Emory Rains
Encyclopedia
Emory Rains was a lawyer, judge and political leader in the Republic of Texas
and thereafter in the State of Texas
. Rains was born in Warren County, Tennessee, and moved to Texas
in 1817. Emory Rains held many public offices and his life was devoted to public service. Rains was a Member of Texas Republic Senate from the District of Shelby and Sabine (1837–1839); a delegate to the Texas state constitutional convention (1845); a member of the Texas state house of representatives (1847–1848, 1851–1854); a member of the Texas state senate (1859). In 1839, Rains was a prime supporter of the historic law creating a Homestead exemption
in Texas
. In 1861, he stood with Sam Houston
in opposition to secession
from the union. In 1866, Emory Rains rode a mule
to Austin, Texas
, for the purpose of getting a bill introduced to create Rains County, Texas
. Emory Rains died on March 4, 1878, of an apparent stroke
, and is buried in the City Cemetery in Emory, Texas
. Both Emory, Texas
, and Rains County, Texas
are named for him.
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
and thereafter in the State of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Rains was born in Warren County, Tennessee, and moved to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1817. Emory Rains held many public offices and his life was devoted to public service. Rains was a Member of Texas Republic Senate from the District of Shelby and Sabine (1837–1839); a delegate to the Texas state constitutional convention (1845); a member of the Texas state house of representatives (1847–1848, 1851–1854); a member of the Texas state senate (1859). In 1839, Rains was a prime supporter of the historic law creating a Homestead exemption
Homestead exemption
Homestead exemption is a legal regime designed to protect the value of the homes of residents from property taxes, creditors, and circumstances arising from the death of the homeowner spouse...
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In 1861, he stood with Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
in opposition to secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
from the union. In 1866, Emory Rains rode a mule
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, for the purpose of getting a bill introduced to create Rains County, Texas
Rains County, Texas
*Alba*East Tawakoni*Emory*Point*Dougherty-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Rains County, Texas-External links:*...
. Emory Rains died on March 4, 1878, of an apparent stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, and is buried in the City Cemetery in Emory, Texas
Emory, Texas
Emory is a city in Rains County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,021 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rains County. Previously known as Springville, the city is named after Emory Rains who was a legislator from the area. Rains was the author of the Homestead Law of Texas...
. Both Emory, Texas
Emory, Texas
Emory is a city in Rains County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,021 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rains County. Previously known as Springville, the city is named after Emory Rains who was a legislator from the area. Rains was the author of the Homestead Law of Texas...
, and Rains County, Texas
Rains County, Texas
*Alba*East Tawakoni*Emory*Point*Dougherty-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Rains County, Texas-External links:*...
are named for him.
External links
- The Author of the Texas Homestead Exemption Law by AE Wilkinson, Southwestern Historical Quarterly - concerning attribution of homestead law authorship in Republic of Texas
- Political biography
- Brief history of Rains County, Texas
- Another history of Rains County, Texas