My Genealogy Hound

James Haney, builder and contractor, of Bentonville, was born in the Kings County, Ireland, in 1887, and is the son of Thomas and Mary (Madden) Haney. Thomas Haney was born in 1807, and was a farmer by occupation. He died in Middleton, Lancashire, England, in 1884, haying moved there in 1845. His wife, Mary Madden, was born in 1819, and died in 1883. They were the parents of nine children, James Haney being the third child. He was educated in England, and at the age of thirteen became errand boy in a cotton mill. After a short time he was put to spinning cotton, but worked at this but a short time, the work not being to his liking. After about a year and a half he left it, and commenced working at the brick, stone and carpenter’s trade; this he followed for about three and a half years, as an apprentice, and then ran away. He did not return for a year, and when he did he was arrested and given the choice of returning to his trade or going to jail. He chose the former, and worked three and a half years longer. He then joined the Trades and Benevolent Union at Manchester, and served in every capacity except corresponding secretary. He was bank trustee of the society in 1860, but resigned this position, and immigrated to the United States. During the war he was in various States of the Union, and after peace was declared and business began to assume its original condition, Mr. Haney settled in St. Louis, and worked at his trade. In 1869 he went to Springfield, Mo., and in 1871 he became a citizen of Bentonville, Ark., where he has since resided. He has erected the largest number of the best business houses in the town, and has succeeded well at his business. When he first came to Bentonville he had $7 in money, but by his honesty and close attention to business he has accumulated a good property. In 1885 he erected a good business block, and in 1887 he put up the second one; both blocks belong to him. Mr. Haney is a skillful workman, and a man who has been of much use to the city of Bentonville. In 1859 he married Miss Mary Adams, who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1841, and who became the mother of nine children: John, who is living in Kansas City, and is a brick mason by trade; Eliza; Thomas F., who is a brick mason in Carthage, Mo,; William W., cadet at West Point; Charles E., Kate, Ada, James A. and George. Mr. Haney was a member of the city council of Bentonville for a year; was also street commissioner for five or six years; is a Democrat in politics; is a member of the I. O. O. F., and he and wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church.