Haynes, known as "Bud" to St. Francois countians and almost a legendary figure on the old Mississippi River and Bonne Terre Railroad, had railroading in his blood since his father took him to north Missouri at Princeton, where he saw his first railroad engine. He decided that day he would be an engineer and told his father, "Some day I'll run one of those." He was five years old at the time.

     In 39 [and] 1/2 years with the M.R. and B.T., before his retirement in 1921, he progressed from work in the roundhouse in Bonne Terre to running his own engine for the last 20 years of his service with the railroad, and lived to see all five of his sons work at one time or another on the same railroad. The five sons are B. L. "Red" Haynes of Doe Run, Willard of Willard, Ohio, Tom in a veteran's hospital in North Little Rock, Ark., Clarence of East St. Louis, and John of Doe Run. Not to be outdone, a nephew, Jesse Haynes, is continuing in the family line by operating the St. Francois Co. R.R. car which runs from Farmington to Delassus. One son remains in the path chosen by the father--John Haynes, the youngest son, still is with M.R. and B.T.

     In August, 1901, "Bud" Haynes went to Flat River to take over "Old 21" engine, known familiarly as "Old Mud Hen." He was on switching duty then and it led to his first assignment on a passenger run, going from Doe Run to Riverside. It wasn't long until everyone along the track knew when "Bud" Haynes was on the engine. All the old-timers will remember his distinctive railroad crossing whistle--not the customary toot of two longs and two shorts, but his own two longs, one short and another long.

     People in the railroad towns along the M.R. and B.T. right-of-way knew of him, too. There weren't many among the railroad folk who hadn't heard of his prowess at story telling. He not only had a complete stock of stories and was adept at telling them, but it is said in case he ran out of good "yarns" he would make up a "tall story" with the greatest of ease.

     After little Francis Haynes saw his first engine, his dad replied to the statement, "I'll run one of those," with "You might do it, son." And in 1890, at the age of 26, he started to work for the railroad where he worked in the roundhouse at Bonne Terre for 3 months.

     From there he was promoted to fireman on the road, which position he held for nine months. Then he was transferred to Doe Run where he was hustler for about four years, most of which time he worked with the late C. P. Hill, who was coach tender then.

     It was during this period that "Bud" and "C.P.", as everyone knew Mr. Hill, in addition to taking care of the engines and coaches, helped reconvert some of the narrow guage cars that operated on part of the M.R. and B.T. track, to standard guage of railroads today.

     After hustling for some time, he asked Mr. Kerman, who was in charge at Bonne Terre at the time, to put him back on as fireman, which request was promptly refused. Kerman then offered Haynes an engine to run and that started his long tenure as engineer. He ran a freight engine for four years and then a switch engine for a while until getting the passenger run in 1901.

     In addition to his long engineer run, "Bud" Haynes was known locally as an expert in his hobby of making axe handles. For a good many years, estimated by his sons to have been between 12 and 15, Haynes bought the St. Louis Sunday newspapers at Riverside and brought them home to the residents of Doe Run and vicinity who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to see the city papers.

     He not only was [a] pioneer engineer of this section, but he was and is a good citizen and nothing can illustrate this better than his interest in the welfare of the children of the community at Doe Run. Many a young kid has been helped out in going to school by clothing and books provided by Haynes, placing himself in debt sometimes to help them.

      In addition to his five sons, Haynes has two daughters who were able to attend the four generation reunion. They are Marian (Mrs. Wm. Silvey of Caledonia) and Wilma (Mrs. Everett Huff) of Elvins Route 1. He has eight grandchildren, all living except one, and seven great grandchildren.