Hon. William Haile, son of John and Emma (Henry) Haile. was born in Putney, Vt., in May 1807. At the age of about fourteen years he went with his parents to Chesterfield, and was soon after taken into the family of Ezekiel P. Pierce, Sr., with whom he lived until he was about twenty-one years of age. Having attended school about two years, he entered, in 1823, Mr. Pierce’s store as clerk, and in 1827 or 1828 he borrowed a small amount of money and opened a store on his own account, in the Center Village. With his characteristic sagacity, Mr. Haile soon foresaw that Hinsdale was destined to become a busy and thriving town, on account of the abundance of power furnished by the Ashuelot river. He, therefore, in 1834 or ’35, removed to this town, where he continued in mercantile pursuits until 1846, when he became interested in the lumber business. In 1849 he began, as a member of the firm of Haile & Todd, the manufacture of cashmerettes. Afterward the name of the firm was changed to Haile, Frost & Co., by which it is known at present. Though engaged extensively in business, Mr. Haile took a prominent part in political affairs. With the exception of two years, he represented Hinsdale in the state legislature from 1846 to 1854, and was elected to the New Hampshire senate in x854 and 1855, of which body he was president the latter year, and was again elected representative in 1856. The next year he was elected governor of the state, and was re-elected in 1858. In 1873 he moved to Keene, and never ceased to take an active part in business management until his death, July 22, 1876. He married Sabrina S., daughter of Arza Walker, in 1828, who bore him children as follows: Harriet C., born June 22, 1829, married, November 23, 1853, John M. Stebbins, a lawyer of Springfield, Mass.; Ellen M., born September 12, 1831, married, December 13, 1854, Sylvester O. Davenport, of Hinsdale; William Henry, born September 23, 1833, married Amelia L. Chapin, of Springfield, Mass., where he now resides, was elected mayor of that city in 1880, was a member of the Massachusetts senate in 1882, and is also engaged in the manufacture of cashmerettes and repellants at Hinsdale, a member of the firm with which his father was connected; and Sarah F., born February I, 1837, married, in December, 1863, O. G. Dort, of Keene.
