The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-06-06
WILLIAM T. HAINES.
CONTINUED from Page one)

| niue DOOlS Wnlle student IN college.
This idea of work has continued with
him. He still works hard, though in
different way.
Born on a Farm.
AS intimated Mr.. Haines was born
upon a farm. This important event
in his life took place in the town of
Levant in the year 1854, which &C.
cording to accepted rules of comput-
ing such things makes him man 81
years of age at this time. His parents
were poor and to follow out the style
which used to be a favorite with the
man writing the history of another's
life 1t might be added, honest. He
lived upon farm from that time un-
til entering upon the practice of law,
excepting, of course, such periods, as
he was away at college, or teaching
school-even then he was living on
the farms of the neighborhood.
His first lessons were learned in
one of the little framed school houses
of a Levant school district. 1t was
framed structure, heated by one of
those old-fashioned Hampden heaters,
which were fayorites with the school
committeeman of eastern Maine in
those days. These heaters were big
iron boxes taking a two foot length
of hard wood and throwing off
great amount of heat. though in
large school room the pupils on the
back seats sometimes suffered from
the cold in winter. Haines helped to
tend the fires along with the other
boys and tramped a long distance
each day so that he might get the
rudiments of the education which he
had determined should be his. From
the district school he jumped to the
University of Maine; that is, what is
today the U. of Nj. 1t was then known
as the Maine State college.
A few years ago the college frater-
nifty to which he belonged was COM
piling some information concerning
it's members and the historian wrote
to Haines for something concerning
himself. The request was complied
with and in the course of 1t Mr..
Haines wrote that when he entered
college it was a farmers boy, fresh
from the farm, dressed in homespun
Clothes the coat sleeves of which
were far above the wrists and trous-
ers legs nowhere near the ankles and
that, being slight, he presented
splendid appearance.
In 1876 he graduated from the state
college and then entered the Albany
law school, from which he graduated
in 1878, was admitted to the bar and
began praeticing law.
During the years he was in college
he taught school to earn the money
necessary for board and clothing. In
Nf oh ri
in the counties of Penobscot, Wash
ington and Aroostook and then began
making the acquaintance of the state
of Maine. This acquaintance he has
continued until the present time. -
Career As n Lawyer.
1t was in 1878, that of his gradua-
ton from law school, that he arrived
in the Kennebec county town of Oak
land, hired small office and hung
out a sign announcing that it was the
law office of William T. Haines.
To say that he Immediately jumped
into a lucrative practice would be
downright lie.
He did not
That paying practice was sometime
in coming, as is the case with most
young lawyers, Haines had to grub
along for sometime after securing the
legal right to plead cases in court.
1t came in time,
For a year and a half he lived in
Oakland. Then his judgment advised
a change of field His law library,
not an extensive one, and office turnl-
ture, likewise not excessive, were
packed up and moved to Waterville,
where he set up business. Since
then he has not moved. WaterVille
has been his home and, in turn, he
has done much to aid in the develop
ment and growth of the city.
In Waterville business came to him.
1t grew in volume and in time he be-
came one of the best known lawyers
in the city, then in the county and
eventually in the State.
Gets Into Politics.
1t was Father natural for him to
get into politics. The lawyer who
lives in Kennebec county and doesn't
feel call to get into the political
arena is an odd sort of stick
He first got into it in 1879, when
he went out upon the stump in the
great campaign of that year. He was
assigned to the work of stumping
Kennebec county in company with
hon. Herbert NJ. Heath of Augusta.
In the campaign of 1880 he was again
on the stump and in 1882, was can
didate for the republican nomination
as county attorney of Kennebec. AT
the convention he won out and at the
election in September was the choice
of the county for that office, taking up
the duties on the first day of January
1888, on the same day he was married,
This office he held for four years. es-
tablishing a record for efficiency and
determination.
AS county attorney he had three
murder cases to try in one term and
at that time made a record which has
never been equalled in this state.
They were tried in seven days and
conviction was secured in each case.
In addition to that three murderers
had been apprehended, indicted, con-
victed, sentenced and committed to
state prison within sixty days from
the date of their crimes.
This record still stands In Maine.
1t is doubtful if it has been equalled
in the country.
Next the people of Wateryille