John H. Gaines, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, September 15, 1828. The third son of Mortimer D. Gaines, was about seven years old when his father moved west, from Virginia, and settled in Saline county. Most of his education was obtained in this county. His first teacher was David Howard, and the school house, near the present Russell farm, six miles from Arrow Rock, was a log cabin, the interstices in the wall daubed with mud, and the benches composed of split logs with legs put in them – similar to all the school houses of the county at that day. To reach this, John had to walk three miles across the prairie. Science may not have been so advanced in these old school houses as it is in the more imposing ones of the present day, but there was more religion, and somehow their teaching resulted in better men. Mr. Gaines lived with his father, off and on until 1868. About 1855 a quarter section of land, 160 acres, was entered for him by his father, and a hedge planted around it, to which 260 acres was afterward added. In 1862 he went to Canada, and remained there a year, spending some time at Niagara, and in Illinois. In 1863 he returned home, and went with his brother, Dr. Gaines, to Colorado, where he remained until February, 1864, returning to Nebraska City, where he spent some months. In the spring of 1864 he came back to his father’s farm and remained there until 1872, farming with his brother William. In 1872 he moved to his own farm, which he has improved finely, having 420 acres, all under fence, and fenced off into 40 acre fields.
