David Pinkney Rainey

David Pinkney Rainey was born Feb 1, 1817 in Columbia, Tennessee to David Lemuel and Nancy Davis Rainey. David was a member of the Mormon Battalion. David is a Pioneer of Richmond. David served as one of the first City Council Members when Richmond was incorporated in 1868. 

History

The early history of David in Unknown. David married Margaret Minerva Andrews in 1839 in Hillsborough, North Carolina. In 1843, David and Margaret were taught by Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. David and Margaret were converted, and David was baptized on May 15, 1843. 

After his time in the Mormon Battalion, David made his way to the Salt Lake Valley on Oct 16, 1847. He traveled back to Winter Quarters, Iowa, from the valley, and retrieved Margaret. The Rainey's lived in Winter Quarters until they had the means to travel to Utah. They joined the Philemon C. Merrill Company on June 5, 1856 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Aug 13.

During their travel, Margaret, who was a frail woman from birth, had difficulty crossing the plains and participating in regular pioneering life. The Rainey family moved to Provo after their arrival where Margaret's condition continued to worsen. Provo citizen Dorothy Jane Dennis was appointed as a nurse for Margaret but she was not improving. Margaret died on Feb 21, 1857 in Provo. Just before her death, she told David to marry Dorothy. David and Dorothy were married on Feb 9, 1857 in a non polygamous relationship.

In 1858, David was called to serve as Bishop of Salem, Utah. He served as Bishop until 1860 when the Rainey's were called to move to Cache Valley and settle the area. The Rainey's chose to live in Richmond.

Mormon Battalion

In July 1846, David joined the Mormon Battalion at the call of the United States of America to participate in the American-Mexican War. David was appointed Fourth Sergeant of Company B under Captain Jesse D. Hunter.

"While on guard one night in the desert, it was hot and sultry and the men were suffering from thirst. An officer passed and said, 'Who's on guard here?' David answered, 'Rainey', and the officer replied, 'That's a **** wet name for this dry country.'"

The Battalion marched from Winter Quarters, Iowa to San Diego, California, and was honorably released in the fall of 1847.

Missions

Soon after their baptism, the Rainey's moved to Nauvoo, Illinois to live amongst the Saints. As soon as they moved to Nauvoo, they were sent back to Tennessee as Missionaries. David served as a Missionary until Aug 31, 1843.

In 1844, President Joseph Smith began his campaign as President of the United States. Abraham O. Smoot, Alphonzo A. Young, and David were called to a campaign mission to Tennessee on April 15, 1844. The campaign stopped on June 27 at the announcement of President Smith's assassination.

During the April 1857 General Conference, David was called to serve a mission to assist George Q. Cannon in publishing a newspaper. David served until May-April when Johnston's army started the Utah War and all Latter-day Saints were called to move back to Utah.

In 1875, David was called to serve his final mission to the Southern States. He was set apart on Oct 20, 1875 and was called to serve in Tennessee. He served until 1876 when he contracted Malaria and was called home.

Member of the City Council (1868 - 1872)

William D. Hendricks served as the first Mayor of Richmond after it was incorporated as a city in February of 1868. He was sworn into office on May 28, 1868 with the first City Council members: Stillman Pond, Henry E. Gibson, David P. Rainey, Neriah Lewis, and Thomas L. Whittle with William Beers as City Recorder. They were in charge of hiring individuals to fill in the necessary appointments for the city. Such were Christopher M. Olsen, City Treasurer; William F. Fisher, Assessor and Collector; William T. Van Noy, City Marshall; Christopher M. Funk, Supervisor of Streets; William H. Lewis and R. Marion Kerr, Chief of Police; David P. Rainey, Neriah R. Lewis, Marcus E. Funk, and George F. Burnham, Deputies of Police. Along with this, they had appointed the city seal, passed the first City Ordinance of constructing bridges across all ditches, and named the streets of Richmond.

Epilogue