John Raines

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John Raines (May 6, 1840 - December 16, 1909) was an American politician from New York.

Contents

[edit] Biography

John Raines was born in Canandaigua, New York on May 6, 1840. He was educated at Canandaigua Academy and Albany Law School, from where he graduated in 1861. Admitted to 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 Regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry and served in both the Army of the Potomac and the Army of North Carolina.

Raines, a Republican, was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1881, the New York State Senate in 1886 and the U.S. House of Representatives in 1889, where he served as a member of the 51st and 52nd Congresses representing the 29th District. After his service in the House, he was re-elected to the State Senate in 1894, serving as its President from 1904 until his death in 1909. He is known for authoring the 1896 Raines Law, which restricted liquor sales on Sundays to hotels and may have inadvertently fostered prostitution.

In addition to legislative offices, Raines also served as the President of the Board of Education for the Canandaigua school district from 1887 until his death.

Raines is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua.

[edit] Offices Held

[edit] Trivia

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.

[edit] References

  • "John Raines". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. [1]. Accessed August 31, 2006.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Ira Davenport		 United States Representative for the 29th Congressional District of New York
1889–1893		 Succeeded by
Charles W. Gillet