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Thomas Haines

Thomas Haines, one of the early settlers of this State, now residing in Waukon, Allamakee County, settled with his family in Tipton, Iowa, in 1854. He was born in London, England, in March, 1812, and when a babe of two years his father emigrated to America to avoid being drafted into the British Army and forced to engage in the war against this country. Gathering his little family and worldly effects together, he made his escape on a friendly vessel and at length reached New York Harbor in safety.

Thomas was reared to manhood under the parental roof, and having attained to mature years, wedded Miss Eleanor J. Moody, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth moody, in New York City, in 1831. The family resided in various States, where Mr. Haines engaged in printing or shoemaking, whichever he thought would prove the more profitable. He lived in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Georgia, New Jersey and Ohio, and finally located permanently in the young state of Iowa. He lived in Tipton and Maquoketa one year and three months, then removed to Wyoming, Jones County, where he made his home until 1877, in which year he became a resident of West Union. Several years were there passed, after which he removed to Allamakee County, where he is now living.

In the family of Thomas and Eleanor Haines were seven children, of whom James R. was the eldest. He was born in Redhook, N. Y., June 5, 1837, was married in Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa, to Mrs. Sophia Chandler, and now resides in Marshalltown, where he is employed by the Iowa Central Railroad Company. They have two children. Thomas Moody, twin brother of James, enlisted in the Eleventh Iowa Infantry and was killed at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1863; Samuel Drew was born December 6, 1839, and died in early childhood; Samuel R. was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 15, 1844; Eleanor was born October 27, 1846, in Madison, Ind., and died the following month; George William was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. January; 6, 1848, married Addie Estes in Wyoming, Jones County, Iowa, and is now living in Waukon, where he carries on a wagon and blacksmith shop. They have three children, two of whom, Nettie and Arthur, are now living, Eddie having died in infancy; Joseph was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., December 22, 1850, married Hattie Waite, of Wyoming, Iowa, and now resides in Waukon, where he is engaged in the grocery and provision business. He is the youngest of the family.

The mother of these children died in West Union from the effects of a broken limb while on a visit to her son, S. R. Mr. Haines still survives his wife and is now living with his son Joseph at Waukon, but is always a welcome visitor at the homes of his other children. He is an exemplary Christian gentleman, living at peace with all mankind and patiently awaiting the summons when he may be permitted to rejoin the loved who have passed on before. Having outlived the allotted three-score and ten years, he feels that his earthly career is about at an end. His life has been a useful one and he is loved and respected by all who know him.

Samuel R. Haines, one of the leading business men of West Union, deserves more especial mention in this volume. On the 26th of July, 1866, in Wyoming, Jones County, Iowa, he was united in marriage with Miss Ella T. Hill, daughter of Willard and Christina (Crandall) Hill, and a native of Belfast, Allegheny County, N. Y. They removed from Wyoming, where their marriage was celebrated, to West Union, Iowa, in January, 1876, and in the fall of that year Mr. Haines and his brother Joseph entered into partnership in the furniture and undertaking business, which connection continued until January, 1879, when Joseph withdrew, our subject continuing the business alone. Subsequently Millington was taken into partnership with his father, and under the firm name of Haines & Son affairs are conducted.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Haines five children have been born, three of whom are living: Millington, the eldest, was born April 7, 1868, married Emma Longfield, and is now associated in business with his father; Lettie Adell, born March 26, 1870, graduated from the High School of West Union and subsequently attended the Iowa State Normal, at Cedar Falls. She is now engaged in teaching in the public schools of this county. For two summers after her graduation she carried on a kindergarten school in West Union, where the younger children were instructed after the modern system of teaching. Leroy, born July 26, 1877, died May 21, 1880; Raymond, born April 2, 1882, died on the 11th of June following; Fannie May, born July 10, 1884, now lives to make glad the hearts of fond and loving parents whose home has been made desolate by the death of two of their children, while the two eldest had left the parental roof.

Mr. Haines, his wife and daughter Lettie are members of the Presbyterian Church of West Union, and he is an honored member of Round Grove Lodge, No. 41, I. O. O. F., of which he is Past Grand; also is Past C. P. of West Union Encampment, No. 57, I. O. O. F. Politically the Haines family are stanch Republicans and, with one or two exceptions, are all church members. The firm of Haines & Son is doing a general furniture and undertaking business, having an extensive trade in that line, and has won the confidence of its patrons and creditors."