Frederick F. Cain of Erie, Kan., an old and respected resident of Neosho county, who is now filling the office of probate judge, is one of the many Eastern men who cast their fortunes with Kansas during the earlier days of the state. Judge Cain was born in Niagara county, New York, April 18, 1844, his parents being Frederick F. and Emma (Cuddaback) Cain. The father, who was born in Canada, came to the United States at the time of the war of 1812 and enlisted in the defense of our nation. He was but fourteen years of age and served in the army as a teamster. After the war he settled in Niagara county, New York, where he married Miss Emma Cuddaback and there reared a family of fifteen children. His whole career was spent as a farmer in Niagara county, where he died in 1856. Politically he was a stanch adherent of the Whig party. His father joined the Canadian army and died as a prisoner of war. The maternal grandparents of Judge Cain were natives of New York state.

Judge Cain was reared to manhood in New York state and there received his education, which was somewhat limited, as educational facilities then were not as they are now; but in the intervening years he has largely corrected his earlier deficiency through close observation and wide reading, and is today a well read and well informed man. He left his old home and associates when twenty years of age and came westward to Illinois, where for three years he conducted a bakery and restaurant. From there he went to Montana and was engaged in the mining business four years. In 1872 he came to Kansas and preëmpted a farm in Neosho county, which farm he still owns. Here his attention has been given principally to farming, though official duties have occupied a part of his time. He has held different township offices, among them being that of trustee, and he was postmaster at Galesburg, Kan., during President Cleveland's administration. His unswerving allegiance has been given to the Democratic party, in the work of which he has always taken a very active part. At the urgent solicitation of friends he became a candidate for the office of probate judge in 1910, and was elected to that office by a majority of 300 votes, in a county that normally is Republican by about 500 majority. Such was the expression of confidence and esteem in which Judge Cain is held in Neosho county, where by a long, honorable, and useful career he has firmly established his integrity and high standing as a citizen.

In 1877 Judge Cain was united in marriage with Mary Belle Ferguson. William Ferguson, her father, was born in London, England, and was the descendant of one of England's famous families, his father, the grandfather of Mrs. Cain, having been a member of the British Parliament. William Ferguson came to America when fourteen years of age and spent his business career as a farmer and merchant miller. He died in Benton Harbor, Mich., in 1880. To Judge and Mrs. Cain four children have been born: Clifford C. is a high school graduate and also a graduate of a business college at Niagara Falls, N. Y., where he is engaged in the lumber and milling business; Murray A., a graduate in both the liberal arts and medical department of Syracuse University, Syracuse, N. Y., and is now serving as an interne in the Women's and Children's Hospital at Syracuse and is the only male interne in the institution: Inez married George Smith of Parsons, Kan.; and Margaret, a graduate of the high school and of a business college at Parsons, Kan., is with her brother, Clifford C., in Niagara Falls, N. Y. Judge Cain and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and has been recorder for his lodge in the latter order a number of years. He is much interested in the work of these fraternal organizations and attends all the leading meetings of both orders.