WILLIAM T. HAINES, of Waterville, was born in Levant, Me., August 7, 1854, and son of Thomas J. and Maria L. (Eddy) Haines. He is a direct descendant of the eighth generation from Deacon Samuel Haines, who sailed from Bristol, England, June 4, 1635 in the ship "Angel Gabriel," built by Sir Walter Raleigh, and which was wrecked on the voyage at Pemaquid (now Bristol), Me., in the "great hurricane" of August 15, of that year.

Deacon Haines settled in the parish of Greenland, Portsmouth, N. H., in 1650, and the homestead built by him there is still standing. He was one of the nine founders of the First Congregational Church, of Portsmouth, and was Selectman of that town from 1653 to 1663. He became owner, by grant and by purchase, of large tracts of land, which he distributed among his children during his lifetime.

He was the progenitor of the New Hampshire family of Haines. His grandmother Haines was a Whidden, another well-known New Hampshire family. On the maternal side (Eddy) Mr. Haines is a direct descendant of Colonel Eddy, for whom the town Eddington, in this State, is named. His grandmother Eddy was a Knapp, one of the prominent families, in early history, of New England.

Mr. Haines' early life was spent on the farm, and in the common schools of his native town. After a short preparatory course at East Corinth Academy, he entered at the Maine State College, Orono, in 1872, and graduated in 1876, with the honor of Valedictorian of his class of thirty-three members. In 1878 he graduated from the Albany Law School.

At the age of seventeen Mr. Haines commenced teaching in the public schools, which he continued, during vacations and winter seasons, untiL he began the practice of law. In May, 1879, Mr. Haines settled at Oakland (then West Waterville), Kennebec County, Me., and commenced the practice of law, where he remained until October, 1880, when he moved to Waterville, where he has since resided. Soon after coming to the Bar, Mr. Haines surrounded himself with a good clientage, and was very soon found in the Courts trying his own cases. In 1882 he was elected County Attorney for Kennebec County, which office he held for two terms.

Mr. Haines has always been a Republican, and has taken an active interest in every campaign since he became a voter, and has served his party in several campaigns upon the stump.

He was elected to the Maine Senate, Kennebec County, in 1888, and again in 1890. As a legislator Mr. Haines put forth many new and reform measures, among which may be mentioned the Registration Bill, for the registration of voters in cities, which is known by his name, and, for which, he received both praise and abuse, as it was passed by a strict party vote at the end of his second term, having been defeated in x888; but now, that the measure has been tried, all are compelled to admit that it is a great improvement on the old method of registering voters in cities. He also introduced, and carried through, the constitutional amendment requiring an educational qualification for voters, which was adopted by the people in the election in 1892. Perhaps the most prominent of Mr. Haines' legislative work will be remembered his efforts to pass a statute for the regulation of railroad rates and fares, for which he made a most determined fight, during both his terms in the Senate, and, in both of which, he was unsuccessful, yet none can deny that his efforts, in this direction, did a good deal towards creating public sentiment to demand mileage tickets at two cents per mile, which was promised by the railroads, before the debate was closed, and the last vote taken on his bill in the Senate. As a legislator Mr. Haines was generally successful, being a ready and forcible debator, and one who makes firm friends of his associates.

He has done a good deal, both in the Legisture and out, to assist his Alma Mater, having served upon the Board of Trustees since 1882. He was Chairman of the Committee, and had charge of the construction of both "Coburn Hall" and "Wingate Hall," at the State College, and has been Secretary of the Trustees since 1886. In 1892 Mr. Haines was candidate for Attorney General, but was defeated by Hon. F. A. Powers, of Houlton.

As a citizen of Waterville Mr. Haines has been prominent in many of the new enterprises in that city. He organized, and, with others, started the Waterville Loan and Building Association, for which he is now Attorney and one of the Executive Board of Trustees; also the Masonic Building Company, which built the Masonic Building on Common Street, in that city, which contains one of the most spacious and beautiful Masonic Lodge rooms to be found in our State. In 1892 Mr. Haines organized, and sold the greater part of the stock of, the Waterville Trust and Safe Deposit Company, which occupies most spacious and finely finished banking rooms, and has one of the most complete and substantial vaults in the Masonic Building above mentioned. He is Attorney, and also one of the Directors, of this Bank. He is also connected with several other local enterprises, both as Attorney and Director, and has been President of the Keunebec Mutual Life Insurance Company from its organization. Aside from business Mr. Haines has always taken great interest in the fish and game of our State, and, in connection with W. P. Blake. Esq., of Oakland. was the first to introduce landlocked salmon into the lakes of Kennebec County. He organized and, with Mr. Blake and others, started the Kennebec Fish and Game Association, which has grown to be one of the most prosperous of this kind of organizations to be found within our State. He is also a member of the Maine Sportsman's Association, and Chairman of the Committee on Hatching Houses.

But, with all Mr. Haines connection with business, the best part of his energies and time have always been devoted to the practice of law. As an Attorney he enjoys the confidence of the community, both for integrity and ability. In the management of his cases he is a most untiring worker. When County Attorney he tried three murder cases in seven days, obtaining conviction in all. Kennebec County saw three of her citizens, who had taken life, in State's Prison, two for life and one for seven years. in a little over two months from the date the first crime was committed. As Judge Whitehouse, who presided at the trials, remarked, this was administering criminal law with certainly and celerity and he hoped with not too much severity.

Mr. Haines married Edith S. Hemmenway, daughter of Bickford and Emeline P. (Woodwork) Hemmen way, of Rockland, Me.. January 1, 1883, by whom he has three children, viz: Ethej A., William, and Gertrude W.

Mr. Haines is a great admirer of his native State. and particularly of his adopted city and the Kennebec Valley. At the meetings of the State Board of Trade, of which Mr. Haines has been.a prominent member, he has always advocated Maine for Maine people, as a place in which to invest their money and their energy, a good State in which to be born, in which to live, and in which to die.