James McMains
b. about 1808, Woodford County, Kentucky, to Andrew P. and Sarah (Haddon) McMains
d. Indianola, Iowa

m. 1844
Catherine Sears
b. Monroe County, Indiana, to David and Catherine Sears
d. 14 January 1884, Jefferson County, Iowa

Children with Catherine Sears:
• Manerva
• Malissa A. married David Wertfall
• Lydia

James came to Indiana sometime between 1810 and 1820 from Woodford County, Kentucky, and lived in Lawrence, Parke, and Putnam counties. He was educated in a one-room log school. In 1837, along with his brother, John, and with one horse to ride between them, the brothers headed out to the Iowa Territory, nine years before Iowa became a state.

In 1851, James drove an ox team to California to take part in the Gold Rush there, taking six months to complete the journey. After spending two years working up and down the California and Oregon coasts, James returned to Iowa by way of the Isthmus of Panama, having walked across the isthmus.

Submitted by:
Evelyn Stiles
Winnipeg Manitoba Canada