W. R. HAYNES, furniture dealer and undertake, was born June 29, 1844, in Williamson County, Tenn., being a son of R. R. and Sarah A. (Merritt) Haynes. The father was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., about 1808, was a cabinet-maker by trade and died in Williamson County, Tenn., in 1867. The mother was born about 1810 and is yet living.
The subject of this sketch was reared at Triune, Williamson County, and learned his father’s trade. He served throughout the war in Company F, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry and received a wound at Wartrace in a skirmish. He was in all the important battles of the southwest with Forrest’s brigade. For a time he then earned his living at manual employment and then for two years he conducted a furniture and undertaking business at Triune.
In October, 1872, he came to Shelbyville and opened up his business and has been very successful ever since. He was married May 31, 1876, to Mollie E. Summers, the result of this union being four children: Mary B., Kate S., Sadie and William R., Jr. All the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, Mr. Haynes being a steward in the church. Politically he is a Democrat, and he is an enterprising citizen of this county.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.