At the age of seventeen he professed faith in Christ, and was baptized by his father into the fellowship of Refuge Baptist Church.
Confederate Veteran: enlisted January 28, 1864, Talladega, Alabama by Lt. Col. Lockhart at the age of 17, as a Corporal in Company G, 1st Regiment Alabama Reserves known as the 62nd Regiment of Alabama, Infantry. April 22, 1864 drew one pair of shoes. May 17, 1864 drew one jacket, one pair of pants, one pair of shoes, two shirts, two pair of drawers, and one hat. July and August 1864 on hospital muster roll, Shelby Springs, Alabama. August 13-Sept 27, 1864 appears on a register of 1st Mississippi CSA Hospital, Jackson, Mississippi, complaint Feboris remitten. He saw actual service in several battles and near the close of the war was captured at Blakely, Alabama, April 9, 1865. Received at Ship Island, Mississippi, April 15, 1865 and transferred to Vicksburg, Mississippi, May 1, 1865 and was received at Camp Townsend, May 16, 1865 on parole at Marion, Alabama
1867 Married by Wm C Mynatt, Baptist Minister at the residence of Mrs. Ackers in Talladega County
1870 Census Lincoln PO, Talladega County, AL, Township 16, Range 5, p 432, William and Olivia 23 and son Samuel O. 1 year
January 1874 ordained at Refuge Church, Rev Elijah Martin adn Woodall officiated. First pastorate was Refuge Church. For forty years, pastor of churches in Talledega, Calhoun and St. Clair counties. Baptized about 4,000 people. Source: The Alabama Baptist article by T.K. Trotter
1880 Census in Blue Eye community, Talladega Co, AL, Beat 1, ED 130, family 35/37 farming for a living, Olivia 34 (both parents born in SC), Samuel A 11, Henry A 9, William A 7, Flora A, 4, Buren H 3
There are five tombstones in the Refuge (Old) Cemetery that simply state "Infant of WF and EO McCain"
1890 moved to Anniston, Alabama
January 6, 1896, Talladega Co, Alabama Deedbook 53, p 61, William F McCain for love and affection for $1 sells to Elizabeth O for her natural lifetime and to his children (SO, HA, WA, Flora A, and BH) after her death a tract of land in Section 4, Township 16, Range 5, Talladega Co, Alabama
Member of the Alabama State Legislature from Calhoun Co, Alabama 1898-1899
1900 Census Living in Anniston, Calhoun Co, AL, p 230, William, Elizabeth and Flora
1910 Census Living in Oxford, Calhoun Co., AL, p 208, William, Elizabeth and Flora Powell living with them with her two sons, Willie and LJ
1918 William F. and Elizabeth moved to Birmingham to live with daughter Mrs. W.B. Acker (Flora McCain)
1919 Birmingham City Directory McCain, Wm F (Elizab O) clk FIfth av Gro b 1901 4th Av w
1920 Census ED 19, Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL, 1901 Hayes Street , living with daughter Flora
1921 he had a stroke of paralysis, in five weeks he had another light stroke. He died without warning. He had a stroke of appoplexy and died in a convulsion which lasted for five or ten minutes Source: Article by C.W. O'Hara
When he died he left a wife and 5 children.
Buried Refuge Cemetery, near Lincoln, Alabama
No will or estate papers found in Talladega County, Alabama courthouse. Need to look in Jefferson County, Alabama where he died.
