According to Joe and Polly's son, Wade Mainer, Joe's mother was Eliza Mainer. His father was either a Lyda or a Lytle. Joe was raised by his uncle Spain Mainer and chose to take his last name.

1850 is the year listed as his birth date on his death certificate, and it is also on his tombstone, but Wade also said he made a mistake with both. Joe listed his birth month and year as May 1867 on the 1900 census. Wade said that was the accurate year as he was only a couple of years older than his wife, Polly.

INFORMATION for William Joseph Mainer, comes from his Death Certificate, #16656, Registration #11-95, Certificate #450, and Microfilm 1,926,625
Born, May 13, 1850, Buncombe County, North Carolina, died 8-16-1947, at Norbury Hospital, Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, Medical Certificate, 137-A. Death from Uremia, Prostatic Obstruction, Gangrene, & Thrombosis left Brachial Artery.
Major finding operation, Amputation of left arm. Dr. Lee, was the surgeon, Death Certificate signed by him. Register on Death Certificate was M. McFee
Informant was Wade Mainer.

West Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Residence: Weaverville, Buncombe County, North Carolina
Death age: 97Y, 3M, 3D
Marital status: Widowed (Mary R. Arrowood)
Father of Eleven Children:
Eva Leona, the oldest child, born, 1890, Dorothy, Essie Roxielee, Alfred, Finley McKiny, Joseph Emmett, James Elmer, Gertrude, Eugene, Wade, and Willis.

D/C states he was Buried on August 17, 1947, in Union Chapel Church Cemetery, Weaverville, Buncombe County, North Carolina. He was actually buried in the Mainer-Fisher cemetery that is adjacent to the Union Chapel Church cemetery. Joe gave the land for the church and the cemetery, but reserved the adjacent land for a family cemetery.