Fillmore Haines

Rank: Private, U.S. Army

Unit: 153rd Depot Brigade

Entered service from: New Jersey

Died: September 28, 1918

Buried at: Medford Baptist Cemetery, McClain & Church Streets, Medford, New Jersey

Private Fillmore T. Haines was born in Medford, New Jersey on December 8, 1889, near Kirby’s Mill, one of twelve children born to Harvey Gabriel Haines and his wife, the former Lillian Turner. When the Census was taken in June of 1900, only five of the Haines children were living, Fillmore T. Haines being the oldest. His younger siblings were Ada, Lizzie, Walter, and William Haines. When the Census was again taken in 1910, Fillmore T. Haines was living in Evesham Township on the farm of Thomas Braddock, where he worked as a farm laborer. He came to Camden, New Jersey after the compilation of the 1914 Camden City Directory. When Fillmore T. Haines registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 he was living at 427 Clinton Street in South Camden. He was then working as a box maker.

Fillmore T. Haines was inducted into the United States Army on September 3, 1918 and sent to Camp Dix. It was there that he fell victim to the Spanish flu pandemic that had reached America from Europe. Private Fillmore T. Haines died from pneumonia brought on by the flu on September 28, 1918. His father, who was still living in Medford, was notified of his death. Fillmore T. Haines was brought home and buried at Medford Baptist Cemetery in Medford.

Fillmore Haines was a member of the patriotic fraternal organization the Improved Order of Red Men, belonging to Ottawa Tribe No. 15, which met in Morgan’s Hall on Market Street in the years leading up to America’s entry into World War I. Ottawa Tribe No. 15 members who died in the war included J. Richard Geist, Ralph Benner, John Harkins, Joseph Covert, and William Schucker.