Haynes, William Thomas 1847-1918

HAYNES, ANTHONY, SPIRE, HAYES, WRIGHT, DEEDRICK, OLTROGGE, MEYER, SCHRADER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/14/2010 at 17:05:41

The Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) Nov. 5, 1918

WILLIAM T. HAYNES

Well Known Farmer of Sheridan Township Passes Away October 24.

DIES QUITE SUDDENLY WHILE WORKING IN HIS GARDEN

Deceased Was One of Sheridan's Brightest and Most Honored Citizens.

It is with sincere regret that we record the death of men who have added much to the real progress of the world or the community in which they have lived. When the history of Sheridan with all its grand and prosperous citizens is written, on the the tablets of time few names will be in more grateful remembrance than will that of W.T. Haynes.

For forty-two years he had lived on the same farm on the county line, and during all that time he retained the confidence and regard of his fellowmen. A native of a foreign country he quickly grasped the meaning of our American institutions, and the cause of freedom never had a more staunch supporter. With a love of the deeper and better things in life, he was a wide and constant reader, and an enlightened thinker. Strangers who met Mr. Haynes soon saw in him something more than merely human, they say that he had caught the divine spark which took him out of the grosser things in life and gave him a keen insight into nature's secrets. He was a broad and useful thinker. In the pulpit or at the bar he would have been recognized as a leader. In his more secluded sphere, he was a world philosopher who read and thought and wrought in his own mind the greater ideas of the universe.

Of his life The Tama Herald writes:

William Thomas Haynes, son of John and Susanna Haynes, was born November 16, 1847, in Gloucestershire, England, and departed this life October 24, 1918.

In early childhood he was baptized in accordance with the forms of the Church of England.

At the age of 20 years he came to New York state and made his home with an uncle until 1870 when he came to Tama county, Iowa.

May 8, 1876, he was united in marriage to Mary M. Anthony with whom he moved to the farm in Sheridan township, Poweshiek county, which continued to be his home until the day of his death.

To this union were born twelve children, eleven of whom survive, one daughter Clista A., dying in early childhood. The surviving children are: Joseph Haynes, Tama; Robert L., Bradgate; Carl, at home; Ellis, Bernard; Mrs. J.C. Spire, Columbia township, Tama county; Mrs. F.R. Hayes, Mrs. Frank Wright, Haven; Mrs. Joseph Deedrick, Sheridan; Mrs. William Oltrogge, Sheridan; Mrs. Henry Meyer, Grinnell; Mrs. William Schrader, a few miles east of Tama.

Mr. Haynes was a prosperous farmer, possessing a very intelligent and active mind, and was successful in all his undertakings. He was an active worker for the Red Cross and engaged whole-heartedly in all undertakings, the purpose of which was to safeguard and enhance the interests of his adopted country.

He enjoyed good health until a year ago when he began to fail and the summons came Thursday while at work in his garden, death ensuing from a stroke of apoplexy.

He leaves, beside his wife and eleven children, twenty-four grandchildren, one brother and two sisters residing in England, and a host of acquaintances and friends who deepy mourn the loss of a good friend and neighbor.

The funeral services were held at the home at 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon and were conducted by Rev. W.S. Kight, of Des Moines, an old friend of Mr. Haynes. The casket was covered with a blanket of roses and the room in which he was laid was made beautiful by many flowers, the tributes of his loving friends. The pall bearers were his four sons, Joseph, Robert, Carl and Ellis, and four of his sons-in-law, Frank Wright, Joseph Deedrick, James Spire and William Oltrogge. He was laid to his eternal rest in Sheridan cemetery.