Miami Union

July 11, 1912 

HAYNER, WILLIAM M. - William M. Hayner, aged 55, president of the Hayner Distilling company, died suddenly Sunday afternoon at the home of his half-sister, Mrs. Walter S. Kidder, 46 Arnold place, Dayton.  Mr. Hayner had been confined to his home for about a week under the care of a trained nurse, but his condition was not considered serious.  His death came as a sudden shock to his many friends and business associates.  Mr. Hayner was born in Piqua, September 14, 1857.  Following the death of his mother, which occurred when he was two years of age, he was taken to the home of his grandmother in Lebanon, where he resided until he was 11 years old.  At this time his father married again and Mr. Hayner went to live with them.  To this union two children were born, Charles C. Hayner and Mrs. Georgia Hayner Kidder.  When 17 years old Mr. Hayner went to Lima and entered business, remaining there for three years.  He then went to Waco, Texas, and entered business with a cousin, George Thompson, remaining there for four years, returning to Ohio and starting the Hayner Distilling company in Springfield.  The principal distillery of the company is located in this city where it has long been one of the leading industries.  In August, 1895, the main office of the company was moved to Dayton.  Since that time several branches have been established and today the company has a capitalization of half a million dollars.  Mr. Hayner has been president and general manager of the company since it was established.  Mr. Hayner was married in 1891 to Mary J. Harter.  They have one daughter, Mary Isabel, born in August 1898, who makes her home with her mother at the corner of Short and Main streets in this city.  He was prominently identified in club circles, having membership in the Dayton Bicycle club, the Dayton Country club, the Automobile club and the Dayton City club.  He was also a prominent member of the local lodge of Elks.  To Mr. Hayner is given the credit of having inaugurated the mail order feature of the whiskey business established by his father.  From a small beginning the Hayner company has grown and prospered until it is now one of the largest of its kind in the country.  Brief services were held at the Kidder home in Dayton, Monday afternoon and the remains were then brought to Troy.  Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock funeral services were held at the Hayner home, 305 West Main street, conducted by Rev. W. H. Wehrly of Westwood.  The services were private, only members of the family and business associates being present.  The Knights Templar quartet, composed of T. B. Kyle, H. A. Cosley, J. W. Stephey and Dr. T. M. Wright, sang a beautiful selection.  The pall bearers were chosen from the employees of the distilling company as follows: Messrs. George B. Haefer, C. T. Tullis, Thompson and Mayer of the Dayton offices and D. W. Skinner, E. W. Jewell, William S. Combs and S. L. Geisinger of Troy.  Among the many relatives and friends present from abroad were Mr. and Mrs. Mont Hayner of Lebanon, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hayner, Mrs. Sallie Dickey and Miss Bessie Dickey of Dayton and Samuel Geisinger of St. Louis.  The remains were temporarily interred in the mausoleum at Riverside.

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