History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 190 - 191

JAMES HAYNES

Among the successful business men of Cadillac whose enterprising spirit and progressive methods contributed so largely to the city's industrial interest in the past, the name of the late James Haynes stands clearly and distinctly defined. His father was Joseph Haynes, a native of New York and of Dutch descent, his ancestors coming to this country in an early day and figuring quite conspicuously in various parts of the Empire state. James Haynes was born at Gorham, New York, on the 17th day of February, 1825. He spent the first twelve years of his life in his native commonwealth and in 1837 accompanied his father to Michigan, settling in the county of Van Buren, where he lived until the year 1863, devoting the great part of the interim to business pursuits in the town of Lawrence. In early life he dealt in produce, but later engaged in the lumber and grain trade at Decatur, to which place he removed from Lawrence. After spending nine years at Decatur he changed his abode in 1872 to Clam Lake and here built, the same year, a large planning-mill, which he operated successfully until 1877, when the entire plant was destroyed by fire. With characteristic energy he at once rebuilt the structure, but upon a more extensive scale than formerly, and the business continued to grow in magnitude and importance it was found necessary to erect a second mill of still larger proportions. Accordingly in 1881 what was known as mill No. 2 was completed, the combined capacity of the two plants averaging over two hundred thousand feet per day. Meantime, in 1880, Mr. Haynes took in as partners his sons, N. D., C. E. and E. J. Haynes, the firm thus constituted being known as James Haynes & Sons, the father having some time previously given the latter an interest in the business. The enterprise proved successful from the beginning and in due time became the largest industry of the kind in Cadillac, a reputation it has ever since sustained. Energetic and progressive in all the terms imply, with sound judgment, rare foresight and line executive ability, Mr. Haynes established the business upon a solid basis and, with the assistance of his sons, who early demonstrated peculiar fitness for the prosecution of large undertakings, the mills kept pace with the increasing demands upon them until, as stated above, the enterprise became a permanent fixture in the city. Mr. Haynes finished his life work and was gathered to his fathers on the 2d of February, 1886, his wife dying six years prior to that date, at the age of fifty-one years. Mrs. Haynes' maiden name was Mary M. Bierce. Her father, Norman Bierce, was a native of Connecticut, but in an early day moved to New York and from that latter state, in 1837, migrated to Michigan, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying at Cadillac in 1885 in the ninety-second year of his age, leaving a family of one son and three daughters. Fraternally James Haynes was a Mason of high standing, having belonged to the blue lodge at Cadillac and Peninsular Commandery, Knights Templar, at Kalamazoo. Though in no sense a politician, he was for many years one of the leading Democrats in Wexford county and as such was elected to various official positions, in all of which he manifested the same interest and high business qualifications displayed in his private enterprises. He served one term as justice of peace, was township treasurer five years, city treasurer one year and at the time of his death was both treasurer of the county and mayor of Cadillac. For many years his life was very closely identified with the business interests and industrial prosperity of Cadillac and Wexford county and in the history of both his name will always figure as that of one of the notable men of his day and generation. A strong, welldeveloped character, combined with vigorous mental powers, indomitable moral courage, untiring energy and a capacity for large undertakings, he nobly fulfilled his mission and at its close left to posterity and to the community an honorable name, the memory of which will live coeval with the history of the flourishing city with whose industrial prosperity he had so much to do. Charles E. Haynes, son of James and Mary M. Haynes, was born in Van Buren county, Michigan, February 22, 1855. When he was about eight years old his parents moved to Decatur, this state, and it was in the schools of that town that he received his educational training, having lived there until coming to Clam Lake in the year 1873. Here he grew to man's estate, the meanwhile becoming familiar with business affairs under his father's direction, and in 1883 he went to Jennings where he built and for some time operated what was known as the C. E. Haynes & Company's planning mill. Returning to Cadillac in February, 1888, he purchased the Spaulding mill, west of Hobart, which he operated during the season of 1889, and the following year made an extensive tour of the western states and territories, spending some time in Washington and Oregon, buying and selling lumber. In 1891 he returned to Cadillac and the next year bought a half interest with his brother, E. J. Haynes, the firm thus constituted being still known as the Haynes Brothers Planing Mill, the largest industry of the kind in the city. In addition to dressing lumber the firm deals extensively in all kinds of lumber, laths, singles, etc., and do a successful and far-reaching business, their patronage extending over a large area of contiguous territory besides shipping extensively to distant points. Mr. Haynes is an accomplished business man, energetic and thoroughly reliable, and much of the success of the large enterprise with which he is connected is due to his efforts. In 1883 he was elected alderman and as such looked carefully after the city's interests and made a creditable and praiseworthy record. Personally Mr. Haynes is the embodiment of good nature, a hale fellow well met, and his popularity is only bounded by the limits beyond which he has not become acquainted. He was married, June 26, 1879, to Miss Ellen O. Stevens, of Parishville, New York, and they have a beautiful and attractive home in Cadillac which is frequented by the best society circles of the city. Elbert J. Haynes, brother of the preceding and third son of the late James Haynes, was born November 22, 1859, in Lawrence, Van Buren county, Michigan, and received his education in the schools of Decatur, to which place the family moved in 1863. In July, 1873, he came to Clam Lake with his parents and here assisted in operating the planing-mill, an account of which is given in the preceding paragraphs, becoming a prominent factor in the industry and demonstrating unusual business ability for one of his age and experience. Meantime he finished his literary education in the schools of Clam Lake, later completed a full business course at the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business College at Valparaiso and, returning home, took charge of his father's books and correspondence, attending to all the details of the office until January 1, 1882, when the firm of James Haynes & Sons was formed, consisting of Norman D., Charles E. and Elbert J. Charles E. withdrew in May, 1883, the subject, with his father and other brother, continuing the business until 1886. James Haynes dying in February of that year, Norman D. and Elbert J. continued the enterprise under the original name, in addition to which the subject was appointed county treasurer to fill the vacancy in that office caused by his father's death. Elbert J. Haynes first entered the county treasurer's office in January, 1885, as deputy under his father and served as such until April 1, 1886, when, as stated above, he was appointed the regular custodian of the public funds, discharging his duties ably and conscientiously in both capacities. When Norman D. withdrew from the firm, January, 1892, to engage in the same line of business elsewhere, Elbert J. continued at Cadillac and in July, 1892, the present firm of Haynes Brothers, consisting of Charles E. and the subject, was formed. Mr. Haynes has been actively identified with the industrial interests of Cadillac since young manhood and has proven one of the enterprising and reliable business men of the city. Endowed by nature with strong mentality and keen perceptive faculties, and through a long and severe course of training proving able to discharge worthily important trusts, he has made his presence felt as a forceful factor in the community and stands today one of the most conspicuous figures in the industrial affairs of this section of the state. On the 26th day of March, 1885, he was happily married to Miss Louie T. Taplin, the union being blessed with two sons, Charles James and Merritt Mearne.