Morris Haynes was born October 17, 1851, and was the son of Hiram and Sara (Worden) Haynes, the father having been born September 27, 1825, and the mother August 18, 1828. The father came to Michigan in 1838 with his parents from New York and settled in Locke township, where he was married December 19, 1850. Hiram Haynes started for himself before he was of age, by going first to Wisconsin, where he stayed one year and earned enough to buy forty acres of land, which he lost in speculation. He immediately went to work again on a farm and earned enough to buy another forty acres, which he traded toward seventy acres in Williamston township, secion I. He moved on this place whre he lived until his death, August 13, 1900. The seventy acres were improved but the energy and ambition of this sturdy pioneer removed the forests and built a log house and later a frame house and two good barns. In politics, our subject's father was a Republican, and while not a member of any church, was a conscientious, honorable man, much respected by his neighbors. The mother was a member of the United Brethren church, and died December 22, 1900.
Morris Haynes was the first of nine children, five of who are living: Anthony, 1853; Lida L., 1855; Melvin, born in 1857, died in 1859; Lucy J., born in 1858, died in 1859; Eunice M., 1860; John J., 1863; James M., 1867, and Anna M., born 1869 and died in 1869.
Our subject acquired his education in the district school and the graded school of Leoni, and started to work for his father at the age of twenty-one years, continuing at this for one summer, when he worked the place on shares for two years. He settled in Locke township, section6, where he bought forty acres and had the use of ninety-four acres of his father's land, which was half improved. He now owns eighty acres of the father's estate which has not yet been divided, but of which he is the administrator. In politica Mr. Haynes is a Republican. He has never married, but he and his brother, Anthony, live together.
Once in the early days the father of our subject went to take something to eat to the Indians, who were sleeping on the ground near his home and they were so covered with snow, that he supposed they had gone, until calling them, they made their appearaance. Hiram Haynes used to go to Detroit with wheat to trade for supplied. He helped to chop out the trees and built roads in Williamston. In 1849 our subject's father started for Colorado, at the time of the gold excitement, but only reached Kansas, when he became discouraged and returned to Michigan. He had traveled about the country a great deal, and about thirty-five years before his death made a trip to California.
Many a time in the early days has our subject seen his father bring a wild deer, which he shot before breakfast. The father was a very successful hunter, a veritable nimrod.
Morris Haynes is an intelligent and well informed man and his reputation for integrity and honor is known throughout the county.
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Sondra Higbee
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