New-York tribune., 1909-12-16
OBITUARY
John Raines, the Republican
Leader of State Senate.

speech and his political methods he typthed
the lion When he arose I'm his seat in
the rear row of the Senate Chamber the
member from the It'd District displayed a
TAI. powerful body. which, while he was
taking. swayed restlessly to and fro. His
long. sinewy arm. when not extended tow
ard the head Of the presiding officer. shook
In ferocious gestures at his opponent In
denate- The eyes We're a cold blue deep set.
keen. with a fieroeness which many a new
member did not dare 20 face and for the
most or The time were fixed steadfastly
on the man with the gavel His long hair
al the beginning OF a session was brushed
uD IN wave over his left eye. but IN
the heat of debate the gray locks shook
like name. The long tawny mustache
sun furthef heightened the feline type OF
features When thoroughly aroused his
voice deepened into a roar
About the corridors Senator Raines wore
great black felt hat. which he pulled
low over his eyebrows. his strides were
long. and many a laugh was caused by
some short legged oficeseeker running a
lew steps behind the Canandaigua Sena-
tor, IN vain attempt TO catch up with
hirn- Ten 10 one the big man knew who
was behind him, and was simply plaguing
the little fellow. Then he would swing
about so abruptly that the constituent
could hardly gather his wits.
SON OF METHODIST MINISTER.
Three generations had visibly wrought
their influence on the Senator. His Eng
lish grandfather. John Raines. was a farm
er of Canandaigua. and the mark OF the
pioughman had left its impress in the big
bones AMI somewhat numbering gait of the
grandson John Rafnes. his father was a
Methodlst minister, and the son often said
IN half joking way. IF I didn't inherit
anything else from my father, l got my
Clothes from him." The slouch hat repre-
sented the third generation. for the third
John Raines was a soldier in the Civil
War He was born in Isa0 in Gorham
street, Canandaigua. in the house where he
lived most OF his life. His father had a
large family, OF whom the Senator was the
oldest. Then came Thomas Raines. a
Rochester lawyer, who was State Treasurer
from 1872 TO 1915. One son died in infancy.
Then there was the late George Raines
Democratic State Senator I'm IS7s and 1873
and a well known criminal lawyer OF
Rocheste-- William Raines. another law
yer. was the fifth son. and Eugene Raines,
tae sixth, died when a young man. Poll
tfs divided the family George and
Tsomas were elected TO Office as Democrats
The only sister. Mary Raines. was mar
ried TO ex-Judge George F. YeCman, who
died several years ago.
John Raines was educated in the public
schools OF Canandaigua. Early in life ne
chose the law for a profession. and al
twenty-One had been graduated from the
Albany Law School That was In 1851 and
before he had made any real start at the
practice Of law the war broke out and
young RaFiles contracted the fever. He en-
listed in the S5th New York Cavalry. a
regiment raised in the eastern part OF On
tariO County, with headquarters at Geneva
For two years he served as captain OF his
company. He was in the peninsular cam
paign Of the Army OF the Potomac under
Mcclellan. and in North Carolina under
Foster. Then he came home on sick leave
and never went back. Instead he moved
over 60 the neighboring city OF Geneva and
began legal practice. He stayed there only
four years. however. In 1867 he moved back
home and added the insurance business to
the law. He never left Canandaigua again
except during his residence as a legislator
al the state or national capital. In the
midst OF his career as a soldier in the field
in ls62 he had married Miss Kate A
Wheeler. OF Geneva.
IN CONGRESS FOR FOUR YEARS.
he began 10 make himself felt in the COM
n.unity. He served as captain of the 18th
Separate Company OF the National Guard.
Canandaigua organization. For seven
teen years he was president Of the Board
Of Education He began his Legislative
career in 1881. when he went 10 the As
sembly for two terms They sent him again
in 1855 Then he went 10 the Senate. and
stayed till 1888 when ne was elected TO
Congress for four years In 1885 he re-
turned 10 the state Senate, 10 stay TIL his
death. Some Of the most important cor
pOratiOn bills were introduced by senator
Raines. though In later years he turned
such work over 10 other Senators in his
confidence. one OF the last important
pieces Of legislation introduced by him was
the Pennsylvania Connecting Railroad
measure. He held out for cheap gas ia
this city. however. and for the bills drawn
by Governor Hughes as counsel for the
insurance investigating committee, though
he opposed the Governor in the Kelsey af-
fair and the fight for direct primaries. His
most conspicuous legislative work was as
author Of the election law OF New York
State and Of the famous liquor tax law
known as the "Raines law" passed in 1886.
In matters OF legislation Senator Raines
was a student. In the committee room his
fund OF common sense was highly valued.
He was a hard worker AS a leader he was
not incOnsiderate He was almost univer-
sally popular in his home town. The Sen
ator was the embodiment OF the old
fashioned partisan spirit. Absolute party
loyalty and obedience to organization were
with him an ideal he held 10 the last
Nevertheless ne had been accused OF
treaeherous deals with Democratic leaders
The Senator however always insisted that
be merely had certain understandings 20
prevent opposition OF useful measures
Mr.. Raines was a widOWer for many
years His son John conducts his insur-
ance business There is. by the way, a
grandson John. the fifth John Raines OF the
line. daughter Edith, married DR.. w E.
Sylvester. Of this city. Another daughter.
Grace. is the wife Of Henry Welch. OF
Canandaigua. and a third daughter. Kate.
is the wife Of J. II. Kessler. OF Philadel-
phia He leaves another son. Charles T.
Raines.