1812 Pension papers

Letter from The National Archives describing service in War of 1812 of James and Joshua Rainwater, 1934
War of 1812 widow's pension application of Martha Adams Rainwater, 1850, Georgia

Bibles & Family Records

Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:13:20 CDT

Excerpts from Union Civil War pension applications

Abraham B. Rainwater, 1915, Arkansas
Abraham Butler Rainwater, 1898, Missouri
Cornelia E. Rainwater, widow of Miles, 1914, Kentucky
Elizabeth Jane Rainwater, widow of Josiah, 1934, Kentucky
Jacob A. Rainwater, 1904, Illinois

Josiah W. Rainwater, 1880, Kentucky
Josiah W. Rainwater, 1889, Kentucky
Miles Rainwater, 1898, Kentucky
Miles Rainwater, 1912, Kentucky
Paschal P. Rainwater, 1918, Washington

Excerpts from Confederate Civil War pension applications

Allen Rainwater, 1899, Alabama
Amanda Adeline Rainwater, widow of Benjamin F., 1917, Arkansas
Annie Hightower Rainwater, widow of James H., 1919, Georgia
Annie Jane Rainwater, widow of James, 1907, North Carolina
Arilda Jane Rainwater, widow of Reason, 1927, Arkansas
Bargilla G. Rainwater, widow of John, 1900, Texas
Bargilla G. Rainwater, widow of John, 1919, Mortuary Warrant, Texas
Berry Moore Rainwater, 1899, Texas
Berry Moore Rainwater, 1919, Mortuary Warrant, Texas
Caroline Rainwater, widow of William T., 1910, South Carolina
Cicero Rainwater, 1895, Georgia
Crosby D. Rainwater, 1906, Georgia
E. A. Rainwater, widow of John W., 1892, Arkansas
Elizabeth Rainwater, widow of Allen, 1899, Alabama
Francis Marion Rainwater, 1915, Arkansas
George M. Rainwater, 1915, North Carolina
George Wilburn Rainwater, 1915, Oklahoma
Henrietta Susan Rainwater, widow of Cicero, 1907, Georgia
James H. Rainwater, 1901, Georgia
Jeanette Rainwater, widow of William A., 1931, Mississippi
John Daniel Rainwater, 1911, Alabama
Lemuel F. Rainwater, 1924, Georgia
M. J. (Sabra Amanda Jane) Rainwater, widow of Miles, 1903, Georgia
Maggie L. Rainwater, widow of William P., 1932, Arkansas
Margaret Rainwater, widow of James A., 1927, Mississippi
Mariah Rainwater, widow of Elisha W., 1901, Georgia
Mary Rainwater, widow of John D., 1926, Alabama
Mary Eliza Rainwater, widow of William L., 1932, Arkansas

Mary F. Rainwater, widow of Virgil Cicero, 1913, Georgia
Mary Jane Rainwater, widow of Silas M., 1902, Alabama
Miles Rainwater, 1898, Georgia
Nancy Rainwater, widow of Francis M., 1922, Arkansas
Nautilla E. Rainwater, widow of Jacob A., 1905, Illinois
Rebecca Rainwater, widow of John Daniel, 1920, Alabama
Rebecca Rainwater, widow of John Daniel, 1927, Alabama
Riley G. Rainwater, 1916, Arkansas
Sarah Rainwater, widow of Miles, 1916, Alabama
Sarah Rainwater, widow of Miles, 1926, Alabama
Sarah F. Rainwater, widow of Crosby D., 1907, Georgia
Sarah A. Rainwater, widow of William Joseph, 1893, Georgia
Sarah A. Rainwaters, widow of Umphrey, 1900, Georgia
Sarah R. Rainwater, widow of William M., 1901, Arkansas
Sarah R. Rainwater, widow of William M., Death Benefit, 1910, Arkansas
Silas M. Rainwater, 1899, Alabama
Thomas E. Rainwater, 1901, Arkansas
Umphrey P. Rainwaters, 1892, Georgia
William Andrew Rainwater, 1930, Mississippi
William B. Rainwater, 1909, Georgia
William L. Rainwater, 1918, Arkansas
William T. Rainwater, 1908, South Carolina

Excerpts from applications made to the Southern Claims Commission
James Rainwater, 1873, Missouri
John A. Rainwater, 1872, Arkansas

Autobiographical and Biographical Documents

Civil War Reminiscences of Sarah Fowler Rainwater, wife of Charles Cicero Rainwater
The Rainwater Family by Mrs. Charles Cicero Rainwater (Sarah Fowler Rainwater), The Missourian newspaper, 16 July 1932, 217 KB. PDF
Recollections of Mary Catherine Rainwater Pettijohn, from The Gallery
Pioneer Recalls Trip Across Oklahoma Without Firearms, recollections of Martin Van Buren Rainwater, Fort Worth Star Telegram, 27 Sept 1935
Panama Duty Career Highlight, recollections of Roscoe Rainwater, Vernon Daily Record, Jan 1963
History of Catherine McCall and James Rainwater, by a granddaughter of Eli Rainwater, believed to be Nellie Rainwater Mills, daughter of Dr. Bradley Rainwater, 2MB, PDF
Lemuel Flewellyn Rainwater, 1848-1933, Mississippi, Profile
The Rainwater Research of Oscar S. Brooks, June 2009, 2 MB, PDF

Obituaries

Updated Thursday, 11-Jun-2009 20:06:24 CDT

Aaron J. Rainwater, 1847-1892, Texas
Ada Cooper Rainwater, 1889-1968, Kentucky
Adora Haynes Rainwater, 1870-1962, Texas
Alice May Weedon Rainwater, 1870-1936, Washington
Ann Rainwater Wright, 1825-1899, Arkansas
Annie Heads Rainwater, 1912-1992, Texas
Aubrey L. Rainwater, 1910-1957, Texas
Charles Cicero Rainwater, 1838-1902, Missouri
Charlie Franklin Rainwater, 1866-1952, Texas
Clinton D. Rainwater, 1875-1923, Arkansas
Cloda Rainwater, 1889-1973, Texas
Daughters of Mr. & Mrs. Ira Rainwater, 1937, Texas
David T. Rainwater, 1845-1913, Texas
David T. Rainwater, 1845-1913, Texas
Edward Harriman Rainwater, 1909-1972, Texas
Edward R. Rainwater, d. 1849, Arkansas
Elijah Douglas Rainwater, 1853-1930, Texas
Elinor Moore Rainwater, 1890-1986, Texas
Elizabeth Henry Rainwater, 1812-1855, Georgia
Elmer Lawrence Rainwater, 1907-1997, Arkansas
George Milton Rainwater, ca 1837-1886, Texas
Henry H. Rainwater, 1914-1988, Texas
Jacob S. Rainwater, 1836-1906, Washington
James Rainwater, 1813-1894, Washington
James Rainwater, Jr., d. 1904, Missouri
James H. Rainwater, 1849-1890, Arkansas

James Wood Rainwater, 1866-1930, Arkansas
Jesse Mercer Rainwater, 1880-1946, Alabama
John Kifer Rainwater, 1834-1920, Washington
Josiah W. Rainwater, 1843-1934, Texas
Leah Rainwater Forch, 1903-1985, Washington
Mary Elizabeth Rainwater Dorr, 1866-1889, Washington
Mary E. Sparks Rainwater, 1829-1889, Washingon
Miriam Josephine Rainwater, 1889-1984, Texas
Nellie Pintler Rainwater, 1865-1938, Washington
Paul Edward Rainwater Sr., 1885-1945, Texas
Presley Rainwater, ca 1866-1946, Washington
Roscoe Rainwater, 1883-1972, Texas
Simon Rainwater, d. 1908, South Carolina
Terrell Rainwater, 1846-1913, Texas
Walter Odell Rainwater, 1900-1954, Texas
William Cody Rainwater, 1902-1972, Texas
William Foster Rainwater, 1883-1938, Louisiana
William Franklin Rainwater, 1886-1973, Tennessee

Leah Rainwater Forch, 1903-1985, Washington
Agnes Rainwater Stone, 1896-1980, Washington
Mary Elizabeth Rainwater Webb, 1849-1929, Texas
Susan Rainwater White, 1856-1947, Washington
Scans of old obituaries, untranscribed
Contemporary obituaries in PDF or PNG format, updated Thursday, 11-Jun-2009 20:06:24 CDT

Stormclouds

Myths, Mysteries & Mistakes in Rainwater research, updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:21:41 CDT

Evidence for Early Rainwaters Prior to 1800 updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:21:10 CDT

The origins of the Rainwater name, updated Friday, 12-Jun-2009 17:05:07 CDT

The children of the first James Rainwater, ca 1835-post 1804, Surry Co., NC, updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:21:32 CDT

Evidence for Native American Rainwaters updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:21:45 CDT

Allied Families

Other wills related to individuals in our database
updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:13:20 CDT
The Will of Blatchley Caughron, ca 1823- 1873, Pulaski Co., KY
The Will of Banner Compton, ca 1781- 1818, Adair Co., KY
The Will of Micajah Compton, ca 1798- 1853, Pulaski Co., KY
The Will of Levi Cooper, 1792-1858, Pulaski Co., KY
The Will of John J. Cooper, ca 1828-1907, Pulaski Co., KY
The Will of Balzer Darter (Tarter), died post 1800, Wythe Co., VA
The Estate Settlement of Josiah W. Duck, Jr., ca 1801-1855, Pulaski Co., KY
The Will of Job Felton, July 1812, Oglethorpe Co., Georgia
Report of the Commissioners of the Estate of Edward Kellum 1787-1864, McLennan Co., TX
The Will of William McElhiney, died ca 1801, Grainger Co., TN
The Will of Jacob Tarter, ca 1795-1874, Russell Co., KY
The Estate Settlements of John Tarter, Sr., ca 1760-1849, Pulaski Co., KY
The Will of David Trimble, died ca 1798, Bourbon Co., KY
The Will of John Milton Weddle, Sr., ca 1776-1842, Pulaski Co., KY
The Will of Solomon Weddle, 1822-1890, Pulaski Co., KY
The Will of John Milton Weddle, Jr., 1807-1891, Pulaski Co., KY

Virtual tombstone tours of non-Rainwater cemeteries, updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:13:19 CDT

The Pulaski County Diaspora: The Scattering of Rainwaters and Allied Families, 1850-1900, updated Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009 13:21:09 CDT

Source Materials

Source and Reference Index, updated Tuesday, 30-Jun-2009 22:00:26 CDT