Mary Catherine Blackwell Rainwater Burchfield

Rev. John Burchfield and wife Mary Catherine Blackwell Rainwater Burchfield, between 1896 and 1901

Mary Catherine Blackwell was born 4 May 1833 in Tennessee. At the age of 19, she married William Inman Rainwater, the son of James Rainwater and Catherine McCall. The marriage was performed in Jefferson County, Tennessee on 14 December 1852.

In their eight year marriage, the couple produced at least five children: Julie C. Rainwater, born 29 October 1852; Jonathan Nelson, born 12 January 1855, Sarah Elizabeth, born 9 November 1856; James Monroe, born 11 September 1858; and Samuel M., born 9 November 1860. Two of the children died before the age of 5; two died by the age of 20. Only James Monroe Rainwater lived into adulthood.

William Inman Rainwater died on 19 December 1896, and his mother, Catherine McCall Rainwater faithfully recorded this date in her Bible. His widow, Mary Catherine raised her family, living in 1870 in the household of Andrew Webb, and in 1880, in the household of her surviving son.

In 1896, she married the Reverend John Burchfield in Jefferson County, Tennessee. They were married four years. Upon her second husband’s death, Mary Catherine Burchfield moved to Grapevine, Texas to join the family of her son, James Monroe Rainwater. She remained there until her death in 1916 and is buried in Grapevine Cemetery, along with her son, grandson, and daughter-in-law.

Credits
This photo is owned by Judy Connolly. The scan was contributed by Steve Blackwell

© 2018 Susan Chance-Rainwater
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