Dennis Cain, a farmer of Section 22, Blaine Township, Ida County, was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, December 26, 1844, a son of William and Mary (Noon) Cain, natives of Roscommon County, Ireland.
The parents were married in Ireland, but in an early day came to America, locating in New Jersey. In 1856, they opened a farm near Libertyville, Lake County, Illinois. They were the parents of 9 children: Thomas (a furniture dealer of Racine, Wisconsin), Ann (married John Linberry of Libertyville, Illinois), Ella of New Jersey, John (resided near Libertyville), Kate (married James Mark of Chicago), William of Wisc., 2 are deceased, and Dennis. Dennis was the youngest in the family and when 12 years old moved with his parents from New Jersey to a farm near Libertyville, Illinois. In 1861, he began farming, and in 1864 enlisted in Company A, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, served in the Western Army, took part in the Red River Campaign, in the Battle of Jackson, Mississippi, and 7 other engagements. He was discharged with honors at Houston on June 18, 1866 as Corporal. He had been engaged in guarding the frontier at Brownsville & Houston, Tx.
On June 27, 1871, Dennis married Miss Anna Scott of Whiteside County, Illinois. In 1876, he came to Ida County purchasing 120 acres in Blaine Township, then adding to his land until he owned 266 acres of well-cultivated land. He brought his house from Waukegan, Illinois by rail, a one and a half story building, 16 x 24 feet, with two wings. He had dismantled his house and moved it to the new site 1/2 mile west of present day Arthur, Ia. He became a member of Matthew Gray Post, No. 93, G.A.R., Ida Grove, Iowa. He passed away on June 6, 1912 and is buried in the Ida Grove Cemetery, Ida County, Iowa.
Anna Scott was born November 21, 1851 in Montmorency Town, Whiteside County, Illinois (a daughter of Asa and Elizabeth Taylor Scott), and died April 22, 1922 in Arthur, Ida County, Iowa, buried in the Ida Grove Cemetery, Ida County, Iowa.
Dennis and his wife had 6 children: Sarah “Ida” (wife of John Hoagland) of Arthur; Thomas “Asa” Cain of Garden Plains, Canada; Anna Elizabeth “Bessie” Cain (married Darnell) of Oregon; Frances Ethel Cain (married Frank Cady) of Carlson Woods, Montana; Clarence Mason Cain of Canada; and Chandler Carroll Cain.