Over the past several years, I’ve spent more time than I care to admit tracing my ancestry.  I’m a little embarrassed to admit how addictive it has become.  I’ve come across a lot of interesting facts and stories about the varied branches of my family tree which I’m sharing in a dedicated Facebook Group. However, I thought this story was interesting and worthy of a broader share.

Dempsey Benton Cain, was born in 1813 to the Rev. James Cain and lived in Franklin County, Mississippi.  Dempsey Benton Cain (who went by D.B.) was married to Rebecca Hollaway and they had four children — Rebecca, James Isaiah, Hardy and Laura.  Hardy, named after his great grandfather, was born in 1842.  The Civil War broke out while young Hardy was still in his teens.  Apparently, before Hardy went off to fight for the Confederacy, he and Miss Eliza Parsons had grown very fond of one another and must have discussed marriage before Hardy was called to the front lines.

Hardy H. Cain was in Company A., 7th Mississippi Regiment, C.S.A. While fighting at Shiloh, he was wounded and returned home on crutches.  While regaining his strength at home, he and Eliza Parsons were married. Below is the letter of consent that D.B. wrote for his son Hardy as he was returning home from battle.

“11 Feb. 1863
My son Hardy wishes to get a marriage license for himself and Miss Elizer Parsons.  Her parents live in Pike County.  You will issue the same and I will vouch that ___ is right.  Please do not mention his getting the license as I do not want it known till after the marriage which will be Thursday next with due respect.  Yours truly, D.B. Cain.”

I’m not sure why Hardy needed a letter of consent from his father since Hardy was already 20 by then, or why D.B. wanted to keep it a secret, but nonetheless, Hardy and Eliza were married.  

The reunion, however, was shortlived; only a few months after the nuptials, Hardy said goodbye again to his family and new bride and returned to the battlefield.  Within a few short months, Hardy was killed in Alabama and buried in Cold Creek Cemetery.  Dr. Isaiah Cain says: “He was killed accidentally in camp while unstacking arms.  One gun had been stacked without being unloaded and in the process of unstacking, its load killed him.”  

Earlier that year, while Hardy had been in the hospital with wounds he received in Shiloh, he befriended a fellow soldier, Thomas C. Ryan from New Orleans.  Hardy spoke extensively about his new bride back home. Ryan promised Hardy that if anything happened to him during the war, Thomas would find Eliza and make sure that she was taken care of.  Thomas Ryan made good on his promise and after the war ended, he went back to Franklin County and relayed his stories of the conversations he had with Hardy to the newly widowed Eliza.

Thomas C. Ryan and Eliza Parsons Cain were married in 1866, one year after the end of the Civil War.  They had seven children together.