Humboldt County, CA and Trinity County, CA Biographies

Pioneer days in California: (1891)
By: Carr, John, 1827-1896
Humboldt County (Calif.) - Biography; Trinity County (Calif.) - Biography
Publisher: Eureka, Cal., Times publishing company

CHAPTER XLVII. BIOGRAPHY. 

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 



HAYNES, HON. JOHN P.� Was born in Breckenridge county, 
Kentucky, on the 3d day of December, 1826. In his childhood his 
mother, then a widow, removed to Elizabethtown, Hardin county, Ken- 
tucky, where he was raised and educated. In his seventeenth year he 
entered a store as clerk and salesman, in which business he continued for 
about three years. About this time the Mexican war broke out, and the 
young men of the county at once proceeded to organize a company of 
volunteers for the service. The subject of this notice took an active 
part in organizing the company, and was elected Lieutenant. The quota 
of the State was filled so quickly after the issuance of the Governor's call 
for volunteers, that this company, with scores of others, was rejected. 
Young Haynes, with ten or twelve others of his company, then joined 
Company C, Captain Rowan Hardin, which was attached to the 4th 
Kentucky Volunteers, under command of Colonel John S. Williams, 
popularly known as " Cerro Gordo " Williams, from his gallantry in the 
battle fought at that place. He remained in the service until the close of 
the war. On his return home he commenced the study of law, and in due 
time entered the Law Department of the University of Louisville, and 
graduated in 1851. 

A few months afterwards he started for California via the Isthmus, and 
arrived in this State early in 1852. He remained in San Francisco a 
short time, and then started for the northern part of the State, arriving in 
Klamath county in the spring of that year. During the summer and fall 
he was engaged in prospecting and mining on the Klamath. 

At the election of November in that year he was elected District 
Attorney of the county. In 1853 he removed to Crescent City, which 
about that time became the County Seat. Here he commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession, and was re-elected District Attorney. Upon the 
removal of the County Seat to Orleans Bar he resigned the office. Upon 
the organization of Del Norte county soon afterwards, was elected Dis- 
trict Attorney of the new county. He continued in the practice of his 
profession in Del Norte and Klamath until 1858, when he became a can- 
didate for District Judge, and was defeated by the Hon. William R. Tur- 
ner, by a majority of two votes. The following year he was elected 
Senator, by a large majority, from the 12th Senatorial District, composed 
of the counties of Del Norte, Klamath and Siskiyou. At the expiration 
of his term he resumed the practice of his profession in Del Norte and 
neighboring counties, meantime making some ventures in mining without 
much success. 

On the 18th day of February, 1868, he was appointed by Governor 
Haight District Judge of the Eighth Judicial District, composed 
of the counties of Klamath, Humboldt and Del Norte, to fill a 
vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Turner. He was elected 
by the people to the same office at the judicial election in 1869, and re- 
elected in 1875, and held the office until it was abolished by the new 
Constitution, and at the first election under the new instrument was 
elected Superior Judge of Humboldt county. In 1884 he was defeated 
for the same office by Hon. J. J. DeHaven, at present Associate Justice 
of the Supreme Court. In 1866, at the earnest solicitation of his Demo- 
cratic friends, he accepted the nomination for the Senate, and was elected, 
notwithstanding the district was largely Republican. In 1888 he was 
again nominated and defeated by the Hon. Frank McGowan, present 
Senator. In politics the Judge is a very firm, unswerving Democrat, and 
has never faltered in his fidelity to the party, and is always ready and 
willing to give the reason of his political faith. He is at present a resident 
of Eureka, in Humboldt county.