Reprinted from the Wilcox Progressive Era, Camden, Alabama
26 Jan 1922, Thu  •  Page 1

Mr. R. H. G. Gaines, age 80 years, died Thursday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. H. Carter, on the Pettit Place, three miles north of town, following an illness of several days. Funeral services were held at the Carter residence Friday morning at 9:30 and the interment was held at 11:30 a. m.. in the Rayville cemetery. The burial was under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge; of which fraternity this gentleman had been an honored member for many-years.

Mr. Gaines was born in Insey, Choctaw County, Ala , on November 3, 1841, later moving to Lower Peach Tree, Ala., where he spent the major portion of his long and useful life. He was a gallant Confederate soldier, enlisting at the beginning of the Civil War with the 23rd Alabama, and saw some of the hardest fighting of that great struggle. He was officially mentioned for conspicuous bravery at the siege of Vicksburg, where he single handed and alone manned a cannon which held thousands of Federal troops at bay for sometime. At the close of the war he returned to his home in Alabama and on July 13th, 1865 was married to Miss Ophelia Hestle. To this union were born eight children, all of whom, with the widow, survive him. Early in life Mr. Gaines joined the Presbyterian church and lived a consecrated Christian life, and reared his children in the fear of God.

The deceased lived to see his children grown and married. They are as follows; Mrs Adele Williamson of Charlotte N. C.; Mr. R.H.G. Gaines of Checotah, Okla. ; Mrs; G. C. Johnson of Fair field, Ala. ; Mrs. Lucy Matheson, Mrs, H. Carter, Mr. W. P. Gaines, Mr. C. W. Gaines, of Rayville; and Mr. E. S. Gaines, of Girard.

Mr. and Mrs. Gaines came to Louisiana to reside in 1913, and have made their home with their daughter, Mrs. E.H. Carter. Despite his advanced years, Mr. Gaines took an active part in the life of business in this community. He has been a very active, patriotic and useful citizen during his long life in Alabama, and when he adopted Louisiana, as his home, he threw himself into the work for the betterment and upbuilding of his new home. He made friends who learned to love and reverence him, and his death has cast a shadow of gloom and sadness over Rayville and Richland parish.

His sons and daughters had made this their home before him and had already become prominent in the life of the community; and he fitted in and made devoted friends at once.

He has lived an exemplary life of honesty, faithfulness and service for good, and his influence will long be felt. He was as brave and unselfish and generous, a man as we have we have ever known, and his charity knew no bounds. His fearless and spotless manhood should be an inspiration to all his young friends. To his widow and other devoted members of the grief stricken family we offer our deepest and tenderest sympathy. The Richland Beacon News

Capt. Gaines Thu, Jan 26, 1922 – 1 · Wilcox Progressive Era (Camden, Alabama) · Newspapers.com