Frank E. Hains
It is pleasing to record the careers of men who have raised themselves from humble circumstances to positions of responsibility and trust in their respective communities. Self-made men, men who have achieved success by reason of their personal qualities and left the impress of their individuality upon the business and growth of their places of residence, build monuments for themselves more enduring than marble or granite shaft. Such a man is Frank E. Haines, who, starting in life at the foot of the ladder, has so managed his affairs as to become one of the most substantial farmers of Union township.
Frank E. Haines, the son of Mahlon, Jr., and Clara E. (Chalfont) Haines, was born January 23, 1867, in Highland county, Ohio. His father, who was the son of Mahlon and Lavina (Cooper) Haines, was born in Fayette county, growing to manhood in this county and then settled in Highland county, this state, after his marriage. Mahlon Haines, Sr., was born near Zanesville, Ohio, in 1796, and was one of the first white children who was born within the present state of Ohio. He brought his family to Fayette county early in its history and lived in one house for more than sixty years. He is buried at the Pleasant Hill cemetery. Mahlon Haines, Jr., and wife reared a family of seven children: Mrs. Elizabeth Barr, of Highland county; Frank E., whose history is here recorded; Mrs. Anna Fishback, of Green township, this county; Austin, of Highland county, this state; Claude, of Union township, this county; Marcus, of Highland county; Mrs. Mary Shimp, of Ross county, Ohio.
Frank E. Haines attended the district schools of Highland county during his boyhood days and remained at home assisting with the work on the farm until he reached his majority, after which he worked by the month for farmers in Highland county. In 1899 he came to this county and purchased his present farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres in Union township about three miles from the county seat. Since acquiring this farm he has placed many extensive improvements upon it in the way of buildings, fencing and drainage. He is a skillful and careful farmer and so rotates his crops as to maintain his farm at its highest efficiency.
Mr. Haines was married October 19, 1891, to Augusta L. Cockerell, and to this union have been born three children, Iva, Juanita and Beotta. Iva is a graduate of the Washington C. H. high school, while the other two daughters are still in attendance in the high school.
Politically. Mr. Haines is a Republican and has always been active in local affairs. At the present time he is a member of the school board of Union township and gives the office his conscientious attention. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are prominent in all church and Sunday school work. Mr. Haines is a class leader in the church and gives his hearty support to all of the various enterprises with which the church is identified. Mr. Haines is a man who would win his way in any locality where he might locate, for he has sound judgment, coupled with great energy and business tact, and with the upright principles he has always maintained he would have been successful wherever fate might have placed him. His career is that of the self-made man, and such has been his conduct at all times that he well merits the hearty commendation which his neighbors and friends have always accorded him.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)