John Raines

John Raines
Lieutenant Governor of New York
In office 1906–1906
Governor	Frank W. Higgins
Preceded by	M. Linn Bruce
Succeeded by	Lewis S. Chanler
President pro tempore of the New York State Senate
In office 1903–1909
Preceded by	Timothy E. Ellsworth
Succeeded by	Jotham P. Allds
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 29th district
In office March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1893
Preceded by	Ira Davenport
Succeeded by	Charles W. Gillet
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Ontario County district
In office January 1, 1881 – December 31, 1882
Preceded by	Charles R. Case
Succeeded by	Frank Rice
In office January 1, 1885 – December 31, 1885
Preceded by	Frank Rice
Succeeded by	Edward P. Babcock
Member of the New York Senate from the 42nd district
In office January 1, 1896 – December 16, 1909
Preceded by	new district
Succeeded by	Frederick W. Griffith
Member of the New York Senate from the 26th district
In office January 1, 1895 – December 31, 1895
Preceded by	Charles T. Saxton
Succeeded by	James Ballantine
Member of the New York Senate from the 28th district
In office January 1, 1886 – March 3, 1889
Preceded by	Thomas Robinson
Succeeded by	Charles T. Saxton
Personal details
Born	May 6, 1840 Geneva, New York
Died	December 16, 1909 (aged 69) Canandaigua, New York
Political party	Republican
Relations	Thomas Raines (1842–1924) George Raines (1846–1908)
Parents	Rev. John Raines (1818–1877) Mary Raines (1815–1889)
Alma mater	University of Rochester

John Raines (May 6, 1840, Geneva, Ontario County, New York – December 16, 1909, Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He authored the 1896 Raines Law, which prohibited liquor sales on Sundays, except in hotels, which had the unintended consequence of fostering prostitution.^[1]

Life

He was born on May 6, 1840 in Geneva, Ontario County, New York, the son of Rev. John Raines (1818–1877) and Mary (Remington) Raines (1815–1889).

He was educated at Canandaigua Academy and Albany Law School, from where he graduated in 1861. Admitted to the bar upon graduation, Raines set up a law practice in Geneva, New York.

During the American Civil War, Raines formed and served as Captain of Company G of the 85th New York Volunteer Infantry and served in both the Army of the Potomac and the Army of North Carolina.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Ontario Co.) in 1881, 1882 and 1885; and of the New York State Senate (28th D.) from 1886 to 1889, sitting in the 109th, 110th, 111th and 112th New York State Legislatures. In addition he was President of the Board of Education for the Canandaigua school district from 1887 until his death. He was a delegate to the 1888 Republican National Convention.

He was elected to the 51st and 52nd United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1889, to March 3, 1893. Afterwards he returned to the State Senate where he sat from 1895 until his death, being a member of the 118th (26th D.), 119th, 120th, 121st, 122nd, 123rd, 124th, 125th, 126th, 127th, 128th, 129th, 130th, 131st and 132nd New York State Legislatures (all 42nd D.); and was President pro tempore from 1903 until his death. He was an alternate delegate to the 1900 and 1904 Republican National Conventions.

On December 5, 1906, he became Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York for the remainder of the month after the resignation of M. Linn Bruce who was appointed to the New York Supreme Court by Governor Frank W. Higgins.

Raines died on December 16, 1909 in Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York.^[1] Raines was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua.

New York State Treasurer Thomas Raines (1842–1924) and State Senator George Raines (1846–1908) were his brothers.

Legacy

Two of Raines' houses in Canandaigua still stand. His primary home, on the corner of Wood and Gorham Streets, was an Octagon house. His summer home, "Thendara", sat along the eastern shore of Canandaigua Lake at Deep Run Cove and is operated today as a restaurant and inn.

References

1. "Senator Raines, Party Leader Dead". New York Times. December 16, 1909. Retrieved 2012-10-17. Republican Leader of State Senate Dies at Canandaigua Home in His 69th Year. Fought Hughes's Reforms. Author of Election and Liquor Tax Laws, and a Factor in Important Albany Legislation for 15 Years. Senator John Raines died at 1:45 o'clock this morning. All the members of his family were at his bedside. ...

Sources

• United States Congress. "John Raines (id: R000013)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. (giving Canandaigua as birthplace)
• Bruce resigned, Raines acting, in NYT on December 6, 1906

External links

• Thendara Inn - former summer home of John Raines
• John Raines at Find a Grave