Amanda Adeline Wood Rainwater

Amanda Wood Rainwater Amanda Adeline Wood was born in 1842 to John B. and Nancy A. Wood. The 1860 census finds this family living in Little Spring, Madison Co., Arkansas. Among the other residents of this household was one Benjamin Franklin Rainwater, a farm laborer, and future husband of Amanda. They were married in 1862, but the Civil War intervened and B. F. Rainwater served for some term with Company A of the 34th Arkansas Infantry. In later years, Amanda applied for her husband's pension, which was denied because his service records could not be found.¹

The first of their children was born in 1866, six others followed. These are: Charles Franklin, b. 1866, Margaret Catherine, b. 1867, Hosea Milton, b. 1870, Amiliza, b. ca 1873, Ida J., b. ca 1875, Harvey A., b. 1877, Alice J., b. 1880.

The Rainwater family is found in both the 1870 and 1880 census in Washington Co., Arkansas, where B. F. made his living as a farmer. Following his death in 1882, Amanda moved her family to Bomarton, Baylor Co., Texas. She died in 1821, and, with several of her children, is buried in Bomartin Cemetery.

This original photograph is owned by Marcia Schutza, who also contributed the biographical information.

¹ Based on the information Amanda supplied, this can only be 2nd Brigade, 34th Arkansas Infantry, Company A, under Gen. James F. Fagan, and under the immediate command of Col. W. H. Brooks. However, B. F. Rainwater is not carried on the roster of Company A, or any of the other companies of the 34th. Three other Rainwaters did serve in the 34th, and this may have been the source of Amanda's confusion.