Charles Haynes

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Charles Haynes. Now, not every man who came to Texas in 1836 left much of a mark. But Charles Haynes, born in Vermont on September 12, 1814, he had a way of showing up right where history needed someone to show up.

He came down with the Buckeye Rangers of Ohio, fighting for Texas independence. A Vermont man, riding with Ohio men, to fight for Texas. You can't write that kind of story, friends.

It writes itself. After the fighting, he settled at Lockhart, and he didn't idle. He operated a blacksmith shop, served as a member of the first county commissioners' court, worked as a justice of the peace, and threw himself into Masonic work.

When a new place needed its institutions built from the ground up, Charles Haynes was the kind of man you wanted in the room. Then, about 1859, he packed up his family and moved west to Llano County. And he brought his habits with him.

The very next year, in 1860, he walked into Comanche schoolhouse and organized Llano Lodge No. 242, A. F. and A. M.

A new county, a new lodge, same steady hand. He was twice married over the course of his life and was the father of eight children. He died on December 29, 1868.

Vermont born, Texas built. That's the shape of Charles Haynes.

What the marker says

(September 12, 1814 - December 29, 1868) Born in Vermont, Charles Haynes came to Texas in 1836 with the "Buckeye Rangers" of Ohio to fight for independence. He settled at Lockhart, operated a blacksmith shop, was a member of the first county commissioners' court, a justice of the peace, and a leader in Masonic work. About 1859 he moved with his family to Llano County. At Comanche schoolhouse in 1860, he organized Llano Lodge No. 242, A. F. & A. M. Twice married, he was father of eight children.