Few
citizens are more extensively known or better esteemed than the subject of this sketch,
who was born near Big River Mills, St. Francois County, March 15, 1820. The Haile family
have been identified with the history of the above county from its very earliest date.
Thomas Haile, the father of the subject of this sketch was a native of South Carolina, and
came at an early date to Missouri, and entered upon the privations of a frontier life.
Here he married Mr. Margaret (Eads) Montgomery, a native of Missouri, and by her became
the father of six children, of whom but four are now living. One of these was Thomas H.,
who spent the period preceding his twentieth year on the farm with his parents. At that
age, he undertook the pursuit of agriculture for himself in Perry Township. In 1849, he
joined the pilgrims to the gold fields of California, and after about a year's experience
there, returned by the ocean and isthmus route. In Caribbean, however, the vessel was
wrecked on a rocky island, and for thirty-six days they endured some of the Robinson
Crusoe experiences before they were relieved. He again spent a year on the Pacific slope,
but in 1842 returned and permanently located in St. Francois County. Since then he has
been prominently identified with the interests of his county, which in 1844, he
represented in the State Legislature. He has served the people as assessor and in various
other positions of less importance. He heartily unites with the democratic party in
political affairs. Mrs. Ann E. Tate, to whom he was married in 1855, is a native of Polk
county, Mo. She was born in 1829, the daughter of William and Millie A. Campbell, who were
among the very earliest pioneers of Polk and Greene Counties. Mr. and Mrs. Haile's family
consists of Ella L. (now Mrs. J. F. Flowers, of Bonne Terre), Will T., Margaret A., Harvey
B., and Oscar L. the family are supporters and attendants of the Baptist Church.
GOODSPEEDS HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888.
OLDEST CITIZEN DIED MONDAY
[The Lead Belt News, Friday, June 18, 1920, Page 1]
Thos. H. Haile, Who Celebrated his 100th
Birthday Two Months Ago, Died at Home of Daughter in Farmington, Monday.
Thomas Harvey Haile died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Edward
Byington, at Farmington at 12:30 o'clock Monday morning of general debility, aged 100
years, 2 months and 29 days. He was a native of St. Francois County [Missouri] and had
spent all of his long life in and near Farmington barring a few years following 1849, when
he made two trips overland to California, spending a year or two each time in the golden
State. The first trip to California provided a very successful venture and he brought back
with him a small trunk full of gold nuggets. He made the trip each time to California
overland, going by ox train the first time and driving 960 head of cattle and horses
through the second time, in 1851. He thought he would find a great market for these in San
Francisco, but in this he was mistaken. After losing 300 head of cattle through
depredation of Indians and other causes enroute, he found a poor market at San Francisco
and sold the remainder of his herd at a great financial loss.
To add further to his misfortune on his return by ship when near
the Isthmus of Panama the ship was wrecked and he, with thirty-five other passengers on
board were cast out upon a barren island where they were stranded with nothing but the
eggs of sea gulls upon which to live until rescued by a passing ship which they were able
to signal a month later. He fell thirteen months ago and broke his left hip, since which
time he has been unable to walk. Barring this he has enjoyed splendid health nearly all
his long life, which he attributed to regular habits and simple living. He always made it
a point to retire each night at or as near 9 o'clock as possible. He was just as punctual
in arising and having his meals served.
He was elected Assessor of St. Francois County in 1842, when the
taxable wealth of the county (now $21,000,000) was about $200,000. For listing this he
received $60. He represented the county in the State Legislature in 1844. Afterward he was
repeatedly urged to accept political preferment by his friends, but steadfastly refused.
He was a stanch Democrat, although liberal in his views. This attitude made strong friends
for him among those of opposing political faith as well as those of his own party. He had
for many years been an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
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