JOHN HAENNEY (excerpts)

A native of Switzerland, he came to the United States at an early day and brought with him some of the virtues of the Swiss Republicans. . .He was born near Berne, on March 14, 1844 and when he was six years old accompanied his parents across the sea locating at Highland Madison County, Ill. His parents died of cholera that same year, 1850, one day apart, leaving a family of five small children. . .he learned the blacksmith trade in Carlisle, Ill.

In 1863, at the age of 19, he came to California, via Panama to San Francisco. For awhile he located at Ophir where his brother Christian Haenny lived. . . .When the Central Pacific Railroad came to Newcastle, he went to work for them as a blacksmith continuing with them until they reached Nevada. In 1867, he resigned to engage in farming. He ranched on Coon Creek, Placer County, and also started a blacksmith shop at Ewing, a station between Lincoln and Sheridan. . .until 1871, then he located in Lincoln. He purchased the business of John Wells. . .In 1875, his place at Fifth and F street was burned but he rebuilt immediately. He was engaged in manufacturing wagons and buggies; and he took up the sale of agricultural implements. He was one of the founders of the Bank of Lincoln and was Vice President until he died on April 27, 1914. He was also a member of the Gold Hill Lodge of F. & A. M in which he was a Past Master. He was a member and a Past Grand of the Odd Fellows and also a member of the Rebekahs. . . .John Haenney never neglected an opportunity to assist others and to give to his fellows the honor due to them.