Obituary - Lewis G. Jain

Lewis Jain succumbs at 82

Lewis G. Jain, 82, a native of the Genesee farming area who farmed there most of his life, died Monday at 2 a.m. at Orchards Nursing Home at Lewiston where he had lived for the last two years. The cause of death was undetermined.

Jain, a charter member of the American Legion when it was organized at Paris, France, after World War I, was one of the founders of the Appaloosa Horse Club at Moscow and was known for his interest in preserving the Nez Perce Indian heritage.

A collection of historical Indian photographs, reproduced and tinted, that he had begun working on with his late wife, Martha, has been on display at the Spalding headquarters of Nez Perce National Historical Park in recent years. The collection also portrays Nez Perce customs, dress, ceremonial regalia and other artifacts typical of those worn or used in the 19th century.

The son of Walter and Lela Jain, he was born Aug. 31, 1894, on his father's homestead, a 450-acre farm east of Genesee on the breaks of Coyote Canyon. He was named after a grandfather, Lew Jain, a Civil War veteran.

He graduated from Genesee High School and from Northwestern Business College at Spokane in 1914. He worked as an assistant cashier at the Bank of Genesee from 1915 to 1917 when he entered the Army. He served as a messenger-runner with Company A, Eighth Machine Gun Battalion, Third Division, in all of the major engagements of the European Theater until his discharge in August, 1920.

He assumed operation of his parents' farm at Genesee after the war and on Jan. 18, 1922, married Martha Magee, also a native of the area, at Genesee. She died March 28, 1961.

He was a life member of Bielenberg-Schooler post of the American Legion at Genesee.

He is survived by two brothers, Ben Jain of Lapwai and Don Jain of Bovill, and two sisters, Grace Wicks of Moscow and Gladys Magee of Lewiston.

The funeral will be held Thursday morning at 11 at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home at Lewiston with the Rev. Roger LaChance officiating. Lewis-Clark post of the American Legion will conduct graveside services at Normal Hill Cemetery. The family suggests that any memorial contributions be made to the Genesee Ambulance Fund, the Appaloosa Horse Cub museum at Moscow or the Spalding museum of the historical park.

Unknown newspaper, (handwritten date November 15, 1976)
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock