Biographical and Historical Note

The Cain, Frost, and Naylor families are all present in this collection, especially James Harrison Cain and Elizabeth Amy Frost Cain; Richmond Frank (R. F.) Cain; and John Boyce Cain and Ina Lunn Naylor Cain.

James Harrison Cain was born on April 14, 1845, to William Cain and Emily Beeman of Iredell County, N.C. He spent his early years in Iredell County but by age 5, he was a resident of Davie County.

In April 1863, Cain joined the Davie County Home Guard and served in the Civil War on the Confederate side for 15 months. On July 27, 1864, Cain went to Plymouth, N.C. to volunteer as a landsman and powderman on the Confederate States ship, CSS Ram Albemarle. In 1898, Cain wrote a remembrance of the night of October 27,1864, when a small Union boat sent a torpedo into the side hull of the Ram Albemarle, sinking the ironclad to the bottom of the Roanoke River with Cain and 100 sailors aboard. All the soldiers survived, but Cain became a patient at the Confederate hospital #6 in Fayetteville. He was furloughed to return home in February 1865.

Soon after, Cain enrolled at the Union Academy in Farmington, N.C. It was there Cain met Elizabeth Amy Frost (1845-1936), another Academy student. The two were married August 18, 1868, and they built their first home on Frost family land near Dutchman Creek in Davie County. Previous generations of Frosts owned the land beginning in 1762. Together the Cains had 8 children: Walter Boone, Effie Eleanor, Prichard Beeman, Nana, Quilla, Margaret L., Harrison James, and John Boyce.

At the end of the Civil War, Davie County struggled to regain an agrarian economy. Cain was a merchant in partnership with his brother, R. F. (Richmond Frank), a dry goods merchant in Mocksville. Cain sold and bartered "eggs, corn, wheat, calico, gun powder, and medicines" locally. The growth of this mercantile business led Cain to build a store (1875) adjacent to his home, using timber from his family's land. At the time the store and post office began operation, the Cana community consisted of Eatons Baptist Church (established 1772), Cana Academy (began around 1848), and a tobacco factory owned by Ebenezer Frost (b.1840 - d.1903)

Cain was the owner and operator of the Cana General Store (1875-1909), and the store was a cornerstone of the community for seventy-five years. In addition to commerce, Cain was eager for "the news of the changing world to come into and out of his previously isolated community," according to a 2001 application to add the store to the National Register of Historic Places. So Cain applied to have a Fourth Class Post Office in February 1875 to be a part of the Cana General Store. The Postmaster General suggested the rural area, previously unnamed, be called Cana, after Cain as its first postmaster, a role that he held from 1875 to 1898.

In addition to these business ventures, Cain was also an inventor of devices and held 3 U.S. Patents. The first was for Improvements in Mowers (May 22, 1877), the second an Improvement in Mill Picks (April 8, 1879), and the third a Patent for Tobacco Sticks or Hangers (March 29, 1891). After living at Cana for 41 years (1868-1909), the Cains relocated to Mocksville in 1909, leaving the Cana store and post office to their son, John Boyce Cain, and his wife, Ina Lunn Naylor Cain. The move to Mocksville was for Cain's retirement, but he continued to sell goods as well as serving as a Justice of the Peace (1912-1928) and voter registrar for Davie County's Democratic (1918-1928). James Harrison Cain died on August 28, 1932, and is buried at Eatons Baptist Church in current-day Mocksville.

Richmond Frank (R. F.) Cain, James Harrison Cain's older brother, was born September 12, 1835. He was the third of ten children. Per the 1860 census, Cain worked as a clerk in a Mocksville general store owned by P. R. Martin. In 1861, Cain entered the Civil War as a 1st Lieutenant Co. L, 77th Regiment, 19th Brigade N.C. Militia of Davie County, serving until March 26, 1862. Cain married Leonora S. Taylor in Davie County on October 22, 1863. Two children, Stella and Pauline, both died in infancy. Leonara died on February 22, 1872.

During this time, R. F. worked as a dry goods merchant in Mocksville per the census, but by 1878 he had moved west. On December 18, 1878, he married Narcissa Little in Jersey, Illinois. The 1880 census lists Cain as a grocery merchant, living in Sedalia, Missouri. Letters home from Cain discuss businesses, commerce, and crops like tobacco. He died on October 12, 1917, in Sedalia, Missouri.

The second generation of Cana General store owners and operators were John Boyce Cain and his wife Ina Naylor Cain.

John Boyce Cain was born in Cana on September 27, 1883, the eighth and youngest child of James Harrison Cain and Elizabeth Amy Frost. Cain spent his entire life here in the house that his parents built, the fifth generation of Frost descendants to live on that land. He most likely attended Cana Academy, since the Academy was within easy walking distance from his home.

Cain wore many hats in his lifetime. He served as assistant postmaster and rural mail carrier for the Cana community, delivering mail on horseback or horse and buggy and later by Ford car to cover upwards of 25 miles in a day according to a August 31, 1972, article in the Davie County Enterprise. The Cana post office closed in 1954, but Cain continued to operate the store until 1964. The store and Cain himself served during difficult times such as the 1918 influenza pandemic and the Great Depression.

In addition to his work, Cain was very involved in Eatons Baptist Church, as Sunday School Superintendent (1907-1953), Choir Leader, and lay Minister. He was also chairman and board member of the Davie County Board of Education (1937-1965); during his 28 year tenure with the Board of Education he saw "private academies give way to neighborhood public schools, and then the creation of countywide consolidated schools" (Davie County Enterprise).

Cain served 14 years with the Davie County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and he was one of the first to embrace new farming methods such as terracing the hills, planting ground covers, and crop rotation, instituted by the N.C. Department of Agriculture. He also was a Charter Member for the Davie Rural Electric Membership Corporation's Board of Directors and secretary of the Rural Electrification Association (1939-1948). And Cain was also a Justice of the Peace for a time. John Boyce Cain died on January 17, 1974, and is buried at Eatons Baptist Church Cemetery, like his father.

Ina Lunn Naylor Cain was born August 4, 1884, in Davie County to William Bryant Naylor and Susan Elizabeth Hutchins. She lived in the Farmington Township of Davie County, an area that had long been home to her Lunn, Hutchins, and Ferebee ancestors. The Cain and Naylor families were country neighbors with lots of land and a creek between them; like John Boyce, Ina attended Cana Academy. She taught school in Davie County before marrying Ina married John Boyce on October 6, 1909. Together Ina and John Boyce Cain raised five daughters and one son: Lucille Elizabeth, Eleanor Gray, Margaret Frazelle, Gladys Naylor, Mabel Joyce, and John Boyce.

While raising six children, Cain had a career outside the home for 35 years, serving as Postmistress for the Cana Post Office from 1919-1954. When Ina retired from her career as postmistress in 1954, the Cana Post Office was the last fourth-class post office to close in N.C. In addition to her paid work and her family, Ina also served as the organist of Eatons Baptist Church, taught Sunday School, and was active in the Women's Missionary Union. Ina Naylor Cain died December 18, 1964, before her husband, and is buried at Eatons Baptist Church.

The Frost Farm, located on Cana Road in Mocksville, is now 260 years old, and continues to be owned by Cain family descendants. The farm received the designation of N.C. Bicentennial Farm in 2022.

Collection Overview

This collection documents some family history of the Cains of Davie County, N.C., and their businesses and professional lives as tobacco farmers, postmasters, and general store owners, among other roles. Materials include advertisements, business correspondence, debt notes, family correspondence, ledgers, log books, mail delivery log books, money order log books, patent applications and related materials, store receipts, and tax receipts. The collection is arranged in chronological order. Some items also relate to the Civil War and the Confederacy, on behalf of which James Harrison Cain and R. F. Cain served.

Collection Inventory

• Store tax records  (1831-1910) box 2 folder 1
• Financial records  (1850-1890) box 3 folder 1 (Folder includes the following: Arrest warrant for $2 debt (1853 June 18). Board and tuition note, JH cain owed Phillip Eaton (1868 April 18). Note for $250 owed by JH Cain to Thomas Gaither for half of two-mule team (1868 May 22). Note for $250 owed by AZ Taylor and JH Cain to Thomas Gaither (1868 May 28). Note for pork, Ivy Frost (1869 February). Debt for tobacco, Taylor and Cain (1868 June 1). Notes for debts owed by Taylor and Cain to Thomas Gaither (1868 June). Bank of Davie deposit slip (1915 June).)
• Family and business correspondence  (1859-1914) box 1 folder 1 (Folder includes the following: First correspondence from RF Cain once he moved west, discusses wheat tobacco wages monies owed (1879 November 2). Letter from RF Cain, discusses crops, railroad, housing, population, monies owed (1880 March 14). Letter from RF Cain regarding movines owed by JC Frost (1880-1881). Letter from RF Cain regarding parents new business (1883). Letter from RF Cain regarding patented tobacco stick, commerce in the South (1891 October 11). Letter regarding new ventury for JH Cain, see deed and letter dated 1902 March 18 (1901 December 26). Letter regarding shipment of tobacco, dried fruit for making beer. Letter from RF Cain regarding death of Harry Cain. Letter from Mary Louise Cain Furches regarding unhappiness, need for money (1893 November 26).)
• Civil War-related records  (1863-1924) box 3 folder 2
• Political records  (1869-1928) box 1 folder 2 (Folder includes the following: Absentee voting ballot (1918 September 10). JH Cain's first political appointment (1869 September 11).)
• Book 1, purchase lists  (1868-1908) box 2 folder 2 (Folder includes the following: Bill of goods, RF Cain and Martin (1868 December 2). Receipt for items, JH Cain (1874 February 5). Early calculator. Advertisements. Blotter with cod liver oil advertisement. Blotter with emulsion advertisement.)
• Book 1, post office  (1875-1938) box 2 folder 3 (Folder includes the following: Personal index for 1893 postal laws and regulation book. Postmaster's accounts (1898 September). Special deliveries record (1900 April-June). Postal funds deposit transmittal form (1900 September 30). Record of stamp sales, cancellations, mail arrival and departure (1900 June-1901 July). Special deliveries record (1901 July-September). List of people on route. Letter from U.S. Post Office, D.C. regarding star route mail (1903 September 15). Stamp inventory and sales records (1904). Site relocation of post office, Nestor, Davie County (1904 September 16). Official appointment of Lula Gree as postmater, Nestor, Davie County (1904 September 16). Postmaster bond and oath, Lula Green (1904 September). Mail registry, arrivals and departures, Nestor to Calahaln, N.C. Stamp order, inventory form (1906). Special deliveries records (1907, 1908-1909). Mail delivery routes description.)
• Patents materials  (1877-1891) box 1 folder 3 (Folder includes the following: Patent #191.025 issued to JH Cain, copy (1877 May 22). Mowing machine patent request, patent (1877). Response from Patent Office to JH Cain (1891 November 9). Requests for formal drawings of tobacco leaf stick invention, patent request for tobacco leaf stick (1891).)
• Travel log and sales record book, James Harrison Cain  (1878) box 2 folder 7
• Business correspondence  (1879-1881) box 3 folder 3 (Folder includes the following: Letter regarding creeks in Davie County. Purchase warranty, mentions Double Creek in Iredell County.)
• Correspondence, James Harrison Cain and J. C. Frost  (1880-1906) box 3 folder 4 (Folder includes the following: Debt receipt mentions Frost brothers (1883). JC Frost gives money, land for school (1883 December 17). Letter regarding mill payment (1884 February 11). Letter stating marriage of JC Frost and Mamie (circa 1887 February). Letter regarding mill and road placement (1887 March 7). Letter regarding flour, pigs, windows for house (1888 March 3). Letter regarding sale of Cana land from JC Frost (1904 April 6).)
• Memorandum and account books with supplies lists (2)  (1880-1884) box 2 folder 8
• Business dispute materials  (1884-1904) box 2 folder 4
• Record of registered matter in transit (undated) box 6 volume 4
• Domestic register of money orders  (1895-1911) box 7 volume 3
• Register of advices recieved of money orders  (1895-1912) box 7 volume 1
• Store accounts book  (1898-1902) box 1 folder 6
• Money order cash book, domestic  (1900-1907) box 6 volume 2
• Business correspondence  (1901-1909) box 3 folder 8 (Folder includes the following: Flour milling equipment inquiry. Plan for milling first and second grade flours. Purchase of clover huller (1906). Plower purchase (1907). Boiler purchase (1908). Postcard from JG Huff, Jacksonville, Florida (1909). Text of 1902 July 28 letter from G. W. Grubb, Mount Vernon, Rowan County, N.C.: Mr. Cain, I will be at your mill Saturday to meet you if we are all well and it is not raining.)
• Family correspondence  (1901-1915) box 2 folder 5 (Folder includes the following: Yadkin River ferry notice. Letter from Effie Cain to JH Cain. Letter from Walter Boone Cain to JH Cain (1904). Letters from Pritchard Beeman Cain. Letter regarding electric plan for Mocksville, N.C. (1915 August 13). Letter from Agnes Cain to Elizabeth Frost Cain (1915). Letter from Agnes Cain to JH Cain.)
• Store employee record books, for Susan Jones (1902 January-1904 July) box 1 folder 7 (Books include what Susan Jones bought on her store account.)
• Business records, James Harrison Cain  (1903-1932) box 1 folder 5
• Agriculture and farming records  (1907-1964) box 3 folder 5 (Folder includes the following: Letter from USDA regarding cotton marketing quota reference, JB Cain, committee on agriculrual adjustment administration (1941 December 4). Income listing for JB and Ina Cain, postal and farm income (1946).)
• Money orders record book  (1907-1911) box 4 volume 2
• Timber and lumber sales materials  (1909-1910) box 2 folder 6 (Folder includes the following: lumber sales record, T. M. Peoples and Son (1909). Sawing lumber receipt for JH Cain from A. D. Peebles (1909 August).)
• Cash book, domestic money order  (1911-1915) box 4 volume 1
• World Wars correspondence, ration books  (1918-1944) box 3 folder 6 (Folder includes the following: Envelope sent to deceased soldier (1918 September). Letter from Louise Cain Gardner, who was raised by Walter B. Cain (1937). Correspondence from the war from JB Cain Jr., Henrietta Howard (1940, 1942-1943). Ration books and advertisements.)
• Money orders record book  (1920-1922) box 6 volume 1
• Domestic register of money orders issued  (1922-1926) box 7 volume 2
• Cana Store tax records and other materials  (1925-1965) box 3 folder 9 (Folder includes the following: Tax certificates for store drinks, tobacco, and service station. Tax schedules, store receipts, product advertisements, and licences. Note for $50 debt, JB Cain paid off (1950). Store calculations on paper bag. Proof of telephone service, Mocksville (1925.))
• Cana, N.C., postal history materials  (1940-1954) box 1 folder 4 (Folder includes the following: District postmasters information (1940 May 1). Davie County rural delivery map (1947). Letter by Ina Naylor Cain, postmistress at Cana, N.C.)
• Financial records  (circa 1955) box 5 volume 3
• Sales book  (1958 August) box 5 volume 1
• Congressional speech, "Freedom in Peril" by Senator Sam Ervin, and store-related notes and correspondence (circa 1960-1964) box 3 folder 7
• Financial records (undated) box 5 volume 2
• Financial records (undated) box 5 volume 4
• Financial records (undated) box 5 volume 5
• Form 1564 records (undated) box 5 volume 6
• Record of registered matter in transit (undated) box 6 volume 3

Summary Information

Repository

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives

Title

Cana General Store and Cain Family Papers

ID

MS904

Date [inclusive]

Quantity

4 document boxes, 1 half document box, 2 oversize boxes

Extent

3.9  Linear Feet

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2022

Revision Description

Notes added by Nancy Sullivan and Stephanie Bennett, 2023

Copyright Notice

The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 

Preferred Citation

Cana General Store and Cain Family Papers (MS904), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 

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