J. G. Bain

    J. G. Bain, editor Martinsville Republican and Postmaster, was born in Jefferson Township, Morgan County, on April 29, 1844, and is the son of John and Bridget (Gallagher) Bain, early settlers of Jefferson Township. Our subject passed his early life on a farm and attending a district school until he was seventeen years of age, when he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-third Indiana Infantry, in August, 1861, for three years and participated in every march, battle and skirmish which the regiment was in. Near the close of the three years' term, the regiment "veteranized." During the Atlanta campaign, the regiment elected officers and was under the fire of the enemy while balloting, and one man killed. Mr. Bain was elected Second Lieutenant, and remained with his command until the close of the war, having been mustered out August 20, 1865, after four years service. Some of the battles and skirmishes in which the regiment was engaged are as follows: Wildcat, Cumberland Gap, Thompson's Station, Tennessee (where the entire brigade was captured and confined in Libby Prison two months), Resaca, Cassville, Burnt Hickory, Golgotha Church, Pumpkin Vine, Peach Tree Creek, the Atlanta campaign, Sherman's "march to the sea", and through the Carolinas on to Richmond, and in the "grand review" at Washington; thence to Louisville, Kentucky, where the regiment was mustered out.

    After his returned home our subject attended Mooresville Seminary six months, then Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, three years, and then the State University at Bloomington, graduating from that institution in the law course in the spring of 1870, after which he came to Martinsville and engaged in the practice of law. In August, 1870, he became connected with the Republican, which sprang into existence that year, and was made its managing editor. In December, 1870, with H. A. Smock, he purchased the paper, and continued its publication for four years. Since September, 1874, Mr. Bain has been the sole proprietor. He has added to and improved the paper, now using a Campbell steam press, with a circulation of 1,700. In October, 1872 Mr. Bain was made Postmaster of Martinsville, and has held the office ever since. He has always been an active, influential politician in the Republican party, and is ranked among the energetic and progressive citizens, and as one of the representative men of Southern Indiana.

    In February, 1876, he was married to Sallie Johnson; a native of Morgan County, and daughter of Dr. J. J. Johnson. Four children have been born to them -Mary E., Katie R., Jarvis J. and Dora I. Mr. Bain is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the G. A. R. Since Mr. Bain has been Postmaster, the office has increased its receipts three-fold; and it is at present one of the best appointed and conducted post offices of any town of its size in the state.

Source: Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884.