Biography of Joseph Rainier, pages 920 / 921.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Joseph Rainier is a native of Ohio, born at North Georgetown, Columbiana 
County, Oct. 14, 1841, a son of Levi D. and Christina (Goodbroke) Rainier, 
his father of French and his mother of German descent.  In 1850 his parents 
moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Newville where he lived with 
them till fifteen years of age, obtaining a fair education in the public 
school.  He then began to work at the mason’s trade, which he followed till 
Aug. 9, 1862, when he enlisted in Company H. Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, 
to serve three years. He was promoted from the ranks through the various 
grades to First Lieutenant of his Company.  He participated in all the 
battles of his regiment including Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, 
Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Buzzard’s Roost, Kenesaw Mountain and Altanta.  In 
July, 1864, while on a skirmish line on the Chattahoochee River he was 
severely wounded by a rifle ball, and did not fully recover while in the 
service.  After a partial recovery he was detailed on detached service in 
East Tennessee as Quartermaster and Adjutant in a provisional brigade 
commanded by Colonel Dillsworth, and served in that capacity  till March, 
1865, when he resigned his commission on account of disability and 
returned to Newville.  He soon after went to Clinton, Ill., to work at his 
trade and while there, Sept. 19, 1865, was married to Malinda, daughter of 
Thurston and Elinor (Beatty) Cundiff.  Soon after his marriage he returned 
to Indiana and engaged in the livery business till 1874.  He then carried 
on a grocery and provision store till 1876, when he was appointed 
Postmaster at Auburn, and served till, January, 1882.  He then became 
associated with D.C. Headley and opened the City Meat Market, which he 
still carries on.  Politically he is a Republican, and in 1880-’81 was 
associated with C.P. Houser in the publication of the De Kalb Republican, 
selling his interest to Mr. Houser in December, 1881.  Mrs. Rainier died 
Dec. 17, 1878, leaving four sons---Harry Carlin, Edwin North, Charles 
Elliott and James Bradford.  Sept. 7, 1880, Mr. Rainier married Amanda 
Candid, a sister of his first wife.  They have one child---Anna A.   Mr. 
and Mrs. Rainier are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.   He is a 
member of De Kalb Lodge, Mo. 214, F. & A.M.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com