David Haines, one of the well known and estimable citizens of Pottawattamie County, dates his residence in Council Bluffs from 1850. Mr. Haines is a native of Frome, Somersetshire, England, where he was born in 1819. His father, John Haines, was desirous that his son should enter the university and had him educated with that object in view, but the son did not fully agree with the father as to his life-work, and so strongly opposed his father's views that he was finally apprenticed to the trade of tailor, and by serving his time of apprenticeship obtained a thorough knowledge of his trade.

The subject of this sketch was married in England, to Miss Ann Harwood. Her father was a foreman for Sir William Beckford, of Fontanelle Abbey, whose father was at one time Lord Mayor of England, and grandfather to the present Duke of Hamilton. Sir William Beckford was the builder of that noted place in Wiltshire, England, called Fontanelle Abbey, the most splendid private residence the world ever saw. The building alone cost $5,000,000; the flower garden alone contained 575 acres; the front door was thirty-three feet high and worked on wrought iron hinges, weighing 2,200 pounds, and the art gallery contained a perspective of 312 feet.

Mr. Haines was married before the age of eighteen years. In 1846 he emigrated to America with his family, and for four years worked at his trade in the city of New York. In 1850 he came to Council Bluffs, purchased a lot and erected a house and opened a clothing store. August 7, 1852, he was deprived of his wife by death, she having fallen a victim to cholera, which terrible disease swept over the country in that year. She left her husband and two sons. The eldest entered the army in the War of the Rebellion as a member of the Iowa Infantry, commanded by General Dodge. Later he was transferred to the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, and was killed in Missouri after having served about two years. Mr. Haine's youngest son was born in Council Bluffs in 1851, and is now a successful farmer in Boomer Township, Pottawattamie County.

Mr. Haines followed merchant tailoring until 1859, when he went to Denver, Colorado, where he remained one year engaged in mining. In company with Messrs. Blake & Williams, he laid out what was then the principal part of the city of Denver, comprising the south part of that city at the present time. When Mr. Haines came to Pottawattamie County he entered a large amount of land. He suffered with others in the panic of 1857, but has always dealt largely in real estate, and still owns much landed property, including a fine farm in Boomer Township. Mr. Haines has for many years attended to the real estate business of Mrs. Mynster, and his excellent business ability and careful management has been of great value to that estimable lady in the conduct of her business. Mr. Haines is a finely educated, worthy and intelligent gentleman and highly respected by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.