STERLING PRICE RAINER, ALABAMA.

STERLING PRICE RAINER, of Union Springs, Bullock county, was born January 24, 1859, at Bruceville in the same county, and is the son of Joel Herron and Roxana (Ellin) Rainer, and the grandson of Jarvies and Hannah (Wood) Rainer and of Isaac H. and Betsy (Alford) Ellis, who lived near Pine Level, Montgomery county. Joel Herron Rainer came to Alabama from Sampson county, North Carolina. In 1800, he represented Pike county in the Legislature; enlisted September 15, 1801, as a private in company "I," 17th Alabama Infantry Regiment, C. S. A. ; was elected first lieutenant after the battle of Shiloh; was soon afterward made captain, on Gen. George D. Johnson's staff, a position in which he remained until he surrendered at Greensboro, N. C, at the close of the war. He farmed until 1809, when he moved to Union Springs and entered the mercantile business which he followed many years; is now president of the merchants' and farmers' bank of that place. S. P. Rainer received his early education in the common schools of his county, afterwards entered the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and graduated in 1878. 

For many years he has been largely interested in mercantile and agricultural pursuits. He is a Democrat, and for more than twelve years has been chairman of the 3rd Congressional district committee, and a member of the county executive committee; is now a member of the city council of Union Springs and a director In the merchants' and farmers' bank. He married, March 12, 1884, at Union Springs, Minnie Lee, daughter of Col. Issac Ball and Sarah (Hall) Feagan. Col. Feagan was one of the colonels of the 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment, and lost a leg during the war; served as sheriff of Barbour and Bullock counties after the war; and in 1880 was elected probate judge of the latter county.