Madison County, TNGenWeb

Source: Moore, John T, and Austin P. Foster. Tennessee, the Volunteer State, 1769-1923. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co, 1923.

A representative member of the medical profession in Madison county is Dr. James Tidwell Raines, who has practiced in Malesus for thirty-eight years. He was born in Crockett county, on the 2d of September, 1849, a son of William Henderson and Elizabeth Jane (Tidwell) Raines. The father died in 1889 and the mother in 1895. The paternal grandparents located in Nashville about 1815. In 1818 the grandfather joined the United States navy and was lost at sea.

The public schools of his native county afforded James Tidwell Raines his early education and subsequently he enrolled in the medical department of the University of Tennessee at Nashville, where he was graduated in 1874, with the M. D. degree. He immediately located in Henderson county and opened offices for the practice of his chosen profession. He remained in that county ten years and at the termination of that time came to Malesus, where he has since resided. Dr. Raines has been in continuous active practice here for some thirty-eight years and he stands high among the foremost professional men in the county. He is a great humanitarian and gives his services to rich and poor alike, with no thought of remuneration. Aside from his practice the Doctor has been active in public life. He has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the democratic party in Madison county and Malesus, in particular. He was elected to the state legislature in 1905 and although he has not since held public office he has been a dominant factor in the election of his friends to various offices. His public spirit is a stimulus and inspiration and he is one of the most energetic and resourceful promoters of his community’s advancement.

Dr. Raines has been twice married. His first marriage was celebrated in Crockett county in 1871, when Miss Jennie Hall became his wife. To their union two daughters were born: Leona Bell Boykin and Ida Lorena, who died in childhood. Mrs. Raines died in 1878, her death coming as a severe shock to her family and many friends. Dr. Raines later married Miss Ida McHaney, a daughter of Lafayette and Samantha McHaney. Her parents were natives of Virginia and members of old and prominent families of that state. Mrs. McHaney died at the age of thirty-one years. Mr. McHaney later married Miss Minerva Jones, and to them were born the following: Mrs. Fenner McCallum, William L. McHaney, Mrs. S. A. Blackmon, Guy L. McHaney; and Shelly, Clyde, Ernest and Nannie, who died in childhood. Mrs. McHaney died when about forty years of age. To the union of Dr. Raines and Miss McHaney ten children were born: Bertha Raines Davis; James McHaney; Walter, whose death occurred in his seventh year; Jesse T., who was a very prominent young physician and died at the age of thirty-four years; Noble Lafayette; Angie Raines Caldwell; William Louis, who died in his tenth year; Roy Woods, who died in infancy; Hugh Robert; and Mary Raines Lake. Dr. Raines is the grandfather of eighteen children.

Fraternally the Doctor is a thirty-second degree Mason and Shriner. He is readily conceded to be an exemplary member of the craft. His religious faith is that of the Christian church. For more than fifteen years he has been a member of the school board of his district and in many other ways he is serving his community. Dr. Raines has achieved well merited success in his profession and he owns some of the most valuable farm land in Madison county, in the cultivation of which he is actively interested. He has met every requirement of life and Malesus is indeed proud to number him among her foremost citizens.