John Raines
Encyclopedia
John Raines was an American
lawyer and politician
from New York
.
, 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 Republican member of the New York State Assembly
in 1881, 1882 and 1885, and of the New York State Senate
from 1886 to 1889. 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 Congress
es, and served from March 4, 1889, to March 3, 1893. Afterwards he returned to the State Senate where he served from 1894 until his death, and was President pro tempore
from 1904 on. He was an alternate delegate to the 1900
and 1904 Republican National Convention
s.
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
.
He is known for authoring the 1896 Raines Law
, which prohibited liquor sales on Sundays, except in hotels, and is said to have inadvertently fostered prostitution
.
Raines was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Canandaigua.
New York State Treasurer Thomas Raines
was his brother.
. 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He was educated at Canandaigua Academy and Albany Law SchoolAlbany Law School
Albany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 by Amos Dean , Amasa Parker, Ira Harris and others....
, from where he graduated in 1861. Admitted to the bar upon graduation, Raines set up a law practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, 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
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
and the Army of North Carolina.
He was a Republican member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1881, 1882 and 1885, and of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from 1886 to 1889. In addition he was President of the Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
for the Canandaigua school district from 1887 until his death. He was a delegate to the 1888 Republican National Convention
1888 Republican National Convention
-Synopsis:The 1888 Republican National Convention was a presidential nominating convention held at the Auditorium Building in Chicago, Illinois, on June 19-25, 1888. It resulted in the nomination of Benjamin Harrison, a former senator of Indiana, and Levi P. Morton, a former U.S. representative of...
.
He was elected to the 51st
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
and 52nd United States Congress
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
es, and served from March 4, 1889, to March 3, 1893. Afterwards he returned to the State Senate where he served from 1894 until his death, and was President pro tempore
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
The Majority Leader of the New York State Senate is elected by the majority of the members of the New York State Senate. The position usually coincides with the title of Temporary President of the State Senate, who presides over the session of the State Senate if the Lieutenant Governor of New York...
from 1904 on. He was an alternate delegate to the 1900
1900 Republican National Convention
The 1900 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held June 19 to June 21 in the Exposition Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Exposition Auditorium was located south of the University of Pennsylvania, and the later Convention Hall was constructed along the...
and 1904 Republican National Convention
1904 Republican National Convention
The 1904 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in the Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, on June 21 to June 23, 1904....
s.
On December 5, 1906, he became Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
for the remainder of the month after the resignation of M. Linn Bruce
M. Linn Bruce
Matthew Linn Bruce was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
who was appointed to the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
by Governor Frank W. Higgins
Frank W. Higgins
Frank Wayland Higgins was an American politician. He was a delegate to the 1888 Republican National Convention, and a member of the New York State Senate from 1894 to 1902. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1903 to 1904, elected in 1902; and Governor of New York from 1905 to 1906,...
.
He is known for authoring the 1896 Raines Law
Raines law
The Raines law was passed on March 23, 1896, by the New York State Legislature. It was nominally a liquor tax, but its intention was to curb the consumption of alcohol by imposing regulations....
, which prohibited liquor sales on Sundays, except in hotels, and is said to have inadvertently fostered prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
.
Raines was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Canandaigua.
New York State Treasurer Thomas Raines
Thomas Raines
Thomas Raines was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was the son of John Raines ....
was his brother.
Legacy
Two of Raines' houses in Canandaigua still stand. His primary home, on the corner of Wood and Gorham Streets, was an Octagon houseOctagon house
Octagon houses were a unique house style briefly popular in the 1850s in the United States and Canada. They are characterised by an octagonal plan, and often feature a flat roof and a veranda all round...
. His summer home, "Thendara", sat along the eastern shore of Canandaigua Lake
Canandaigua Lake
Canandaigua Lake is the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes, in the U.S. state of New York. The city of Canandaigua is located at the northern shore of the lake and the village of Naples is just a few miles south of the southern end...
at Deep Run Cove and is operated today as a restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
and inn.
Sources
(giving Canandaigua as birthplace)- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9906E3DF1731E733A25755C0A9649D946797D6CF Bruce resigned, Raines acting, in NYT on December 6, 1906
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D06E2D61731E733A25755C1A9649D946897D6CF Obit in NYT on December 16, 1909 (giving Geneva as birthplace)
External links
- Thendara Inn - former summer home of John Raines