J. L. Raines, president of the Bank of Perry, is one of the progressive business men of Jefferson county. He was born at Sedalia, Mo., December 24, 1852, and is a son of Henry C. and Hester Ann (Stringfield) Raines, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Kentucky. The Raines family came to Kansas in 1866, and settled on a farm near Pleasant Valley. The family had removed from Missouri to Malvern, Iowa, in 1853, and resided there until they came to kansas[sic] in 1866. J. L. Raines received his early education in the public schools of Iowa and after coming to Kansas attended Kansas University at Lawrence. He then engaged in teaching in Perry and followed that occupation there until 1875. He then went to California and taught school in San Luis, Obispo county, until 1883, when he returned to Perry and engaged in teaching there again, and later was elected county superintendent of Jefferson county, serving in that office four years. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Perry until 1893, when he and Thomas Lee and John F. Goeffert organized the Bank of Perry, Mr. Goeffert becoming the president of the institution, and Mr. Raines, cashier. The bank was organized with a capital of $10,000, and the capital and surplus is now over $25,000. The bank has done a general banking business and prospered from the beginning, and the policy of the institution has been largely directed by Mr. Raines since its organization. He remained its cashier until 1911, when upon the death of Mr. Goeffert, he succeeded to the presidency of the institution, and his son V. C. Raines became the cashier. The bank owns its own building and has been remodeled recently, and is now thoroughly equipped with all modern banking fixtures, and is a model of convenience. Mr. Raines was married February 21, 1877, to Miss Fannie E. Carson, of Perry, Kans., a daughter of G. B. Carson who was a pioneer merchant of Jefferson county and for several years engaged in business at Perry. He later removed to Joplin, Mo., where he died. To Mr. and Mrs. Raines were born four children, two of whom are living: V. C., cashier of the Bank of Perry, a personal sketch of whom follows this article, and Edna, assistant cashier of the Bank of Perry. Mr. Raines has been a life-long Republican and has taken a keen interest in political affairs. He is a Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Aid, the Knights and Ladies of Security and the Modern Woodmen of America, and the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.