George Haines
Grant County has its many beautiful and valuable farm estates, some of which have been under one name since the pioneer era of this region. George Haines occupies a portion of the land which was settled by his father nearly seventy years ago, and has himself been closely identified with Monroe Township for over forty years. As a farmer and stockman he has made a fine record and he bears a name which has always been associated with honest industry and unimpeachable integrity in this county.
George Haines was born on the Haines farm in section eight of Monroe Township, April 15, 1850, a son of James and Nancy W. (Smith) Haines, both of whom were natives of Fayette County, Ohio, where they were reared and married. The father, who was born March 14, 1818, and died in march, 1884, came to Grant County in 1844, and filed a claim on one hundred and sixty acres of government land. He died not settle on that place because of its low situation and the water which stood in great lakes over its surface at the time. He bought forty acres on a higher level, cleared off the woods, and erected a cabin of round logs, which furnished the first home of the Haines family in Grant County. At the time of his settlement there were no roads in the vicinity, and he and his family had to contend with many pioneer conditions and hardships. Despite his hard beginning, James Haines prospered and at one time was owner of about nine hundred acres of land. As his children became of age he gave to each one a farm, and provided liberally for those dependent upon him, and always exercised a wholesome influence in the life of the community. He was a Mason from the time he became of age, and was also a communicant of the Methodist Church. The seven children in his family were named as follows: Mrs. Susanna Boller, a widow residing in Monroe Township; Mrs. Rebecca E. Kelly, now deceased, who lived in Blackford County; Milton, deceased; George; Samuel, of Van Buren; Alfred, on the old homestead in Monroe Township; and Constantine, of Alhambra, California.
George Haines was educated in the district schools of Monroe Township, and as his father was in more than ordinary circumstances, he also enjoyed the advantages of the town schools, attending the institution at Marion taught by William and Bina Russell, during 1868-69 and 1870. After that he served a period as school teacher for three terms, teaching in the number one school in Jefferson Township, in number two in Pleasant Township, and number one in Monroe Township. When he became of age his father gave him one hundred and twenty acres of land, and the son afterward paid a part of the value of this to his father. Since that original acquisition he has added four hundred and forty acres, making his estate now a farm of five hundred and sixty acres, lying in sections four, five, eight and nine of Monroe Township. His home is situated on section five. About 1876 he added eighty acres adjoining his first place and then bought seventy acres nearby. In 1885 he purchased the interests of some of the heirs in the home farm, and in 1888 bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. He personally manages and farms all but one hundred and sixty acres on section four, which is conducted under a tenant. His home dwelling is a large white frame house, a very attractive home, comprising eleven rooms an erected in 1885. Back of it is situated a large red barn, forty by seventy-five feet and built in 1885. The farm in section four also has good barns and a dwelling houses. Mr. Haines is one of the large crop raisers of Monroe Township, and in 1912 his record for production was two thousand bushels of corn, tow thousand bushels of oats, and sixty tons of hay. On his farm Mr. Haines has about forty head of cattle, and one hundred hogs, using eight horses for the farm work. He markets each year about one hundred and twenty-five hogs.
In the spring of 1885, Mr. Haines married Miss Margaret Benbow, a daughter of Thomas Benbow. Six children were born to their marriage, four of whom are now living, namely: Lena J., at home; Benjamin, deceased; Willis W., at home; Wilmont, in school, at Muncie; one that died in infancy; and Geneva Beatrice. Mr. Haines is a Republican in politics, and he and his family worship in the Christian Church.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.