GREEN HAINLINE. On section 15, Hittle Township, Tazewell County, lies a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres of fertile land, one of the most pleasant homesteads in the county. The owner, Mr. Hainline has used great care and judgment in the cultivation of the soil and has introduced the improvements of a first-class farm.
Our subject was born in Boone County, Ky., March 16, 1816, and is the son of Henry and Nancy (Darnell) Hainline. His paternal grandparents were George and Hannah Hainline, the former of whom came from Germany when a lad of sixteen years in company with two elder brothers. They landed in South Carolina, where the grandfather at once began working on a farm. A few months later the Revolutionary War broke out and the man for whom he was working gave him a horse, saddle and other equipments in order that he might join the British Army. In the first battle in which he participated his horse was killed and he immediately joined the Continental Army, with which he fought until the close of the seven years of war. He then returned to his former employer, who again gave him work. He followed the trade of a wagon-maker until his marriage, which event took place in South Carolina. Afterward he turned his attention to farm pursuits and moved to Kentucky, where the father of our subject was born. The later years of his life were spent in Illinois at the home of Henry Hainline, and he died at the age of about ninety years.
The father of our subject was born in the Blue Grass State, where he received a very limited education. After his marriage with Miss Darnell he engaged in farming there until 1827, when he came with his wife and nine children to this state, locating in Tazewell County. At the time of his settlement here Indians and wild animals were the principal inhabitants and there were only five families in Hittle Township, where he purchased a quarter-section of land. Afterward he entered the Black Hawk War, and received as pay for his services a land grant, which he used in purchasing other property in this township. At his decease he was the owner of a valuable estate comprising three hundred acres.
To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hainline were born twelve children, one of whom died when quite young, the others bear the respective names of Polly (now deceased), Caleb, Green, Massy, George (deceased), Sylvester, Hannah S., Lorenzo, Alvira (deceased), Amanda and Henry. The parents were active members of the Christian Church, and in politics the father was a stanch {sic} Whig.
When they located in this township their children had for playmates Indian boys, with whom they often ran races and played various kinds of games. Green, of this sketch, received his education in the common schools of Tazewell County, and began when very young to earn his own way by working in the woods. He was only eleven years of age when with another brother he made four thousand rails during one winter.
Two years after attaining his majority Mr. Hainline married Miss Esther, daughter of Solomon and Polly Allen. To them were born six children, of whom two died when quite young. Nancy, Mrs. Valentine Summers, is now deceased. The other children are: Solomon A., Obed H. and Henry. Mrs. Esther Hainline departed this life about sixteen years ago. Our subject afterward married Mrs. Jerusha Smith, who died a few years later, and his next wife was Miss Mary Wright. His present wife was Mrs. Sallie Ritter, the daughter of Joseph Lancaster.
After his first marriage our subject entered forty acres of land from the Government and immediately began its improvement. He added to it from time to time and now has one hundred and forty acres, besides which he has given valuable property to his children. Many years ago Pekin and Peoria were the trading posts of the pioneers, and Mr. Hainline once made a trip to Chicago which consumed fourteen days. He is a member of the Christian Church and is an active temperance man, voting the Prohibition ticket.
Submitted by Betty Doremus
edoremus@mtco.com
