Mr. Daines, for whom Daines Street in Birmingham was named, purchased land at "Bloomfield Center", also known as "Circle City", in 1842. He came here from Yates County, New York.
During his early years it is believed that Mr. Daines received his potter's training at the establishment of John Campbell who manufactured red earthenware at the foot of Keuka Lake in the now vanished town of Summersite, New York, south of present day Penn Yan. Shown below is a small red glazed vase produced in Mr. Campbell's establishment. It bears the signature of John Daines. As you can see, by comparing it with the fingers which hold it, this exquisite item is approximately six inches high. It is presently owned by Leon Daines of Rushville, Yates County, New York.
After moving to this area, Mr. Daines purchased a brick and pottery business from the Bagley family. He continued this operation for twenty three years. He manufactured drain tiles with a machine he invented and for which he was granted a U.S. patent.
Mr. Daines also kept on making earthenware pottery. At the County Fair of 1854 he received a "dis. premium" for his bottle of currant wine. He was also awarded two dollars each for "Best Horse shoe file and flat" and "Best pipe tile".
Here is a portrait of Mr Daines.
In 1844 John Daines married, in Penn Yan, New York, Alice Ann Watkins of Elbridge, Onondaga County, New York.
Mr. Daines was Marshall of the 1846 Birmingham 4th of July Celebration. A Democrat, he held a number of Bloomfield township offices. He was a member of both the Masons and the Odd Fellows.
Owing to poor health, in 1865 Mr. Daines gave up his tile making business at Bloomfield Center and moved to Birmingham where he purchased the National Hotel which had been built in 1827 by John Hamilton as a replacement for the log tavern he had previously operated.
Mr. Daines passed away on May 16, 1873. Following his death, son George, better known around Birmingham as Ned Daines, took over the management of the Hotel. One local resident, William H. Smith, remarked, "Ned Daines sets a mighty fine table." As a matter of fact, the National Hotel, under various ownerships was a popular gathering place. Dances were held there on Saturday nights and after the Electric Interuban Line was established, many Detroiters would come all the way out from the City to enjoy Sunday dinner at the National Hotel. It was a Village Landmark which lasted for almost a century but was finally torn down in the early 1920's to make way for the First National Bank the basic structure of which still hides inside a much remodeled Comerica Bank at the southeast corner of Hamilton and Woodward.
John and Alice Daines had five children. After operating the National Hotel for some time, Ned Daines took over as the local undertaker and soon acquired Wylie Bell as his partner. Their undertaking parlor was located on the west side of Woodward where Hamilton Avenue deadends. Daughter Rosetta Daines married Frank Hagerman, a local merchant and banker. One of their two daughters, Alice Hagerman Thurber, was undoubtedly Birmingham's first truly talented artist.
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