NICHOLAS FAIN
was born on February 4, 1782; place not known, but probably in Washington County, North Carolina (now Tennessee);
son of Captain John and Nancy Agnes (McMahon) Fain, both natives of Pennsylvania. Educated for the law and
practiced at Rogersville, Hawkins County. Built the first brick house in Rogersville, a combination hotel
and store building. Director of Rogersville State Bank, 1817; postmaster of Rogersville, 1823-1839. Married (1st)
on June 26, 1806, to Sallie Gammon, daughter of Richard and Sarah (Gamble) Gammon; children--Hiram, Nancy
(Mrs. Sarah R. Peoples), Richard Gammon, John H., Eliza Ruth (Mrs. George R. Powel), George G., Nicholas
Looney Fain, and an unnamed infant. Courthouse commissioner; justice of the peace, chairman of county court,
mayor of Rogersville. Referred to a “Major” Fain, but no record of military duty. He was married (2nd), on
May 1, 1832, to Mrs. Eliza (Rhea) Anderson, daughter of Joseph and Frances (Braden) Rhea; no children by this
marriage. He served in the House, 23rd and 24th Tennessee General Assemblies, 1839-43; representing Hawkins and Sullivan
counties; Republican. Died in Hawkins County on July 2, 1849; buried in New Presbyterian Cemetery, Rogersville.
Bibliography
Source: Bradford, The Fains of Tennessee, 19; D.A.R. Rosters and Soldiers, 636-37; Railroad
Advocate, July 19, 1831; Rogersville Review, January 9, 1941; “Hawkins County Will Book, I,
1797-1886, Pt. 1,” p. 193; “Hawkins County Miscellaneous Records,” 45-47.
