McDonough ILGenWeb

HAINLINE, William Henry, at present Postmaster of the city of Macomb, McDonough County, Ill., was born in what is now Emmet Township, that county, July 29, 1841. His parents were John D. and Margaret A. (Douthitt) Hainline, natives of Montgomery County, Ky. His father was born September 14, 1816, and his mother's birth took place March 14, 1818. John D. Hainline, who was a farmer by occupation, was reared to manhood in Kentucky, where he married Margaret Douthitt. He came to Illinois in 1838, and settled in Emmet Township, McDonough County, where he carried on farming during the remainder of his life. He died in December, 1901, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1869. He was an intelligent, upright and well-disposed man, and was notable for his hospitality. George Hainline, John D. Hainline's father, was born about the year 1794. His father, John Hainline, came from North Carolina to Kentucky at the same time as did Daniel Boone, and was with that celebrated pioneer when he settled at a frontier post called Bryant Station, near where now is the city of Lexington. George Hainline's wife was a lady of English descent, named Cockerill, and an aunt of ex-United States Senator Cockerill, of Missouri. The great-grandfather of W. H. Hainline's mother was a member of the Castleman family, now prominent in Kentucky. William H. Hainline was reared to farm work, and in the winters of his boyhood attended the common school in his neighborhood, where he wrestled with McGuffey's Readers, the Elementary "blue black" spelling book, Kirkham's Grammar, and Pike's and Ray's arithmetics. In 1859, when eighteen years old, he went to Pike's Peak with an ox-team; gold did not pan out for him and he returned the same year. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Sixteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three years' service in the Civil War. On the expiration of his term he re-enlisted, and served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out, July 8, 1865, at Louisville, Ky. On coming home he was (unexpectedly to himself) nominated for the county treasurership. He was elected to that office, and moved to Macomb, occupying the house in which he now lives. After his two years' term as County Treasurer he was engaged two years in the drug business, in partnership with P. H. Delaney. He sold out his interest, and in 1870 purchased a half-interest in the "Macomb Journal" printing office; in 1881, bought the half-interest of his partner, B. R. Hampton. Mr. Hainline became one of the stockholders of the Frost Sewer Pipe Company on its organization. For over a third of a century he has been actively identified with the County Fair Association, of which he was Secretary for twenty-five years, and was President three years since 1902, declining re-election in 1905. He was one of the leading spirits in securing the location of the Illinois State Normal School in Macomb, and few public enterprises of any moment in this section have been developed without the active and energetic assistance of his helping hand. To him the mutual and educational interests of Macomb are as largely indebted as to any other man now living.

On June 12, 1866, Mr. Hainline was united in marriage, in Fulton County, Ill., with Victoria Schleich, who was born November 4, 1843, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and died February 24, 1874. Two children were the offspring of this union — Maude Lincoln Meloan, who was born September 29, 1869, and died March 7, 1904; and Mildred Douthitt Walker, born June 2, 1872. On January 24, 1879, Mr. Hainline was married, in Chicago, to Katherine Leslie Voorhees. This union resulted in two children, namely: Jean Leslie Rudolph, born June 30, 1883, and Andrew Leslie, born December 28, 1887. In politics, Mr. Hainline is an inflexible Republican, and one of the most earnest workers among the local leaders of his party. He represented his Congressional District tor six years on the State Republican Committee, refusing a re-election in 1898. Besides his incumbency in the office of County Treasurer and that of Postmaster, he has served the public two terms as Supervisor, 1875-77; one term as Alderman, 1868-70; and one term as Mayor, 1893-95. He was appointed Postmaster in 1898, was re-appointed on the expiration of his first term, and re-appointed for a third time in July, 1906. He served four years as Trustee of the Eastern Illinois State Normal at Charleston, and four years of the State Board of Education and as Trustee of the State Normal at Normal. Fraternally, the subject of this sketch is affiliated with A. F. & A. M. The first lodge he joined was the Good Templars. He is also identified with the K. of P., G. A. R., and a number of secret insurance societies. He has been editor and publisher of the "Macomb Journal" for thirty-five years, and he enters into the spirit of any movement conducive to the welfare of the community with a zeal which is a guarantee of his earnest effort. In personal demeanor he is kindly and affable, and has a hearty greeting for all within the range of his acquaintance.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 890-891, extracted 04 Jan 2019 by Norma Hass.