HARRY D. HINES
Harry
D. Hines occupies as manager of the Old Colony Creamery one of
the foremost positions in the commercial life of Humeston. He is a native son
of Iowa, being born at Chariton, October 28, 1870, his parents
being J. H. and Caroline (Blair) Hines. The father was born
in Halifax, Nova Scotia, about 1823, and passed away at
Chariton, June 4, 1879.
He was one of the earliest settlers of Lucas county and
a master bridge builder by trade, also following the
occupation of railroad contracting. He built many of the bridges between
Chariton and Leon on the Chariton and St. Joe division of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The mother,
Caroline (Blair) Hines, was a native of Pennsylvania, born
April 20, 1848, and now makes her home with her daughter at
Flushing, Long Island. Mr.
and Mrs. Hines were the parents of four children, three of
whom are living and of whom the subject of this sketch is the
oldest. The
others living are: Allen
A., born April 9, 1872, residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota;
and Mrs. Edna Freeman, born July 31, 1876, residing at
Flushing, Long Island. Carrie,
the first born, died in infancy. All the children were born at Chariton,
Iowa.
Harry
D. Hines spent his boyhood in Chariton and there attended
public school in the acquirement of his education until nine
years of age. At
the death of the father in 1879 the family removed to Kansas,
where they remained for two years, after which they returned
to Chariton, remaining a few months there and thence removing
to Humeston, where our subject has since resided. Harry D. Hines
continued his education while in Kansas and subsequently
attended the Humeston public school, supplementing his
education by a course in the Central Normal University at
Humeston, from which he graduated with the class of 1893 with
the degree of Bachelor of Science. His excellent education fitted him well
for the profession of teaching and he followed this line of
occupation for three years before he entered the employ of
James L. Humphrey as bookkeeper, continuing in that capacity
until 1906. His
executive ability was soon recognized by his employer and in
that year he was appointed to the position of superintendent
of the creamery department, remaining in that connection until
the fall of 1909, when he was made general manager of the
whole plant on the demise of Mr. Taber, his predecessor in the
position. This
creamery was established in December, 1880, by Dr. George
McCulloch, James Taylor, J. T. Riggle, J. R. Cassady and J. D.
Hasbrouck, these gentlemen being the owners of the enterprise. It was first
operated under the old gathered-cream system. During the early
‘80s it passed into the hands of J. F. Stoop and Millard Chase
and these gentlemen in turn disposed of it to Haldeman &
Son. This firm
operated the business until January 1, 1896, at which time it
was purchased by James L. Humphrey, Jr., of New Bedford,
Massachusetts. In
October of the same year Mr. Humphrey added to his interests
by purchasing the wholesale poultry, butter and egg business
of Chase & Stoop and consolidated the two enterprises. The old creamery
was located at first in the east part of Humeston and was
known under the name of the Wayne County Creamery, but when
the same came into the possession of Mr. Humphrey it was named
the Old Colony Creamery, under which name its goods are known
at present from ocean to ocean.
The business has marvelously increased and necessitated
in 1897-8 the erection of a fine new brick plant in the
central part of Humeston, adjacent to the railroad, where
annually thousands of pounds of cream and poultry are taken
care of. From a
small and humble beginning this institution has grown to one
of the largest in Iowa, having an annual output of about a
million dollars, and it is in a large measure due to the
executive ability, to the energy and industry of Mr. Hines
that the business has increased to these proportions and that
it is handled today in such an exemplary manner that it is a
model for other institutions of the same kind.
Mr.
Hines was married March 25, 1897, to Miss Lennie Holmes, a
native of Wayne county, Iowa, where she was born January 15,
1879. In this
county she grew to womanhood and has made it her home since. Her parents were
Gilbert and Elizabeth (Garton) Holmes, both of whom have
passed away, and in their family were six children, of whom
four are living: Mrs.
Hines; Gilbert, who resides at Rifle, Colorado; Mrs. Mabel
Wright, living at Corydon; and Ross, who makes his home at the
same place. Two
sons died in infancy. The
youngest of the children was born in Kansas but the others are
all natives of this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Hines have one daughter, Helen Bernice,
who was born at Humeston, Iowa, January 3, 1898, and is now
attending high school in the acquirement of an education.
Mr. Hines is a democrat in his political views and although he has never aspired to public office takes a laudable interest in the affairs of his party and the issues of the day and gives to all public questions that attention which a right-minded citizen considers his duty. His fraternal affiliations are with Fidelity Lodge, No. 228, A. F. & A. M. A man of strong character and business ability, he has become recognized as a forceful element in the commercial circles of the community and he enjoys the high regard and confidence of all those with whom he comes in contact. He has attained to a high place by honorable methods only and his activities, while of direct result to the large interests which he represents, are constructive in the development of a wide section surrounding Humeston. The keynote of his success may be said to be that he does well everything he finds to do and his career is proof of the fact that success is ambition’s answer.